Eleanor Hoover
On Tuesday evening the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council hosted the monthly Oxford Art Crawl, featuring art exhibits at six different locations around Oxford.
At the University of Mississippi Museum, the “Mississippi Women” exhibit was a highlight for attendees. The exhibit highlighted works from 15 female Mississippi artists of the 20th century.
“BIRDS” was featured at Southside Gallery on the Square during the art crawl. This exhibit has been on display since Jan. 28 and will be closing Feb. 29.
Event-goer Caleb Whittington said he came to the art crawl because it presents an opportunity to see more of the city, as well as a different side of it.
“I think these types of events are a good way to actually get people involved and walking around, not just to go to stores, and I think that’s really good for the community,” Whittington said.
Brooke P. Alexander, a visiting assistant professor of foundations in the university’s art department, was featured at Southside’s gallery. Her piece, “A Wake,” is currently on display, as have been many of her works in the past.
Adrienne Brown-David’s “Fly” is also displayed on a gallery wall. Brown-David is an Oxford resident, and her work has been on display in various locations around Oxford before.
On display at the Powerhouse, as a contributor to the SmART Show exhibit, was Alba Rocio Harrelson’s various acrylic dyads. As a career biologist, Harrelson described biology as her work and art as her love.
“As a biologist, my artwork is definitely inspired by nature and the natural world, but also (by) the world around me, like the laboratories I spend so much time in,” Harrelson said.
At the center of Harrelson’s pieces is the idea of space and spatial awareness.
“(Audiences can) create their own interpretations of what the pieces mean and how they interact with each other,” Harrelson said.
Harrelson also explained her sometimes deliberate choice of connecting the space between two images. She spoke about an acrylic dyad of two birds called “Twilight Twittering.”
“(The birds) can be in line with each other on the tree, facing away from each other and arguing or facing each other in conversation,” Harrelson said.
Olivia Whittington, Kirstie Manning and Debbie Myers are among other artists also featured at the Powerhouse SmART Show.
“This is the easiest way to go see Jan Murray’s show and not have to park on Thursday night at the opening,” attendee Maggie Wetters said.
Jan Murray, associate dean of liberal arts and professor of art, featured the exhibit “Lost + Found” at Gallery 130 in Meek Hall. Murray has worked on her prints for seven years, and the exhibit will be officially open to the public on Feb. 27.
Wetters also mentioned the potential benefits events like the art crawl have on the Oxford community.
“I wish more people were involved in it and it would be advertised around town more, but that’s a challenge in itself,” said Wetters. “It is wonderful to see what each place has to offer. It is a really nice, varied experience.”
The art crawl is open to the community and occurs every third Tuesday of the month. Transportation is provided by the Double Decker bus between various exhibits around Oxford. Food and beverages are provided at each venue.
