John Abduljaami, (born 1941, Shawnee, OK) renowned self-taught Oakland California wood sculptor; carves found wood, sculpting with axe, chisel, and saw.  He polychromes these with house-paint.  His sculptures are powerful and spirited works, mostly depicting animals and portraits, generally larger than life.  He quit high school to join the navy; as a jet mechanic he was stationed in Japan for two years, and afterwards moved to San Francisco with his family.  John served four years for robbery in the late 1960's, during which he changed his name and joined the nation of Islam.  He is now non-denominational, and believes God will take of everything in the end.  John received a certificate of valor for his heroic rescue of victims in the Loma Prieta earthquake, pulling survivors from the still crumbling Cypress freeway, using his ladders to reach them.  He lost his house which was next to the collapsed structure, which had previously been documented and designated as an art historical site for preservation, by The Smithsonian Institution.