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A View From the Right Side of Sixty
Paintings and Poems by Berneice Williams
Berneice Little Williams is a retired registered nurse who has worked in the medical field for over sixty years beginning as a teenager in her town of Peoria, Illinois. She advanced steadily through the ranks as an assistant nurse, LPN to RN status and eventually to directory of nursing. She retired from nursing in 1992 at the age of 65.
Mrs. Williams has never had any formal training in writing poetry or in art. She believes these talents are gifts from God to be shared. Many cards, letters and emails have been received stating how her works have impacted the lives of others.
She began her creative adventure after the age of sixty, when in a moment of quietness and tranquility she looked at her life span in retrospect. Realizing that she was alone but not lonely, she began to put her thoughts on paper. In 2001 the elder of her two daughters though it would be good to put some of her poems in book form for their family reunion. She contacted a local printer who put twenty books together. The printer called Mrs. Williams and informed her that her clients were asking to buy them. This led to many poetry readings and signings as her reputation developed. As her poetry escalated she began to envision the pictures many of her poems brought to mind.
At the age of 76, she began to experiment with oil painting. She realized she also had a talent to create art in her own unique style. Never having painted before, it came as a surprise as well as a blessing to be able to express herself not only in words, but also in pictures, at this stage of her life.
For more information about this or any other exhibit at the Kansas City, Kansas Public Library, call Sarah Bohndorf at (913) 596-5800, or email sbohnd@kckpl.lib.ks.us.
