I recently had an insightful conversation with Marjorie Williams-Smith at Herne Fine Art in Little Rock, where her impressive exhibition, “Black Fields: Crops Cultivated by Africans Who Were Enslaved; Cotton, Tobacco, Rice and Sugar,” is on view through November 30th.
Marjorie Williams-Smith’s exhibition, BLACK FIELDS, represents years of travel, research, and a deep exploration of American agricultural history. Marjorie’s personal journey has greatly influenced this work, as she delved into her family’s legacy in cultivating crops that shaped our nation. She writes, “I hope this series will encourage people to learn about their heritage and our shared American history”.
I’ve admired Marjorie’s work since first encountering it at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts years ago. A talented artist originally from Washington, DC, she holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Howard University and a Master of Fine Arts from Pratt Institute. Marjorie has dedicated over 30 years to teaching art at UALR and is highly sought after as a lecturer, author, and workshop instructor. Her achievements are numerous, including creating artwork for the United States Mint, which designed the Congressional Medal honoring the “Little Rock Nine.” Most recently, she was awarded the Arkansas Governor’s Arts Award for Individual Artist. Its worth checking out Marjories interview by the The Arkansas Art Scene.
Marjorie is a master of Silverpoint, a centuries-old drawing technique that involves using silver wire on a specially prepared surface. She also explores drawing with copper, aluminum, and steel wool. It’s fascinating to see how metal particles come to life in her work!
Click here to read a recent review of the show in the Arkansas Times.
1001 Wright Ave, Little Rock, AR 72206.