Local woodcarver shares secrets of African-American heritage behind his art

JACKSON, Tenn. — A historian, musician and an artist — these are three things woodcarver Bodie Gentry considers himself, using his hands to create art pieces highlighting influential African Americans for many years.

Some of Gentry’s artwork will be exhibited Feb. 23 at the Delta Center, located at 96 O’Neal Street in Jackson.

His works of art aren’t so easily given a new home, because he says the secret behind them is too valuable — Gentry’s art pieces are made from walnuts or walnut trees.

“What I did, I gathered the walnuts and gathered the husks, and it becomes like a clay, and whenever you see pieces made out of the walnut husk, it comes from that historical location,” Gentry said.

It’s no coincidence that the walnut tree is his tree of choice.

“Wherever I go and there’s an early settlement of African-American people, not 99 percent of the time but 100 percent of the time, I’m going to always find black walnut trees,” Gentry said.

Gentry said he started to wonder why everywhere he found black walnut trees, there was a connection to black history. So he traveled to Montgomery, Alabama, for answers.

“When the Africans came over here as slaves, they were earth people, they were farmers,” Gentry said.

He says they fell in love with the black walnut tree because of its durability, lasting through storms while other trees didn’t. He said they would gather black walnuts and take them wherever they went.

Gentry says he probably won’t sell any of his masterpieces because they’re so dear to his heart.