Gore Galleries Hosts Mississippi Artists' Exhibit

Mississippi artists plus others from around the South created sculptures, oils, mixed media and other works on display through June 23 at the Gore Galleries.

“Mississippi Spirit - Southern Connections” is the name of the new exhibit at Mississippi College's art gallery. The exhibit opened June 3.

“The work is bright, bold and simply makes you happy when you are in the room with the art,” says Randy Jolly, director of the Gore Galleries. “Their work shows a great passion for expression and often does not fit the mold of what we normally consider art.”

One of the featured artists, Kenneth Humphrey used to cut grass at the National Military Park in Vicksburg before he approached a local gallery with his art work, and his career took off.

Some of Humphrey's artistic creations were used on posters for the International Ballet competition in Jackson and to promote the capital city's Jubilee Jam festival. He's been featured in art shows in Washington, D.C. and Atlanta.

Artists in the show such as Theresa Haygood, Roz Roy and Poor Julia, also known as Julia Allen, are from the Jackson area. Ellayne Goodman is a Columbus resident and Earl Simmons is from Vicksburg. Some like the late L.V. Hall and R.A. Miller have been featured in shows promoting folk and self-taught artists at the Smithsonian in Washington.

The Gore Galleries is showing off the works of twenty artists the next few weeks. “All have different stories,” Jolly said. Many of the artists are self-taught.

This summer, the Gore Galleries on the Clinton campus is open from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Admission is free.

For more information, contact Randy Jolly at 601.925.3880 or rjolly@mc.edu.