The Light that Persists: Mississippi Artists in 2020 -SAAC Juried Exhibition

Press Release

The Starkville Area Arts Council (SAAC) is excited to announce a Fall Juried exhibit titled " The Light that Persists: Mississippi Artists in 2020 - SAAC Juried Exhibition". This hybrid exhibition is installed in and hosted by the MSU Virtual Arts Center Gallery and will be available for virtual viewing as well. Guest Juror Turry M. Flucker, Art Collections Director and Curator at Tougaloo College, selected more works by local and regional artists curated from submissions to the #CDAF2020 Juried Arts Competition.​

"An exhibition such as this not only provides artists with greater visibility in the state, it also offers us a glimpse into the art-making process during a global pandemic and the Black Lives Matter Movement," Flucker wrote in an accompanying statement to the Exhibition. "It is my hope that this exhibition offers the viewer a provocative experience of one historian and curator’s vision of contemporary art in Mississippi."

"Although we were unable to host #CDAF2020, we are very excited to find a silver lining with the Juried Arts submissions in creating this exhibit," says SAAC Executive Director John Bateman. "This also gives us a chance to explore alternative programming, and Lori Neuenfeldt with the MSU Department of Art has been an extremely valuable collaborating partner in this aspect."

Starting August 28, this free exhibit will be on display at the MSU Visual Arts Center, 808 University Drive in Starkville, during regular hours, 1-6 pm weekdays, and Saturdays 1-4 pm. A VIRTUAL version will also be available on SAAC's website through www.starkvillearts.net. The installation will be available for viewing August 28 - September 18 and the virtual exhibit will run until further notice. Works are for sale, with 80% of the proceeds going to the artist.

Visitors and staff must wear masks at all times in the gallery, and masks can be provided upon request. Lori Neuenfeldt, MSU art instructor and gallery director, said the VAC and other campus art galleries are professionally cleaned and sanitized on a regular basis, with enhanced measures according to recommended health protocols. In accordance with physical distancing guidelines, admittance to the VAC Gallery will be limited to 10 people. Visitors are asked to be mindful of traffic flow when entering and exiting the building. “We also encourage frequent use of hand sanitizing stations that are placed throughout the gallery,” Neuenfeldt said.

For more information on the Mississippi State’s Department of Art exhibits, please visit https://www.caad.msstate.edu/exhibitions

​#starkvillearts #AiPP #JuriedExhibition #TurryFlucker