Art Talk last week

We had a great crowd for the first Art Talk of 2007. Since our current exhibition, Views from the Vault, includes a number of works by Gulf Coast modernist Dusti Bongé (1903-1993), we invited David Houston to come tell us about her life and work. David is curator of the Ogden Museum of Southern Art in New Orleans. Julian Brunt, director of the Dusti Bongé Foundation in Biloxi, brought a selection of artworks owned by the estate to show the audience.

Here's David (who is actually flanked by two Maltby Sykes prints):



And here's Julian showing us a rarely-seen work from the foundation's collection:



David also updated us on the ongoing recovery efforts at the Ogden and in the New Orleans art community in general. The Ogden is open three days a week, is within walking distance of the World War II Museum (the former D-Day Museum), and well worth the trip.

Views from the Vault

We are holding over "Views from the Vault" for a few days; you can still come see it on Tuesday, January 23.

Mississippi Arts Commission town hall meetings

SAVE THE DATE!

The Mississippi Arts Commission is coming to your community!

We hope you will join us to share your thoughts and ideas as we plan for the future. These valuable public networking opportunities will help improve the services offered by the Commission.

We are still in the planning phase, but we want you to mark your calendars now

To participate in one of these "town hall" meetings call 601/359-6030 or email info@arts.state.ms.us. There is no charge to attend and lunch will be served.

January 12 – Laurel ( Facilitators: Kim Whitt (Leader), Judi Holifield, Diane Williams)
Lauren Rogers Museum of Art, 5th Avenue at 7th Street


January 23 – Brookhaven (Facilitators: Allison Winstead (Leader), Kim Whitt)

January 26 – Booneville (Facilitators: Kim Whitt (Leader), Malcolm White, Judi Holifield)

January 30 – Clinton (Facilitators: Lee Ann Powell (Leader), Judi Cleary, Maureen Donelly)

February 5 – Cleveland (Facilitators: Judi Cleary (Leader), Diane Williams, Kim Whitt)

February 6 – Oxford (Facilitators: Diane Williams (Leader), Judi Cleary, Judi Holifield, Morrie Warshawski)

February 6 - Louisville (Facilitators: Larry Morrisey (Leader), Kim Whitt, Judi Cleary, Morrie Warshawski)

All meetings will take place between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. with the exception of the Louisville meeting. It will take place between 6-8 p.m. Meeting locations are still being established, but please feel free to contact any one of our program directors/leading facilitators for more information.

Morrie Warshawski is the consultant that is working with the Mississippi Arts Commission and the townhall meetings. Arts Commission board members will also be in attendance.



For more information, contact:

Diane Williams
Arts Industry Program Director - Accessibility Coordinator
Mississippi Arts Commission
501 North West Street
Woolfolk Building - 701B
Jackson, MS 39201
(601) 359-6529
(601) 359-6008

baskets on tour!

A selection of our Native American baskets are now on display at the Booth Western Museum in Cartersville, Georgia (north of Atlanta). I'll be speaking about the collection & the baskets on Saturday night at the members' opening.

Click here for more info.