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Bigham relaxes inside the William H. Bigham Galleries
in Aurora, Illinois, a shop that specializes in
African art. |
Growing up in Trezevant, William Bigham never dreamed he
would one day design an award that would be presented to the
president of the United States.
But on July 18 this year, Bigham was contacted by a
representative of the White House gift office who informed
him that the award he designed was on display and was
"probably one of the most impressive awards in the Oval
Office," according to a July 20 press release from the
William H. Bigham Galleries.
The award, which features a golden tribal mask imbedded
within a piece of beveled glass shaped like the continent of
Africa, was presented to President George Bush during the
2005 Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration, during a July 14
luncheon attended by more than 3,000 individuals. Bush was
the first president ever to attend the celebration, an event
that promotes opportunities for black Americans in jobs,
health care, and education.
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President George W. Bush accepts the Bigham-designed
lifetime achievement award bestowed upon him during
the Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration. |
"It was one of the top moments of my life, just to think I
came this far," says William. The award to the president was
the crowning moment for the artisan whose designs have been
presented as gifts to a variety of political figures and
stars of stage and screen.
Bigham is also an accomplished magician and owner of
Innovative Magic, Inc. He offers three styles of
entertainment: close-up, sleight of hand magic during which
he interacts closely with guests; onstage magic combined
with comedy; and shows of illusion enhanced with music and
imagery.
His audiences range from Fortune 500 companies (like AT&T,
American Airlines, IBM, State Farm Insurance, Xerox, and
more) to guests at private parties and banquets. He has
warmed the audience for Jamie Foxx's "In Living Color" and
appeared in concert with Lou Rawls, Millie Jackson, Greg
Bacon, and the O'Jays, as well as performing during halftime
for the Indiana Pacers.
William and wife, Glenavere, a fashion and jewelry
designer who is dressed in one of her own creations.
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His successful ventures, following an already illustrious
career as a mechanical engineer, provide an interesting
backdrop for an enjoyable lifestyle for William and his
wife, Glenavere, the fashion and jewelry designer he met in
the mid-90s, who he says is his inspiration.
And it all started in Carroll County where, although he
never envisioned so grandeur an accomplishment, he had
always dreamed of owning his own business.
Born in Trezevant on February 28, 1959, William was the
oldest child of Mattie Ophelia Bigham and the Reverend Sam
H. Bigham. He and his brothers, Marvin and Glen, and sister,
Janice, learned early the value of dedication, respect and
hard work, working with their parents on a 50-acres farm
that provided meat and vegetables for the family while the
excess was sold to provide money for clothing and shelter.
In addition to farming, his father, who died several years
ago, was pastor of Pleasant View Baptist Church in Sharon,
though William and his siblings grew up in Reedy Creek
Baptist Church, closer to home.
His mother earned extra money through her own creative
energies.
"Mom sewed and designed floral arrangements for the public
and I used to help her with that," William says. From her
enterprise, his own entrepreneurial appetite was whetted,
and he was encouraged by her faith in his abilities.
"Since I was a child, she said someday I was going to have
my own business," he recalls.
But when William was a pre-teen years in junior high school,
his mother died of a heart attack at the age of 42, and
others weren't as tolerant of his plans for independent
success.
Nevertheless, he notes, "Over the years, I didn't lose
track. A lot of times I had people telling me I couldn't do
it, but I always kept that vision from a long time ago."
He graduated from Trezevant high school in 1976, where he
had been a member of the Beta Club, played basketball and
excelled in wood-working class.
"I was in the top ten in all my classes," he says.
After high school, he attended the historically black
Tennessee State University in Nashville at the suggestion of
Principal Feron Bledsoe, who William says was instrumental
in his life both academically and culturally.
"He knew I was very interested in math and science," William
says, adding that his university experience was an
awakening: "I learned more about different people and
different places, so I got to broaden my horizons and
interests because all people are different."
He spent six years in Nashville, after attaining his
bachelor's degree going immediately into the master's
program. He was one of the first students to graduate in the
school's mechanical engineering program. He later earned a
second master's degree in business administration.
While working in the master's program, he worked as a
project engineer for T.V.A. at the Hartsfield nuclear plant.
Then, with degree in hand, he moved to Indianapolis, Indiana
to work with AT&T as a design engineer.
"It was a good job opportunity; an exciting job and with a
nice salary as well," he says.
During his tenure with AT&T, he was selected as a top
manager to participate in a Brookings Institute program to
study the influential relationships between business and
politics.
"It was one of the most exciting projects I've been involved
in," says William of the task in which he worked on Capitol
Hill as a congressional fellow for United States
Representative Amory Houghton (R-NY). As a fellow, he
organized a South American trade mission, leading a
delegation of more than 25 top New York business owners to
Argentina and Chile.
"It was very prosperous and I was able to make contacts that
actually helped increase trade between the United States and
the two countries," he says.
After about six years, William moved with the firm to
Shreveport, Louisiana, where he became manager over a design
group.
He remained with the company for more than 20 years, over
time also serving in Columbus, Ohio as manager of global
manufacturing, traveling to Turkey, China, Japan, Amsterdam,
Spain, Brussels, Brazil, Holland, and all over the United
States.
It was while in Columbus in 1982 that he began decorating
his home with art purchased during his travels, combining
his collection activity with the study of art and antiques.
As others took notice, he began receiving offers from
individuals and business owners to purchase objects bought
for his own pleasure, and increased his acquisitions to
accommodate the increasing demand.
"I decorated a high-end clothing store with African art and,
after that, sales increased," he says, as an example of the
art's popularity. "In addition to buying suits and ties
people came to see and purchase art."
After being transferred to Naperville, Illinois, a suburb of
Chicago, sales continued by word-of-mouth advertising and
private home shows that brought an increasing number of
clientele. By 2001, the business had grown so much that
William decided to leave Lucent (which had merged with AT&T)
and devote his full efforts to the business.
He enhanced the business with the creation of "The Bigham
Awards", as his designs have come to be called.
"A couple of groups called," he explains, recalling how the
awards came into being. "They knew I was very creative and
wanted me to design some cultural awards. I kept playing
with the idea and developed certain pieces."
"Playing with the idea" meant learning more about history,
leadership and community to create unique and relevant
trophies that were works of art in their own right. At their
heart, each encompasses the authentic African art that had
always been the mainstay of his business—art William found
has universal appeal.
"Many of the awards have been given to celebrities and
officers of major companies," he notes, "so they don't just
go to African Americans."
The honor of creating the award for President Bush was
preceded by a long list of famed recipients, among them Hank
Aaron, Magic Johnson, Dustin Hoffman, Kofi Annan (UN
secretary-general), Harry Belafonte, Barrak Obama, Harlem
Globetrotters, Rainbow Push Coalition, General Motors,
American Medical Association, and many more. He also designs
contemporary awards, including a project just completed for
the McDonald's Corporation.
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Dustin Hoffman accepts an African
art-inspired piece commissioned from Bigham by
Hoffman's co-workers. |
William continued building his collection, selling out of
his home until January 2003, when he opened the William H.
Bigham Galleries near the Westfield Fox Valley Mall in
Aurora. He enjoys having his nieces, Brianna and Maliah
Harmon (daughters of his sister, Janice) come up from
Trezevant to act as hostesses during special events.
The 4,500 square foot shop features authentic, one-of-a kind
African art and collectibles—sculpture, paintings, jewelry
and traditional crafts—as well as original oil paintings by
local artists. In addition, William offers personalized
interior design consultation and banquet facilities for
business functions, receptions, birthdays and other
celebrations.
"The gallery's main mission is to continually increase
consumer awareness and knowledge of the acquisition of fine
art," he says.
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William enjoys having his nieces visit
the gallery, where they serve as hostesses during
special events. Here, his sister Janice, holding
Marble, poses with daughters Brianna, 15, (left) and
Maliah, 12, at their home in Trezevant. |
New this fall, he plans a fun and informational series
combining live jazz, hors d'oeuvres, and discussion
surrounding the history behind the elaborate artworks of
Africa.
He is also considering expanding the business to other major
cities—his short list includes Detroit, Atlanta, Houston and
St. Louis—but he doesn't want to expand so far as to lose
the common touch.
Also in 2003, William and Glenavere married on June 28 in
Aurora. The couple enjoys travel as well as the theater and
jazz concerts.
Multi-talented Glenavere is also a singer, performing with
the Main Street Baptist Greater Gospel Choir in a recently
released CD of inspirational gospel songs.
The two are excited as they plan a joint trip to Africa.
"I try to go once a year," says William, concerning the
visits spent in the western and southern regions of the
continent purchasing art as well as enjoying its inimitable
geography, flora and fauna, as well as its people.
"It's a beautiful country and the people are beautiful," he
says. "You gain a different perspective of life there: the
people are so warm, helpful and caring both in the city and
in the brush. When you go there, after awhile, everyone
calls you their brother."
William's advise to others with an entrepreneurial heart is,
"Always pursue your dreams: don't let anyone shatter your
dreams.
"Do your best at whatever you do and don't let others pull
you down," he counsels. "It's so rewarding when you're doing
something you really like to do: you get a definite sense of
accomplishment."
The William H. Bigham Galleries is located at 4014 Fox
Valley Center in Aurora and is open by appointment only. To
schedule a visit or for more information about coming
gallery events, call (630) 585-9770 or visit
www.bighamgalleries.com.
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