Mississippi College is showcasing the power of art to inspire creativity and foster unity through a series of fall exhibitions open to the public.
The Department of Art is hosting multiple exhibits across campus, featuring works from professional artists, local creators, and MC students. Randy Jolly, MC art instructor and director of the Gore Galleries, said the events give students valuable opportunities to learn from established artists.
“Our students get to hear working artists and learn from them, see new ideas, and realize that they, too, can have a career in art,” Jolly said. “Art is one of the most exciting careers that you can have. You must be strong, resilient, able to adapt, and you have to understand the culture that you live in, what your audience is looking for in a work of art.”
At the Gore Arts Complex Gallery on East Campus, “My Life Revisited,” a solo show by Vicksburg gallery owner Lesley Silver, will be on display. Silver, founder of the Attic Gallery, will discuss her work during an artist talk at 4 p.m. Tuesday Sept. 16, followed by a reception. Her exhibit includes more than 20 pieces that Jolly called “unique” examples of mixed-media art.
“She finds things lying on the street that other people wouldn’t notice, from driftwood to rusted nails, anything that interests her, and puts them together in unique ways,” Jolly said. “She’s also a creative photographer who loves to mentor young artists.”
Meanwhile, the Samuel Marshall Gore Art Galleries are featuring three other shows:
- “Artists Across Borders” in the Spaugh Gallery, showcasing work from Hattiesburg-area artists Hector Boldo, Allen Chen, Andrea Kostyal, and Betty Press, through Sept. 30.
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“Paper and Prints” in the Dunaway Gallery, highlighting MC students’ monotypes, etchings, and handmade paper, on display through Oct. 28.
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A curated selection from MC’s permanent collection, including works by Salvador Dali, Peter Max, John S. Dewar, and Mississippi artists Wyatt Waters and Keith M. Francis.
Jolly said the “Paper and Prints” exhibit especially helps student artists learn the importance of presentation.
“Our faculty encourage students to learn how to present their art in a way that indicates its value,” he said. “It’s exciting to see what the students can do with cotton pulp and making their own paper.”
The Gore Galleries are open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, and the GAC Gallery is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Admission is free.
