"Bread of Life," oil, by William Fields is part of the exhibition at William King Museum of Art, Abingdon, Virginia.
“One day at a time.” This was the advice that local artist and educator William Fields gave to so many. The phrase implies living in the moment and focusing on the time that we have today.
Indeed, Fields lived in the moment so wholeheartedly that he was able to capture those moments in his artwork with such reverence and detail. William Fields passed away from Covid-19 Aug. 31, 2021, but his legacy lives on through his works of art, his loved ones and the stories recalled about him.
William King Museum of Art, Abingdon, Virginia, celebrates the life of Fields with the exhibition “God Willing, We’ll See Each Other Again: The Life and Work of William Fields,” through Dec. 4. Learn more about the exhibition online at williamkingmuseum.org.
Fields was a teacher, a mentor, a historian, an artist, a poet, a father, a husband and a friend. The exhibit is a retrospective of his artwork and life, from examples of his first paintings, to when his personal style developed and flourished. His depictions of his life in Chilhowie and Marion, Virginia are unique to his personal experiences, yet the relatable content of the work speaks to a wide regional and cultural audience across Southwest Virginia.
“Before William would end a phone call, he would always say, ‘God willing, we’ll see each other again,’” recalls Anna Buchanan, curator of contemporary fine art at William King Museum of Art. “These are actually the last words that William said to me after I met with him about applying for one of our art exhibits. This phrase is where the show’s title comes from. I feel that it is a title of remembrance, but it is also one of hope.”
To honor William Fields and his contributions to the region, the public is invited to a free reception on the anniversary of William Fields 71st birthday – Sept. 1, from 6 – 8 p.m. Curator Anna Buchanan leads Tours at Two - a free guided tour of the exhibit - Dec. 4, at 2 p.m. Registration is required for Tours at Two – email Anna Buchanan at abuchanan@wkmuseum.org to sign up.
This exhibition is organized by William King Museum of Art and is part of the McGlothlin Exhibition Series.
William King Museum of Art is open seven days a week, Monday through Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 1-5 p.m. Admission to the museum is free.
