鈥楥ontact S17鈥 photography exhibit opens April 17 at MSU
Contact: Sasha Steinberg
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擯hotographic creations by four graduating art/photography majors at 亚洲色吧视频 are on display April 17-29 in the university鈥檚 Visual Arts Center Gallery.
Free to all, the 鈥淐ontact S17: BFA Photography Thesis Exhibition鈥 celebrates the final year of art department studies for James K. Cox of Clarksdale, Assanti T. Miller of Louisville, Ronnie B. Robinson of West Point, and Willie D. Stewart of Brooksville. Miller and Robinson also are concentrating in graphic design.
Also open to all is a 5-6 p.m. Thursday [April 20] reception in their honor in the gallery located at 808 University Drive on the edge of the Starkville campus. Refreshments will be provided.
Regular gallery hours are 1-4 p.m., Monday-Saturday, as well as by appointment.
All four students have been guided over the years by Professor Marita Gootee and Assistant Professor Dominic Lippillo of the art department鈥檚 photography emphasis area. Gootee is the department鈥檚 longtime photography coordinator.
The students鈥 images reflect the successful conclusion of departmental research, writing and presentation requirements, as well as four years of foundational coursework, survey, art history, and academic and emphasis classes.
Cox, who grew up in the Mississippi Delta, said his imagery is centered in present-time and 鈥渋nvolves a limitless collection that brings up feelings of hopefulness that are deserving of preservation.鈥
鈥淏y preserving the imagery in this manner, I鈥檓 cherishing the culture that exists in this area, in hopes that it will continue to prosper and evolve into something more,鈥 Cox said.
Miller said her body of work 鈥淰isions of Life鈥澛爓as inspired by various personal experiences and contemplations she has had over the years, specifically about the human experience, spirituality and metaphysics.
鈥淯sing the basic elements of this physical world 鈥攚ater, soil and plant life鈥擨 aimed to explore the simple relationship between the physical and the abstract realities universal to the whole of mankind,鈥 Miller explained.
Robinson鈥檚 narrative-based photographic series 鈥淧lay Nice, Dearie鈥 follows the transformation of a young girl from adolescence into womanhood. Through the series, Robinson said she seeks 鈥渢o explore and understand the emotions, psyche and society鈥檚 treatment of a young woman.鈥澛
Stewart鈥檚 body of work for the photography thesis exhibit focuses on imperfections of the human body.
鈥淚 wanted to show imperfections from different people at different angles,鈥 Stewart said. 鈥淭he idea is to show that anything on our body, no matter how bad we may think it looks, can be beautiful.鈥
In addition to the College of Architecture, Art and Design鈥檚 Department of Art, the exhibit is made possible with support from the university鈥檚 Center for Student Activities.
Additional information on the 鈥淐ontact S17鈥 exhibit is available from Lori Neuenfeldt, MSU art department gallery director, at 662-325-2973 or LNeuenfeldt@caad.msstate.edu.
Part of the College of Architecture, Art and Design, MSU鈥檚 Department of Art is home to the Magnolia State鈥檚 largest undergraduate studio art program. For more, visit and .
MSU is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .