Marjorie Williams-Smith, professor emeritus of art at UA Little Rock, has a new art exhibit at The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas focusing on botanicals and flora. 

The exhibit, sponsored by the Kline Family Foundation, uses a stylus that holds fine pieces of metal such as copper or silver. Williams-Smith captures classic forms of nature in the shimmer of the medium using fine, precise lines. “Metalpoint: A Classic Artform” will be on display through Feb. 8, 2020, at the arts center, 701 S. Main St., Pine Bluff.

“The flowers and plants that I draw hold a message for me and hopefully for the viewer,” Williams-Smith said. “Nature possesses a spiritual energy that speaks of hope, strength, faith, and endurance.”

Williams-Smith has been working with metalpoint since 1986 and is nationally known for her drawings of flowers and other botanicals. Her exhibition includes earlier work to pieces created this year.

“We are honored to host this exhibition of Marjorie Williams-Smith’s exquisite metalpoint artworks. Her artistry, distinguished career, and renown as an art educator provide inspiration for artist and audience,” ASC Curator Lenore Shoults said.

Williams-Smith retired from UA Little Rock in 2017, where she taught for 33 years. Among her many accomplishments include the creation of the design for the Congressional Medal of Honor given to the Little Rock Nine in 1999. President Bill Clinton and members of Congress presented the medals in a special ceremony to honor the historical significance and to recognize their heroism as students integrating Central High School in 1957.

In March 2019, she was presented with the 2019 Governor’s Arts Award: Individual Artist. The annual awards recognize individuals and corporations for their outstanding contributions to the arts in Arkansas. She was also featured in two books published this year  — “Women Make Arkansas: Conversations with 50 Creatives” by Erin Wood and “Silverpoint and Metalpoint Drawing: A Complete Guide to the Medium,” by Susan Schwalb and Tom Mazzullo.

Shown above: “The Messengers” by Marjorie Williams-Smith, professor emeritus, UA Little Rock Department of Art and Design.