Browsing: Arts / Culture

Form and space with a recurring theme of nature make up the unique art of the late Walter Anderson. Yet, who was Walter Anderson, and how did he develop this style?

“In order to understand the world, you must first understand a place like Mississippi.” This famous quote is commonly attributed to Mississippi writer, William Faulkner, though it has not been confirmed if he was the one who coined the term. Regardless of who said it, this quote stands true. The Magnolia State is full of rich history.

World-renowned as the “Birthplace of America’s Music,” Mississippi has literally shaped the course of modern music with its contributions to blues, jazz, rock, country, and gospel.

During his freshman year at Mississippi College, Anthony Thaxton was selected to design and produce a poster to promote the Eudora Welty Writers’ Symposium, an annual celebration of the achievements of Southern authors and scholars named in honor of the world-renowned short-story writer, novelist, and photographer.

Music is an integral part of sporting events.  Football has marching bands, ballparks have walk-out theme songs, and most other sports blare hype music, filling the air during breaks in the action. However, the newest trend in athletics entertainment and fan engagement blends the human element with the latest music technology. It brings DJs out of the nightclubs and into the arenas and stadiums. 

Nine days after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks rocked the nation, Mississippi State hosted one of the most important football games in American history. This simple act of playing a game would help the country and its people start down the pathway of recovery.

At first glance, an assembly of ceramic artwork crafted by a group of University of Southern Mississippi (USM) students appears as pieces of a dream – figurines that include a teddy bear, computer laptop, rolls of toilet paper and a regal magnolia bloom, among several other items.

Imagine a community bookstore in a historic building full of color, life, and charm. A place where local artists are welcome, and people passing by the storefront window come into read because they are so drawn to the aesthetic of floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, and fun, eclectic vintage furnishings, that they just can’t help but walk inside! Welcome to The Author Shoppe in downtown Hattiesburg, where everyone is welcome.

Each year, on the Saturday before Labor Day, the iconic Prairie Arts Festival takes place in historic downtown West Point, Mississippi. This year’s event is slated for August 31, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., with arts and crafts vendors from multiple states displaying their wares along Commerce Street and throughout Sally Kate Winters Park.

The influence of a legendary University of Southern Mississippi (USM) professor convinced Louise Smith to come to Hattiesburg and study to be a music educator – ultimately following a “call to teach” that has since struck a chord with those singing praises for her work as the longtime band director at Gautier (Miss.) Middle School.   

Can you find Mississippi’s tiniest museum? Hidden downtown, the Hattiesburg Pocket Museum is located in a “secret” alley where you can discover a little world with BIG interactive art installations!

After emancipation and through World War II, juke joints were widely popular in the south. They provided a gathering place for people like Tommy Johnson, Son House, Robert Johnson, and countless other musicians to develop their music. One might say that juke joints were the incubators for the blues.

Mississippi State has joined the elite ranks of institutions with the prestigious All-Steinway School status and will hold a ceremony Aug. 30 celebrating this milestone.

Mississippi State University’s Department of English offers high school students an opportunity to immerse themselves in Mississippi’s rich legacy of literature—demonstrating the multitude of educational and professional options available to English majors—at an inaugural English Expo this fall.

On Saturday, August 31 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., organizers will host the 33rd Annual Labor Day Art Walk in downtown Ocean Springs.

The University of Southern Mississippi School of Music is pleased to announce the 105th season of the Symphony Orchestra under new music director, Gregory Wolynec. Entitled “New Worlds,” the season will include a wide range of works from Mozart and Haydn to Stravinsky and Sibelius