Monday, July 20, 2009

Hilary Williams















It is thrilling to meet someone like Hilary Williams.

I felt especially grateful when I met her three years ago in a bar downtown. I'd been praying, "Lord, send me some awesome women. I need Amazonian intelligence and creativity, wisdom and generosity. Please."

Lo and behold, She delivered Hilary Williams, a talented and thoughtful graphic designer, enthusiastic outdoors-woman, and generous soul. I and many others in Knoxville are the better for knowing her and her work.

For this reason, I'm sorry to see her leave Knoxville, but am glad to know that she will be out in the world, doing good things, meeting and affecting others in the way she has me.

You may have encountered Hilary selling her hand-printed and sewn bags on Market Square last year. Or you may have seen her excellent thesis show on local food at the Downtown Gallery. If you missed the show, you can read about it here: A Fork In the Road. You can see Hilary's Atitu bags here.

Hilary's gift for making information attractive and accessible will serve her well teaching at Drake University. I wish her the best and look forward to seeing her future work.

Below: A young eater visits Hilary's interactive table at "A Fork In the Road". See more images from that show here.

1 comment:

Market Square District said...

Well said. Women of Hilary caliber are rare. We'll have to campaign for her return after these 2 years.
I never thought I'd visit Des Moines, but that may have to be reconsidered.