The Rio Grande County Museum in Del Norte, Colorado will host a show devoted to the work of artist, Byron Williams. Byron runs the Smith Market Gallery at the corner of 5th and Denver in Saguache. The museum's exhibit will have examples of Williams' work, going back 40 years including baskets and gourds of many patterns and styles.

Williams has made baskets out of many materials, most frequently basket reed which is a standard basket making material. He has used grapevine, honeysuckle, tulip popular bark, Siberian Elm bark as well as rawhide, wool rovings and yard, paper and fabric. His talents are shown in a wide variety of baskets from traditional to the uniquely creative freeform styles.

Gourds are used for making everything from baskets looking like sculptures to masks and are part of his large collection of art. The art work is accomplished with the use of design itself to the unique painting the color with various dyes and wood varnish, antlers, carving, wood burning and other embellishments. He states that he likes to clean each of the gourds so he “becomes familiar with each one." Each piece is a one of a kind.

The show will be available for viewing from May 25th - June 25th from 10am - 4pm Tues - Fri and 10am - 3pm on Saturday. The reception for the show will be held June 11th from 1:30pm to 4pm. The public is invited to come and enjoy the work of Byron Williams.

The museum is located at 580 Oak Street in Del Norte, Colorado, just south of the only stop light on Highways 160 and 112. For more information, please contact the Museum at (719)657-2847 or rgmuseum@riograndecounty.org. For information about lodging in the area, please contact riograndecountry.com.