Jackson Free Press

Diane Williams is a neo-griot, along the lines of the story­tellers from times gone by when oral historians were crucial to maintaining black folks' history because book publishers didn't believe the history worth chronicling. Williams is also a quilter, an artistry befitting for a woman known for paying homage to the past. And, with "The Evolution of Diane Williams: Walking the Path" exhibit currently at the Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center, visitors can "hear" a bit of Williams' personal history through her quilts.

Williams uses silk yarns, beads, stones and vibrant colors to make traditional quilts with Motherland inspiration to tell stories of strength, resilience and hope.

"Walking the Path:The Evolution of Diane Williams" hangs through May 14. Admission to the museum for children is $1.50; adults, $4.50. The museum is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. For more information, call 601-960-1457.