William Henry Smith
For over sixty-five years, William Smith has used his art to
tell stories. This exhibition, which he
entitles, “High Noon in America”
is also the title of the most prominent painting of the exhibit, a
thought-provoking piece relative to the philosophy of Martin Luther
King,
Jr. He is motivated by life’s many
lessons and is committed to sharing his stories with others through his
art
works. Smith considers himself a “modern-day
griot – an African storyteller, historian, and entertainer.” His stories, which are generally about
African Americans include, portraits, everyday scenes, noted
individuals,
tragedies and celebrations. He works in
various mediums such as acrylic, oil, pastel, pencil, and lithograph.
Born in 1921
in Sharptown, MD,
he grew up in Catonsville, MD
where his parents and teachers supported him wholeheartedly and gave
him
well-deserved praise. He remembers the
home as a special place where his passion for art began to flourish. He studied at the University
of Arts in Philadelphia,
PA, and also did graduate studies at
the University of Pennsylvania
and the University of Maryland. He was an English and Art teacher for a
period and a feature writer for the Philadelphia Enquirer, he has
received
awards and citations for his work, has participated in numerous
exhibitions and
is included in private collections, one of which is the Bill Cosby
Collection.
William Smith has been chosen to create
a sculpture of
Harriet Ross Tubman, which is slated to grace Lions
Park in Bristol,
PA where he and his wife now reside.
1054 31st
STREET, NW WASHINGTON, D.C.
20007