The Starkville Area Arts Council is excited to announce our next Art in Public Places (AiPP) Exhibit featuring works by Starkville native, Ralph Null. This exhibit will be on display in-person and online on the SAAC website (www.starkvillearts.net/ralphnull/) from September 14 - November 1, 2021, in the lobby of the Greater Starkville Development Partnership in downtown Starkville.

Featuring 30 works, this exhibit will include nature- and floral-inspired watercolors and more abstract pieces.

About the Artist

"RALPH NULL is a mostly self-taught painter who enjoys expressions of nature both realistic and impressionistic. Ralph taught at Mississippi State University and retired as a professor emeritus in 1992 where he specialized in retail floriculture and floral design. He has participated in many significant exhibitions throughout the world with his amazing floral designs and was the lead designer at several White House state dinners, presidential inaugurations, as well as international exhibitions in Norway, England, Japan, South Africa, Australia, and Canada. He was the floral director of the Victorian Exhibition at the Smithsonian which was a longtime permanent exhibit. He is the author of five books on floral design and florist business practices. ..." provided by Ralph Null

Read more about this artist on the SAAC exhibit webpage.

The Exhibit will kick-off with a reception held on September 16 at 5:30 pm in the Greater Starkville Development Partnership lobby in downtown Starkville. This event will be catered by Central Station Grill. Wine provided by SAAC and Scotty's Wine and Spirits.

As part of SAAC’s AiPP series, works may be listed for sale. SAAC collects and pays sales taxes on behalf of the artist for any work sold, and the artist keeps 80% of the proceeds. Please contact SAAC for more information.

#starkvillearts #aippshowcase #RalphNull #AiPP

#CDAF2021 is set for October 2, 2021! Presented by the Starkville Area Arts Council (SAAC) and the Cotton District Arts Festival (CDAF) Committee, they are excited to bring this historic festival (safely) back to the Cotton District this fall with over 150 artisans, 20 local food vendors and food trucks, local musicians, fun arts activities for all ages, and more!

The CDAF Committee is excited to reveal the Official #CDAF2021 poster, chosen over a dozen student submissions to their annual contest in Mississippi State University graphic design classes taught by Suzanne Powney. Congratulations to the 2021 Cotton District Arts Festival poster competition winning artist, Morgan Hollis!

SAAC and CDAF would like to thank all of their artists, vendors, musicians, applicants, volunteers, and sponsors for staying patient and supportive the past 2 years of postponements and cancellations.

The festival is set for October 2, 2021. Although #CDAF2021 will continue rain or shine, inclement weather (such as severe lightning, flooding, high winds and tornados, etc) may affect our ability to host a festival. At the moment, masks will be required for vendors and encouraged for attendees. Social distancing guidelines will be followed. This is subject to change based upon recommendations from the CDC and/or the Department of Health at the time of the festival. Please contact a medical professional for more information on the COVID-19 vaccine. As always, follow CDAF and SAAC on social media for more up-to-date notices.

To stay informed on  dates and deadlines, please follow SAAC and CDAF on social media  and sign up for the SAAC newsletter on the SAAC website (http://www.starkvillearts.net/)

#starkvillearts #CDAF2021 #PosterReveal