William Daniel :: Barber Shop Art

INTRODUCING WILLIAM
by Trent Alvey

I met William Daniel in Swakopmund, Namibia in 2003 while on a two-month painting trip to Namibia. He saw me painting around town and wanted to paint with me. He said, “I am an artist, too.” I let him use some of my drawing materials and he demonstrated his captivating, naïve, artistic style.

After ten years of visiting Namibia, I know that I cannot help everyone, but I can assist one individual. Over the years my husband and I have continued to nurture William’s artistic career. On a frequent visit, we purchased an overhead projector for William so that he could ramp up his sign painting business.

There is really nothing extraordinary about William. He lives in Mondesa, the township outside Swakopmund. He has built a small “ghetto” from found building materials. He sends money home to his family in the north. He is sweet, hard working and eager to survive the hardships of the post apartheid era of South Africa. We have no plans to bring William to the states. We just want to help him realize his greatest goal — to go to school to further his career and ability to support himself and his extended family. (Many of his clients refuse to pay him for his professionally painted signs, citing the fact that he has no “certificate” or “degree” – so therefore they legally don’t have to pay him). He wants to study art and at the same time obtain the elusive degree that will entitle him to fair treatment.

I encourage William to paint more of his folk inspired Barber Shop signs, hoping that the sales will pay for his college. I have started to see these folk art signs from many different African countries appear in places like Vancouver, London and San Francisco. African Barber Shop Signs are a new genre. I think William’s signs are charming, honest and genuine.

The Budget for the College of South Africa is about $3500 US per year for tuition, room and board. He would like to get a two-year associate degree. An investment in one of these fabulous paintings is an investment in William’s future.