{"id":119,"date":"2009-09-16T13:57:44","date_gmt":"2009-09-16T18:57:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ezing.me\/transfer\/?p=119"},"modified":"2014-09-23T08:36:04","modified_gmt":"2014-09-23T13:36:04","slug":"bb-king-bust","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/web20.olemiss.edu\/news\/wordpress\/bb-king-bust\/","title":{"rendered":"Noted Artist William Beckwith Donates Bronze Bust of B.B. King to Blues Archive"},"content":{"rendered":"
OXFORD, Miss. – A bronze bust of world-renowned blues icon B.B. King \nhas been donated to the University of Mississippi’s Blues Archive by \nits creator, award-winning artist William Beckwith of Taylor. \n
The gift arrived in time for the Sept. 22 formal opening of the \nyearlong exhibition “Still Got the Blues: A Silver Anniversary \nExhibition,” celebrating the archive’s 25 years of welcoming visitors \nfrom around the world. The public is invited to the 4-6 p.m. reception \nin the Faulkner Room of the J.D. Williams Library.<\/p>\n
\nThe bust \nis a welcome addition to the archive’s B.B. King Collection, said Greg \nJohnson, blues curator and associate professor in the J.D. Williams \nLibrary.\n<\/p>\n
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\nGreg Johnson (left), curator of the University of Mississippi’s Blues Archive, and sculptor William Beckwith admire a bronze bust of legendary bluesman B.B. King that Beckwith recently donated to the archive. <\/b>UM photo by Robert Jordan.\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
“The timing couldn’t have been more perfect,” Johnson said. “It \nis highly appropriate for the bust to be displayed in an exhibit that \ncelebrates the Blues Archive, which really came to prominence with the \ndonation of B.B. King’s personal record collection over a \nquarter-century ago.”<\/p>\n
\nBeckwith said he donated the bust out of admiration for King and \nto pay tribute to him for donating his record collection to the Blues \nArchive. After learning that the bust is to be permanently displayed in \nthe Faulkner Room in close proximity to a bust of William Faulkner by \nartist Leon Koury, Beckwith said he couldn’t be more pleased.\n<\/p>\n
\n“Leon Koury was like a father to me, and I’m proud to be in the \nsame room with him.” Beckwith said. The two first met when Beckwith was \n14 years old, and Koury became his longtime mentor.\n<\/p>\n
\nBeckwith has produced public and private bronzes for more than \n30 years. He is represented in public and private collections \nnationwide. His commissioned work includes “B.B. King,” city of \nIndianola; “Flag Bearer, Mississippi 11th,” Gettysburg National \nMilitary Park; and “William Faulkner,” Oxford City Hall.\n<\/p>\n
\nBeckwith’s numerous awards and honors include winner of the \nstatewide Governor’s Award of Excellence in the Arts in 2001. His \nexhibition venues have included Splashlight Studios and Frank Marino \nGallery in New York City, National Museum of American Art in \nWashington, D.C., Louisiana World’s Fair in New Orleans and Mississippi \nMuseum of Art in Jackson.\n<\/p>\n
\nOriginally from Greenville, Beckwith works out of his studio in \nTaylor. He also is an adjunct assistant professor of art at Ole Miss.\n<\/p>\n
\nFor more information about the Blues Archive, call Greg Johnson \nat 662-915-7753. For assistance related to a disability, call \n662-915-7091. \n\n<\/p>\n
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