Heritage
The Cultural Heritage Project
The Cultural Heritage Project seeks to document the cultural and artistic legacy of Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee from 1780 to 1940, and to foster a full and accurate appreciation of the region's role in American decorative and folk arts. To date, field researchers have identified more than 2,000 objects made by hand in the region, and eight exhibitions have been mounted from that research. Documentation is ongoing. For more information, contact the Arts Center at 276-628-5005 or info@wkrac.org.
Heritage Products
Each one of these beautiful Appalachian pieces is based on an historic treasure from Southwest Virginia or Northeast Tennessee. The Heritage Products are the creative branch of William King Regional Arts Center’s Cultural Heritage Project which documents historical regional pieces. Seventeen regional artists were commissioned to produce these exclusive Americana products. Each item comes with a card showing the item, the story of the historic piece, and information about the artist who created the reproduction. Each item arrives boxed including matching tissue paper and ribbon.
Fields-Penn 1860 House Museum
The Fields-Penn 1860 House Museum is located on the corner of West Main and Cummings Street in historic Abingdon, and features furnishings from two prominent pre-Civil War families as well as decorative arts authentic to the area.
Visitors experience 19th century life in Southwest Virginia through the eyes of two families. James Fields originally built the house in 1860 for his wife and eight children; George and Estelle Penn moved into the home in the 1890s and lived there for over 75 years.
The rooms of the house showcase different aspects of the period, from informal everyday furnishings in the Sitting Room to more lavish entertainment items in the Best Parlor and Dining Room. Visitors can see how flax and wool were transformed in the Loom room, and view a child's bedchamber complete with toys and decorations.
On display throughout the museum are pieces from the William King Regional Arts Center's Cultural Heritage Project permanent collection including doll furniture, clothing, pottery, wool, and tin. The Cultural Heritage Project seeks to preserve the artistic legacy of artists in Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee.
© 2010 William King Museum