Will the Circle Be Unbroken?

November 11, 2021 – March 13, 2022

William King Musuem of Art in Abingdon, VA, United Company – Legard Galleries, Cultural Heritage Gallery

Will the Circle Be Unbroken? takes a look at the ephemeral items and lasting objects surrounding both the beginning and end of life, as well as the traditions carried on in our Appalachian region.

Focusing heavily on the way that we mourn, celebrate, and honor the dead, items such as a hair wreath, hair ring, and funeral ribbon blanket remind us that often, we attempt to hold onto a loved one through an object related to them. These beautiful, albeit macabre, objects outlive the individuals they honor and can be passed from generation to generation, much like songs and customs. 

This exhibition aims to discuss rituals and traditions relating to birth and death throughout our region, such as baptisms/christenings, death masks, photography of infants and children, and funeral hymns, such as the titular “Will The Circle Be Unbroken?”, a song frequently sung at graveside services’. The song also ties to the region with the 1930s recording by the Carter Family, which changed the lyrics to the more popular version known today. 

Explore the circle of life and its lasting cultural influences in our Appalachian region.