Wilmer Jennings

Wilmer Angier Jennings (1910–1990) was an African-American printmaker, painter, and jeweler. He was hired by the Rhode Island WPA to create wood-engraved prints that explored themes of economic and social hardships experienced by African-Americans. Jennings' work also included Southern themes inspired by oral folklore traditions. During his later years, Jennings studied jewelry design, which prompted him to develop new methods of jewelry manufacturing.

Early life, Georgia and the WPA

Wilmer Angier Jennings was born on November 13, 1910, in Atlanta, Georgia. While attending Morehouse College, Jennings studied under the artist Hale Woodruff who introduced him to the principles of modernism.

In 1934, working under the Graphic Arts Division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), Jennings and Wiidruff worked together on two notable murals that reflected on the African-American experience: The Negro in Modern American Life: Agriculture and Rural Life, Literature, Music and Art and the second, titled The Dream. The first of the two was displayed in the David T. Howard School in Atlanta, Georgia while the second was showcased at the School of Social Work at Atlanta University. However, both are currently destroyed. During that stay in Atlanta, Jennings was able to learn the creative production that contributed to community murals. Woodruff already had an unconventional relationship with his students in which he was opposed to the typical teacher role. Because of that, Jennings was able to form a personal friendship with Woodruff, who he called by the nickname "Count" as a playful title, rather than calling him Hale. In regards to this relationship, art historian Winifred L. Stoelting, quoted Woodruff saying:

[...] "I remember they wanted to call me 'Hale' and I was reluctant for them to do that, but Wilmer Jennings always called me 'Count,' a kind of a warm title. I always appreciated it because he not only needed [to] but he wanted this kind of relationship that developed between us."

Jennings has a daughter named Corrine Jennings, who is a founding director of Kenkeleba House, Inc. in New York City, which is a nonprofit dedicated to showcasing the work of underrepresented African artists. Kenkeleba House was founded in 1974 by Joe Overstreet and Samuel C. Floyd in addition to Corrine Jennings. Its name, Kenkeleba, is derived from the healing properties of the Seh-Haw plant grown in West Africa.

And, he had a son, Wilmar Angier Jennings (July 10, 1938- February 16, 2025). He attended schools in Providence Rhode Island including the Henry Barnard School, Classical High School and Brown University. He later earned a master’s degree from the University of Portland and a PhD from Rutgers University in Experimental Psychology. After teaching at Howard University in Washington, DC for seven years, he resigned to fulfill a childhood dream of becoming an Architect. He then moved to the Southwest where he received both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architecture from the University of New Mexico. After graduation he was hired by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers to do permafrost engineering in Alaska where he remained until he retired and returned to Providence. He was a devoted community member volunteering his time to providing food to the greater Providence community through All Saints' Memorial Church.

Exhibitions 1935, Arthur U. Newton Galleries, New York 1942, "First Atlanta University Annual Exhibition of Works by Negro Artists", Atlanta University (now Clark Atlanta University), Atlanta, Georgia

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