'Fragile Food Chain' by Kevin Scott Burrill
William King Museum of Art announces the launch of a new Abingdon Wolf Project, in collaboration with the Town of Abingdon. Inspired by Abingdon’s original name, “Wolf Hills,” the project features 20 decorated fiberglass wolf sculptures placed throughout the community. Each wolf has been designed and painted by local and regional artists selected through a juried process, transforming the town into an open-air gallery.
Some of the artists include Hana Eichin, Kevin Scott Burrill, Eric Drummond Smith, Bethany France, Katelyn Wilson, John Hilton, Melinda Fritts-Payne, Aria Asbury, Laura Bays Reynolds, Clementine Gaal, Angelina Reed, Kristy Moeller Ottinger and Lisa May.
After the wolves have been displayed around town, they will be auctioned at a charity event in November, with proceeds benefiting the museum and the artists who brought each sculpture to life.
This year the Abingdon Wolf Project will have an interactive public art experience powered by Bandwango that invites visitors and locals to explore the town through the curated trail of wolf sculptures. This free mobile passport offers a guided journey through Abingdon, blending art, history, and discovery.
As participants visit each wolf, they can unlock digital content including artist insights, design inspiration and behind-the-scenes stories.
The town has created a web page where visitors can learn more about how to download the app. It is available at go.visitabingdonvirginia.com.
People can take part in a scavenger hunt by taking pictures of each wolf at its location after finding the addresses and GPS coordinates of the wolves on the app and locating the wolf. Some are quite clearly displayed, but others are somewhat hidden.
After photographing all the wolves, participants can visit William King Museum of Art’s front desk to receive a limited-edition poster featuring all of the wolves.
“The Abingdon Wolf Project is a celebration of who we are, our history, our creativity and our sense of place,” said Mandy Barker of William King Museum of Art. “By combining public art with interactive technology, we’re creating an experience that invites people to explore, engage and connect with Abingdon in a meaningful way. It’s something that will resonate with both visitors and our local community.”
By blending storytelling, art, and technology, the project transforms Abingdon into a vibrant, living gallery, one that invites discovery at every turn while honoring the town’s roots as Wolf Hills.
