Barbara Williams: Ozark Native Stone Architecture Exhibit

The exhibit is of Ozarks vernacular architecture built between 1914 and 1960 of local rock in the form of schools, churches, homes, barns and service stations in 5 southern Missouri counties. Additionally vintage photos of people standing in front of their rock structures and rocks salvaged from now demolished rock buildings will be on view. Williams interest is in not only the beauty of these structures, but also in what they say about the Ozarks of that time. As an important part of Ozarks cultural landscape, Williams hopes the exhibit will foster appreciation and result in preservation of these structures.

This exhibit is part of a 5 year project which began for Williams as an idea for a picture book, showcasing local rock buildings. She enlisted the help of local photographer Marc Newman to take some of the photographs. An exhibit of their photographs, her mixed media paintings and prints became the next portion of the project. Money for the initial exhibit was provided in part by a grant sponsored by the University/Community Programs of Southwest Missouri State University-West Plains from the Missouri Arts Council Folk Arts Program, a state agency. The exhibit took place at the West Plains Civic Center in 2002 and has traveled to five other sites in Missouri since then. Exhibit is available for future bookings.

Public Television, Springfield, MO KOZK 's "Ozarks Video Watch Magazine" did a program on Williams' project aired in the fall of 2003 and spring 2004. Six sites were shown from the area, including the one pictured above. Pictured above is Stuart Union Church, rural Howell County, south of West Plains, MO. Built in 1921 of all fieldstone, or "cobblestone" and cement, it is in much the same condition inside and outside as when built. Now it is used only as an election poll site and for occasional memorial services, and is complete with an outhouse and cemetery. John and Evaline Stuart donated the land for this community non-denominational church and cemetery, but it is unknown who designed it and laid the rock.

Williams' book is still in progress, there are yet buildings which she wishes to photograph and draw in the 7 southern Missouri counties which the book covers, counties otherwise known as the Ozarks Heritage Region. A few buildings will be included in the book from northern Arkansas as well. She expects to complete it by the end of 2004.

Williams is especially pleased to have the Old Time Music/ Bluegrass group Sunny Side Up to play for the opening reception, August 7. Their music will lend a more complete flavor of times past in the Ozarks.

Williams lives with her husband Chris Rock in West Plains, where she practices her art and teaches art part time at Southwest Missouri State University- West Plains.