Chappell Williams and Abraham Daniel: pubescent painters

CHAPPELL WILLIAMS AND ABRAHAM DANIEL pubescent painters

Severe physical trauma brought them to the Harlem Horizon Art Studio at the Harlem Hospital Center, but talent is what helped these two novice painters sell $5,000 worth of art to the Cosby Family Collection. Chappell Williams, a 17-year-old paraplegic, and Abraham Daniel, 13, a quadriplegic, were among five young painters whose works were displayed last April at the Ricco/ Maresca Gallery in New York City.

"I feel good about that," Chappell says, "because they [the Cosbys] are good art collectors. And if they liked my painting, well, that tells me something." That something might very well be that, with a little faith, he can do anything. The day after the sale, Chappell got out of his wheelchair and, for the first time, walked 48 feet, while holding on to parallel bars. He became a paraplegic after he and his brother (who was killed) were caught in cross fire. Chappell was shot in the spine.

Abraham, who was in a coma for 33 days after a fall from scaffolding, now walks with a cane and has only partial use of his limbs. His first large painting is entitled "Protecting Mother," but the gallery staff refer to it as "liberation painting" because, while working on it, he stood extensively for the first time since his accident.

"Life is a circle," Abraham says. "Give positive energy, and you will receive it."

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