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

We are extremely excited to bring you this exhibit, curated from the submissions to the #CDAF2020 Juried Arts Show, and hosted in collaboration with the Mississippi State University Department of Art! 

The following Exhibit is on display for in person viewing at the MSU Visual Arts Center on University Drive during normal gallery hours (noon to 5 weekdays), subject to social distancing guidelines. The online gallery will be viewable until further notice.  Works may be listed for sale.

Juror's Overview

"An exhibition such as this one 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. 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."

-Turry Flucker, Curator and Director, Tougaloo College Art Collections

Click on the file below for the full statement.
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Full Statement from Turry Flucker, Juror of The Light That Persists
File Size: 39 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

​
​Works on display until September 18, 2020.

Hover or click on images below to view title, medium, and pricing.
Please contact SAAC (info at bottom of this page) if interested in purchasing available works.


Jamie Burwell Mixon

Ruth Bader Ginsberg Poster for Verizon Arena, Offset print on Neenah Sundance, NFS
Ruth Bader Ginsberg Poster for Verizon Arena, Offset print on Neenah Sundance, NFS
Jamie Burwell Mixon is a Professor of Graphic Design in the College of Architecture, Art and Design at Mississippi State University. Mixon teaches graphic design courses and designs for select clients. Her creative activity focuses on designing and illustrating concert posters. Her work has been featured in Communication Arts, Print, HOW, Creative Quarterly, Logo Lounge, French Paper Sample Room and more.

www.cargocollective.com/jburwellmixon

Jacob Crook

Drift, Messotint, $800, 16x20
Drift, Messotint, $800, 16x20
Jacob Crook was born in St. Louis, MO in 1985. Crook works primarily in the intaglio printmaking technique of mezzotint but is also trained as an observational oil painter and draftsman. Crook completed his MFA degree in printmaking from Syracuse University in 2014 and received a BFA with emphasis in painting from the University of Missouri, Columbia in 2009. Crook’s works have been exhibited both nationally and internationally including at the Yekaterinburg Museum of Fine Arts in Russia, the Fort Wayne Museum of Art, and are also displayed in numerous academic institutions and private collections. He currently lives Starkville, MS and is an Assistant Professor in Printmaking in the Department of Art at Mississippi State University.

crookstudio.net

Walter Diehl

Docked at Manaus, Digital Photography printed on MOAB Lasal Exhibition Luster 300 paper, $150, 14"W X 20" H
Docked at Manaus, Digital Photography printed on MOAB Lasal Exhibition Luster 300 paper, $150, 14"W X 20" H
Fishing the Amazon, Digital Photography printed on MOAB Lasal Exhibition Luster 300 paper, $150, 14" W X 20" H
Fishing the Amazon, Digital Photography printed on MOAB Lasal Exhibition Luster 300 paper, $150, 14" W X 20" H
Cold Gold Harbour, Digital Photography printed on MOAB Lasal Exhibition Luster 300 paper, $150, 20" W X 14" H
Cold Gold Harbour, Digital Photography printed on MOAB Lasal Exhibition Luster 300 paper, $150, 20" W X 14" H
Walter J. Diehl is an avid world traveler and amateur photographer. His photography provides viewers both a glimpse into those places that he has been privileged to visit and hopefully inspires others to experience the cultures and beauty of new places on their own. His photography provides viewers both a glimpse into those places that he has been privileged to visit and hopefully inspires others to experience the cultures and beauty of new places on their own.  Diehl probably breaks most of the ‘rules’ of travel photography.

His photographs have been displayed in numerous shows and have won awards both regionally and nationally. He earned the B.S. degree in Biology from the College of William and Mary, and the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of South Florida.  Walter is Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences and Associate Dean Emeritus of Arts & Sciences at Mississippi State University.

Julia Graber

Reaching for the Light IV, 2D, $185, 14"w X 12"h
Reaching for the Light IV, Cotton fabric with variegated thread mounted on mat board, $185, 14"w X 12"h
Mona Lisa, cotton fabric with variegated thread mounted on mat board, $295, 15" X 19" wXh
Mona Lisa, cotton fabric with variegated thread mounted on mat board, $295, 15" X 19" wXh
Blue Barn, cotton fabric with variegated thread mounted on mat board, $345, 14" w X 28" h
Blue Barn, cotton fabric with variegated thread mounted on mat board, $345, 14" w X 28" h
Julia Graber loves the challenge of taking an image, whether from a photograph, nature, or in her mind, and creating it with fabric and thread. Graber’s work is representational and often minimizes detail. Her interest in sewing started in her youth when she made dresses as a domestic endeavor. Soon after Graber married, she made traditional quilts, liking the piecing process. Gradually she gravitated toward art quilts and now enjoys both worlds of scrappy quilts and fiber art.

“It brings me joy when viewers of my work are drawn in for a closer look. I'm encouraged when they study the piece and discover with delight that it is not just another quilt but an expressive and compelling piece of fiber art.”

juliagraber.blogspot.com

Jeanette Jarmon

Fount, acrylic paint, $500, 36”x24”
Fount, acrylic paint, $500, 36”x24”
Morning Mist, acrylic paint, $500, 48”x30”
Morning Mist, acrylic paint, $500, 48”x30”
Jeanette Jarmon has always been interested in art- drawing and painting all her life. She enjoys different styles that can convey visual messages and interpretations. Jarmon received a Master’s degree and National Board Certification and owns Art by JNet. She has taught art in public and private schools and colleges including one in Kenya. Jarmon was Artist in Residence for a federal prison and taught art at Mississippi State Hospital, Whitfield, for the Rehabilitation Department. 

According to Jarmon, “Some of the most fun has been leading students on large public mural projects.” Besides commissions and creating her own works Jarmon sells prints of her works wholesale and retail. Her studio is at my home on Tibbee Creek along with her Boathouse Gallery which is open by appointment.

jeanettejarmon.com

Angela Latham

Swirls and Holes, Ceramic, $250
Swirls and Holes, Ceramic, $250, 7 ½” W x 7 ¾” H
Angela Latham is a ceramicist with seven years of entrepreneurial skills as well as six years’ experience as an instructor of ceramics. Her love for ceramics propelled her to open up a business where she sells handmade ceramics and candles. She is a well- rounded-designer due to her many triumphs within different sectors of design, but the true constant of being influenced by modern design is always shown in her work. She desires to reach the viewer's curiosity to stay and dwell within her pieces of work, supplying an emotional connection. Over the years, through her complex characteristic of being a perfectionist, she finds that her work is pummeled over to achieve her very best work.

Pete Melby

Bitter Panic Grass at Mid Beach Pool - Biloxi, Watercolor, $1,200, 17 x 21 inches
Bitter Panic Grass at Mid Beach Pool - Biloxi, Watercolor, $1,200, 17 x 21 inches
White House Hotel, ink drawing, $700, 11 x 15 inches
White House Hotel, ink drawing, $700, 11 x 15 inches
Pete Melby is a landscape architect, writer, and artist focusing on the culture, ecology and images along the Mississippi Gulf Coast and Mississippi Sound Estuary.

“As a landscape architect I am interested in the attractiveness and culture of coastal Mississippi, and the health of the Mississippi Sound estuary.  All are linked together and support one another.  If the ecosystem of the Mississippi Sound Estuary succumbs to poor management and polluted water, the beauty and rich maritime and seafood culture will degrade as well. Through the medium of watercolor and pen and ink drawings, and through the power of story, I am expressing the physical beauty of the coast.”

​www.energyusereduction.com

Lee Anne Merkl

Back To The Garden, Painting, $275.00, 14" x 37" x 1"
Lee Ann Merkl is a full time "Sunday Afternoon Painter". Formally a horticulturist, garden designer and business owner, she currently lives on a farm with dear hubby, two dogs, lots of hummingbirds, loves books, music, painting, sunny days and Sempervivum.

Jeremy Murdock

The Off Season, Leflore County, Mississippi, Digital photographs on wood block prints, custom-made wooden shadow box frame, $225, 13.5" h x 22" l x 1.5" d
The Off Season, Leflore County, Mississippi, Digital photographs on wood block prints, custom-made wooden shadow box frame, $225, 13.5" h x 22" l x 1.5" d
Jeremy Murdock is a self-taught fine art photographer and an editorial photographer in Starkville, Mississippi. As a lifelong Mississippian, Murdock uses his photography to capture, preserve, and highlight the unique rural landscape of his home state. Although he gains a particular sense of inspiration from the rich history and culture of the Mississippi Delta, his work showcases the entire state of Mississippi. Murdock hopes that his imagery helps to preserve the unique places of the state, many of which are fading away. 
Murdock’s artistic style breaks many conventional composition rules typically seen in landscape photography. Dramatic angles and perspectives are not commonly used in his scenes; instead he relies on a strong use of the “Rule of Thirds” and positions himself perpendicular to the subject to compose very flat compositions. The strong lines and virtually two-dimensional framing allow the viewer to experience the simple scenes in an unexpected way. 
jmurdockphotography.com

Diana Neal

Koi Pond, Acrylic yarn on monk cloth, $165, 14" diameter
Koi Pond, Acrylic yarn on monk cloth, $165, 14" diameter
Diana Neal is a Marine Biologist by training, and an artist by soul. Neal works with several fiber mediums and combines them in some pieces. Her artwork reflects the use of different fibers, fabrics, and treads, as well as, techniques. Neal captures nature using techniques such as needle and wet felting and produces collages through quilting and embroidery.

Michelle Neumann

Twilight, Stoneware clay, $195.00, 12 3/4"h x 6"w
Twilight, Stoneware clay, $195.00, 12 3/4"h x 6"w
Journey, Stoneware clay, $285, 10"h x 26"w
Journey, Stoneware clay, $285, 10"h x 26"w
Force, Stoneware clay, $260, 18" h x 14 1/2" w
Force, Stoneware clay, $260, 18" h x 14 1/2" w
Michelle Neumann, originally from Southern California, has always loved creating. This led to several artistic endeavors, from scrimshaw to stained glass, but after taking a ceramics class at Mississippi State University in 2003, she was hooked. Her work is predominately wheel thrown and altered by cutting, adding thrown or slab elements, or adding texture. Currently, this includes the addition of natural elements, such as vines and driftwood. She considers her work to be a reflective process, expressing the beauty and drama of the human condition.

Olin Norton

Liv in aspen grove no 1 - 2019, Digital photography on white inject prints, $400, 16x20, including mounting board and frame
Liv in aspen grove no 1 - 2019, Digital photography on white inject prints, $400, 16x20, including mounting board and frame
Maya and cabin no 1 - 2019, Digital photography on white inject prints, $400, 16x20, including mounting board and frame
Maya and cabin no 1 - 2019, Digital photography on white inject prints, $400, 16x20, including mounting board and frame
Maya in sunlight no 1 - 2019, Digital photography on white inject prints, $400, 16x20, including mounting board and frame
Maya in sunlight no 1 - 2019, Digital photography on white inject prints, $400, 16x20, including mounting board and frame
Olin Norton is a retired mechanical engineer who used to work for MSU. According to Norton, he got his first "real" camera, a Nikon FE, around 1980 while in graduate school and has been interested in photography ever since. “Back when I lived in a townhouse in the Cotton District, I had a small darkroom in my house. Typically, I take a lot of impromptu portraits, and a lot of architectural photos, many in the Cotton District. 
The photos submitted to this exhibition were from Norton’s first experience photographing nude models. These pictures were made at a workshop on fine art nude photography taught by Kim Weston (son of Cole Weston and grandson of the influential American photographer Edward Weston).

Glenn Payne

Study of Rubens' Elevation of the Cross, Graphite on BFK Rives Paper, $1200, 22"x30"
Study of Rubens' Elevation of the Cross, Graphite on BFK Rives Paper, $1200, 22"x30"
​Glenn Payne is an award-winning filmmaker and artist, as well as an improvisational and film actor. He lives in north Mississippi where he creates artwork and produces independent films with the abundance of local talent Mississippi has to offer. Payne is also a thriving fine artist. 

He studied painting at Mississippi State University and crafted his improvisational acting skills with his troupe West of Shake Rag, based in Tupelo, MS, as well as receiving training at Second City in Chicago, IL. 

He continues to exhibit his artwork through galleries, art events, and private collections around the world. The multiple art forms go hand in hand when one considers the concepts of composition, dramatic lighting, color, and storytelling. You can follow its progress @drivenmovie on social media platforms. 

glennpayne.com

Carol Roark

Frosted Hay Bales, Oil paint, NFS, 16" x 20"
Frosted Hay Bales, Oil paint, NFS, 16" x 20"
Carol Roark is a full-time artist living on the edge of the Mississippi Delta. Her works depicts her love of light and the southern landscape. She is an avid plein air painter and creates most of her paintings on location. After receiving her BFA from Mississippi State, she studied extensively under Sammy Britt and focused on the techniques of Henry Hensche and the colorist movement. Roark is a member of the Oil Painters of America, The American Impressionist Society, The Mississippi Plein Air Painters and most recently the Mississippi Oil Painters Association. carolroark.com
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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: SAAC is an equal opportunity organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, operation of programs, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for the public, all members of our staff, volunteers, vendors, and artist communities.
  • Home
    • More About SAAC
    • Board & Staff
    • Annual Report, Strategic Plan, and Public Disclosures
  • Calendar
  • Programs & Events
    • Art Education & Outreach
    • Creative Economy >
      • SAAC Artist Store
      • Joseph MacGown
    • Discretionary Grants & Awards
    • Fundraising >
      • Forks & Corks
      • "Arts & Eats" Cookbook >
        • Cookbook Products
    • Other Projects (Current & Past) >
      • Arts in Excellence Awards
      • Barn Quilt Trail
      • Join Hands
      • Music Trail
      • Untitled!
    • Buzzy's Art Contest
    • Dollyfest - a fundraiser
  • Blog & News
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  • Resources