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William, Nick, Joey, Josh, and Robbie. 8/04/2009 William brought some of his students to his August solo show to roadie for him.
Brad, Drew, William, Nick, Joey, and Josh ____________________________________________________________________________________ "I
graduated from Tupelo
On
March 14, 2000, I was reborn from a car accident that left me a
quadriplegic. I had to teach myself to become a independent person. I
had to become stronger physically and work with therapists to get where
I am today. Along my journey I found a new love for paint. It started
six years ago while I was in rehabilitation at the One
late night three years ago, a movie about Jackson Pollock came on and I
was glued to it. I was amazed by the way he painted. It looked like
something that I could do and enjoy. I haven't had much experience in
painting, but I told myself this is something I want to do and I will
figure out a way to do it. I came up with a method of using spoons to
throw, pour and lay paint on a canvas." __________________________________________________________________________________________________ The following story appeared in the Walton SUN Aug 10th 2009
A life recreated after tragedy August 10, 2009 12:14 PM The
Walton Sun At the age of 25, William Flewellen Heard had
plans to go into furniture production. He was in his last year at Mississippi State
in March 2000 when his plans changed. Heard was a passenger in the back seat of a
car that day in Tupelo, Miss., when the driver lost control of the
vehicle and it hit a tree. Heard was left a paraplegic. He went through a period of heavy drinking, a
suicide attempt and hospitalization after the accident. Instead of a
furniture producer, Heard is now a successful self-taught artist who
teaches others with disabilities what he has learned. Heard admits that the road to his current
success was not easy. He returned to college to complete his degree
after his accident, but has never used it. Heard paints from his studio, which is just
steps from his home, where he also holds art classes, teaches and hosts
other teaching artists. It was while he was hospitalized that a paint
brush was first taped to his hand. These days, however, Heard creates
his works of art not with a brush, but with a spoon. He happened upon his technique by accident as
he watched a TV special on the artist Jackson Pollock. He watched as
designs were created by slinging paint with a spoon. Heard can’t hold a spoon normally in his
hand. He underwent surgery to permanently close his fingers at an angle
so that he can hold a Styrofoam ball, in which he inserts the handle of
a spoon. With his spoon and dripping paint technique,
Heard creates his masterpieces on canvas. He paints frogs, cats, a lot
of butterflies, and even profiles. Each piece takes a couple of weeks to
complete. “I like to paint butterflies because of all
the colors, and they symbolize hope rebirth and new beginnings,” he
said. “I almost died several times.” “I love painting,” he said. “It’s very
fulfilling.” He also serves on the state board of an
organization in Mississippi called L.I.F.E. -- Living Independence For
Everyone, and serves as a peer supporter for the organization. “It helps folks with disabilities,” he
explained. Heard has participated in group shows in
Tupelo area, New Orleans and North Carolina, but the only gallery to
represent him is Eileen West Gallery in
Seaside’s Ruskin Place. The gallery is featuring Heard’s work in a
solo show during the month of July 2010.
For more information regarding the artist's work, please contact us. Eileen West Gallery P O Box 4715 Seaside Florida 32459 850.502-1847 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
