Flood Relief for Wolfe and Williams

Jerry Williams and his life partner, Jeane Wolfe, were rescued by kayak from his home July 11 at 3am.They are now dealing with the aftermath of flooding from Lamoille & Gihon River.

Williams is a renowned Vermont artist, he attended the art program at Johnson State College, apprenticed with Barre sculptor Frank Gaylord, and in 1986 he opened his own studio- Barre Sculpture Studios. Over the past 37 years Jerry has made impressive, larger than life, granite sculptures for colleges and parks nationwide, he has also created final resting places and memorials where loved ones can be honored.

Jerry's art has made our little Vermont world more beautiful as well, with pieces in our public spaces and cemeteries. Most recently Williams created the model for Ceres, the statue that stands atop the Vermont State House dome. His life in granite carving, and the model of Ceres, won him the 2018 prestigious Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts.

"Stone carving is a hard way to make a living. It takes a powerful drive to want to carve stone."

Johnson was among the hardest hit in northern Vermont on Tuesday, the Lamoille River surpassed its major flood stage with historic levels of water. All of Williams' home appliances as well as all major home systems (hot water heater, electrical, boiler), the first floor walls and insulation, carpets, cabinets, furniture, and personal belongings were damaged or destroyed. Before Jerry, his parents lived in this Johnson home so they are also saying goodbye to irreplaceable keepsakes and family history told in photographs.

If you are able, please help this local artist and his family so he can get back to contributing to the world the best way he knows how, by making art. Funds will help offset the damages caused by historic flooding, and support one of Vermont’s best figurative sculptors.