Browsing: Arts / Culture

Explore the artisans that call Mississippi their home.

Local parks are great places to visit regularly. For many, the playgrounds, picnic areas, and walking paths are the draw. But what if we could add something else to make a visit more interesting and educational, but not permanent. This is the idea behind ephemeral art; the installation of temporary artwork designed to be short-lived. The creation of sand sculptures on beaches is a great example. The Coast Ephemeral Art Project was launched to bring this idea to local green spaces.

The University of Southern Mississippi School of Music and Southern Miss Bands are preparing to welcome student musicians from across the country for another year of All-South activities. Spanning the full academic year, the series connects middle school and high school musicians with Southern Miss faculty, staff and student leaders through honor ensembles, clinics, workshops, camps and performance opportunities.

One of the first times I met Calvin was at a local event. He had a table covered with watercolors, colored pencils, paper, and every kind of art supply imaginable, all there for children to use. He wasn’t selling anything. He simply wanted kids to sit down, create, and discover the joy of making art. Looking back, I realize that little table perfectly represented who Calvin was. He believed creativity should never be limited by someone’s age, background, or ability to pay.

Kenzie Claire Burchfield was always going to attend Mississippi State University.

The daughter of current and retired MSU employees, Burchfield did not need much convincing to become a Bulldog. However, when she heard her friends at Starkville High School discuss a three-week summer theater camp “that sounded amazing” on the university’s campus, she knew she had to be there.

The Southern Chorale, from The University of Southern Mississippi School of Music, launches an international America 250 tour through major cultural festivals in the United States and Europe. From the pine forests of Mississippi to historic venues in Italy, France, Latvia, and Estonia, the internationally celebrated Southern Chorale will carry the sounds of American music across two continents this summer in a tour that reflects both the artistic legacy of the American South and the global language of choral music.

Tucked into downtown Summit, Mississippi, Gulf South Art Gallery is the kind of place that quietly surprises people. From the outside, it feels like part of the familiar rhythm of a small Southern town. Step inside, though, and visitors quickly discover a collection filled with craftsmanship, creativity, and pieces that feel worthy of far bigger cities.