Lu Willard had aspirations about turning into a mannequin.
Having graduated highschool at 15 years previous, and with two years of faculty accomplished, throughout the mid-Nineteen Fifties, she moved from New Orleans at 17 to hitch her mom who labored as a nurse’s aide at Harlem Hospital in New York.
“I got here up to stick with her, and I did have a plan, as a result of I picked up Jet journal or Ebony, however I bought the concept that I needed to be a mannequin,” Willard shared. However the choice to maneuver to New York proved to be the precise one.
Willard attended Style Institute of Expertise (FIT) as a result of she was all in favour of “style and fairly issues.” It was there that she took her first course in jewelrymaking.
“Tony Paris was instructing jewelrymaking, and I appreciated it,” mentioned Willard. She turned adept within the physicality of bijou making, like soldering, however her coronary heart has at all times been within the inventive aspect of the enterprise. Her entry to the jewellery district greater than 50 years in the past was as an apprenticeship at Solow, whereas nonetheless working with Tony Paris.
Throughout Willard’s 50-plus-year profession within the jewellery enterprise, she was actually the jewellery maker to Black stars. “Dick Gregory, the comic, is one who launched me to Michael Jackson when Michael Jackson was 17 years previous. And so I began working, doing issues for Michael,” mentioned Willard. She constructed a powerful consumer listing. Her standout piece was a $70,000 piano look ahead to Isaac Hayes.
Willard’s present work nonetheless isn’t tinged with movie star. Her venture with New York Metropolis Jewellery Connection goals to create a dialog round Black historic occasions utilizing jewellery. It facilities the Black expertise anchored in Juneteenth. This has seen Willard designing and producing commemorative Juneteenth pendants for various individuals and organizations. A Juneteenth pendant was introduced to Al Sharpton, lately, and most not too long ago, after the Rucker Park in Harlem was devoted as a nationwide historic website, Willard designed and produced a pendant to commemorate the event.
As Willard appears to be like to her future within the jewellery enterprise, she has additionally launched a Juneteenth Design competitors in Atlanta, which started Oct. 1. It would run via the spring and on April 28, a Grand Prize winner can be introduced.
For buy by common clients, Willard has additionally designed and produced a attraction bracelet. It has 10 charms that remember historic Black individuals just like the Tuskegee Airmen.
“The concept is to have somebody see a attraction that triggers a dialog,” shared Willard, “and hopefully, this may help to additional the dialog round Black historical past exterior of faculties.”
