About C.H. Samuels
Artist Calvin H. Samuels was born on June 3, 1933 in Lake Okeechobee, Florida and moved to New York City with his family in 1945. He was a 1951 graduate of the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art in New York City, an honors graduate of Queens College in Kew Gardens, New York and a proud U.S. Navy veteran.
In 2001, Calvin was diagnosed with colon cancer and had successful invasive surgery at St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital in New York, NY, followed by chemotherapy. In the late summer of 2005, Calvin was then diagnosed with brain and lung cancer. He again had another successful invasive surgery to remove the cancer from his brain in November of 2005, followed by aggressive chemotherapy and radiation. Following would be two stereotactic radio surgeries with continued more aggressive chemotherapy and radiation.
His artistic expression remained dormant for about 30 years until 2004 when a friend of his daughter's, Danielle Edwards, saw one of his paintings A Melody To Shirley Bassey hanging on her kitchen wall. As a result of seeing this painting, Danielle commissioned the artist to paint a piece for she and her husband, which was entitled In The Garden of Eden.
Through his battle with cancer, Calvin excitedly looked forward to and painted feverishly in preparation for his one man art show, The Tents of Kedar, which was going to be held at Picture Perfect Gallery in Charlotte, North Carolina in the fall of 2005 featuring a colorful array of his work that celebrates the dignity and timeless beauty of the Black woman through the ages, as well as a few abstract works. On Monday, July 21, 2008, Calvin peacefully transitioned after his fierce battle with cancer.
During the span of his life, Calvin always helped people. A very loving husband and father, Calvin was also a strong Christian and very active witness for God who was deeply involved in church and Bible study. He also loved children and very patiently helped children and youth, some of whom were at risk, to try to overcome some of the obstacles in their lives to become successful individuals. He also counseled persons who battled drug and alcohol addiction. He was also very active in his community, tirelessly working in his building's Tenants Association at 640-644 Riverside Drive in Manhattan. In addition to painting, Calvin was also very talented in several art forms, including writing screenplays and books.
His daughter, Andrea Lynn Samuels Williams, is honoring her dad's memory by weaving some of his art into her book of poetry entitled Dear Life, Here I Am. Sincerely, Andrea Lynn Samuels Williams. www.andreawrites.com
People - Shirley Bassey
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