George Fishman: In Loving Memory of Bill Buckingham - His Work Continues

This morning Michael and I found this loving tribute to Bill written by our friend George Fishman on George's Facebook Page.  We are sharing it with you here.  George has eloquently captured Bill's incredible spirit and important contributions to the mosaic community.  We thank you deeply, George.

Michael Welch, Bill Buckingham & Nancie Mills Pipgras. 

Bill Buckingham's departure from this world has left a giant void in the hearts of his circle of family and friends. His vibrant enthusiasm, expressed in word and deed, has impacted numerous organizations and thousands of individuals. And that enthusiasm will continue to reverberate.  

Bill's dedication to the art of mosaic took a great range of enduring forms. He created the Mosaic Atlas, allowing a world-wide community of mosiac artists and enthusiasts to share their creations and discoveries. 

His annual CD, the Mosaic Yearbooks, collected and disseminated the work of myriad artists to a growing audience. Mosaic Art Now, the lavish annual publication, co-edited with beloved partners Michael Welch and Nancie Mills Pipgras, presents deeply researched and illustrated articles - plus a juried Exhibition in Print - greatly enriching the art community, generating enthusiasm for mosaic art's potential and showcasing excellence in both personal and public expression. 

Bill's understanding of the importance of the internet, combined with his design and technical expertise and huge generosity, catapulted the Society of American Mosaic Artists's (SAMA) online presence into great prominence and value to members, students and a general audience. He contributed to the organization's quarterly print newsletter, Groutline, and allowed SAMA's web site to archive its articles.

Bill and his partner, Michael, created Mosaic Rocks, a supply source and educational vehicle for introducing new materials to artists. They presented workshops with celebrated mosaicist and friend Sophie Drouin.

Bill and Nancie's Roman Mosaic Presentation is exemplary of his enthusiasm for the origins and traditions of mosaic art, which certainly anchored his own personal expressions, while his bold inventiveness and inquiring spirit gave wings to those traditions. Bill's artwork reveals his passion for the intellectual and emotional potential of mosaic art expression and his ongoing delight in the myriad natural materials to be discovered and exploited. Examples can be accessed - among other places - in the Mosaic Voices 2009 exhibition.

Michael Welch and Bill Buckingham

Mosaics New England was an outstanding show that Bill and Margaret Ryan initiated and curated  and Mosaic Rocks sponsored in 2007 and 2009.   A Commonwealth of Massachusetts award for his co-creation of a mosaic exhibition in Somerville, MA certainly captures Bill's contributions to the entire community of mosaics - and beyond. 

In that spirit, Nancie and Michael have just created an album for the community in which any and all can upload their comments and artworks made with materials sourced from Mosaic Rocks. As Nancie writes on theMosaic Art Now blog, Voila! a Facebook Group entitled "Pieces of Bill."  Think of it as the Mosaic Rocks! Virtual Exhibition. Here's the link.

We love you, Bill. We embrace you, Michael and Nancie. We share your tears, which are mixed with the memory of Bill's laughter. His irrepressible spirit can again soar unencumbered by physical burdens.

Send cards and notes to:

Michael Welch

536 North Avenue

Somerville Museum, Somerville MA     Bill Buckingham, Margaret Ryan, Evelyn Battinelli (director of the Somerville Museum), and Denise Provost (State Representative) The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, The House of Representatives

Be it hereby known to all that:

The Massachusetts House of Representatives

offers its sincerest congratulations to:

Bill Buckingham

in recognition of

Your outstanding contribution to the City of Somerville through your role as curator of the Art of Mosaic exhibit at the Somerville Museum. Your efforts to publicize this beautiful exhibit and to involve students and members of the community were extraordinary. Your community joins me in expressing our most sincere appreciation for your contributions to our great city.

The entire membership extends its very best wishes and expresses the hope for future good fortune and continued success in all endeavors.

Give this 6th day of October, 2007

at the State House, Boston, Massachusetts

by: Salvatore F. DiMasi

Speaker of the House

Offered by: Denise Provost

State Representative