On December 6th, Starbucks Trenton December Artist Mabel “Freda” Williams presented vivid soul stirring pieces of art at the Starbucks Trenton Community Store at 102 South Warren Street. The exhibition, curated by Kenneth J. Lewis, Sr. (KJL Art Sanctuary), is on display at Starbucks Trenton thru January 03, 2020.
Freda Williams has been a resident of the Trenton area and Ewing Township for over fifty years. She is a visual artist whose innate gift of painting began as a young child and has been nurtured and extended throughout her life. Her paintings portray a wide range of diverse images that draw on her creativity, personal journey, life experiences, and individual reflections. Her art depicts scenes of historical events, Black southern roots, beautiful landscapes, and vivid, abstract images, that reflect both past and current periods and settings.
Freda’s award winning paintings utilize a variety of mediums including Mixed Media and have been displayed in exhibits at public libraries, Artworks, Trenton’s downtown Visual Art Center, Hopewell Valley Community Bank, Ewing Township Municipal Building and the Trenton Social Club. Her award winning painting from the Mercer County Seniors Art Exhibit was moved up to the New Jersey State Competition, where she was awarded Honorable Mention. After 27 years of service, Freda retired as Manager of Equal Employment/Affirmative Action, from the NJ Department of Education; and before that, 20 years as Manager of Employment and Placement at U.S. Steel Corporation.
Throughout that time, her art was primarily for personal and creative expression, to balance the intensity of a professional life. Her lucky family and friends received paintings as gifts. When contemplating retirement, she decided to view it as a time for creative exploration. She has served on the Ewing Township Arts Commission and she continues to encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to participate in the diversity of art.
Freda’s paintings can be immediately recognized because of the vibrant colors she uses to express her impressions of the world around her. One of her favorite quotes is: “It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see!” – By Henry David Thoreau –
Freda’s work will also be on display at the Smith Family Foundation of New Jersey’s 3rd Annual Community Kwanzaa 365 Celebration on December 28 at Trenton War Memorial (1 Memorial Drive, Trenton, NJ) from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information about Kwanzaa 365, contact Tyrell Smith or Tara Butler
@ 609-888-6300.
