The Collins Memorial Library exhibit, The World Through Abby’s Eyes, is about the nuanced life of women in the American West in the early twentieth century. The focal point of the exhibit is Tacoma resident Abby Williams Hill (1861-1943). Hill was a landscape artist best known for her oil paintings created en plein air depicting the scenery of the American West.

The exhibit focuses on four significant roles Hill held: artist, advocate, mother, and woman. The exhibit features original works by local artists, all of which explore the life and experiences of Hill. Building on these themes, the rich and vibrant history of Tacoma is on display through documents, photographs and artifacts from the Archives & Special Collections and Tacoma Public Library. The display includes journals, letters, photographs, artifacts, ephemera, original paintings by Abby Williams Hill, and other materials.

This event will include a talk by Professor Tiffany Aldrich MacBain and a showcase of artwork from the exhibit.

Works by Becky Frehse, Beverly Naidus, Debbi Commodore, Deborah Greenwood, Dorothy McCuistion, Gabby Cooksey, Jessica Spring, Lucia Harrison, MalPina Chan, Paige Pettibon, Victoria Björklund, Yoshi Nakagawa, and Yuka Petz will be on display.

Light refreshments will be served.