Mississippi Arts Hour

Malcolm White talks to journalist and author Jonathan Miles. They talk about Miles time in Oxford, his career as a journalist and free-lance writer and his latest novel See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Larry Morrisey talks with Oxford-based writer Michael Farris Smith about his latest novel, The Fighter. The book follows the story of an aging cage match fighter from the Mississippi Delta who is dealing with the effects of his years in the ring. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Malcolm White talks to visual artists Teresay Haygood and Roger Cleaves. Haygood is the currator for a series of exhibitions co-sponsored by the Mississippi Arts Commission and the Mississippi Library Commission. Cleaves is one of the featured artists. He talks about his carrer, style of work and artistic influences See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Turry Flucker speaks with Dominic Lippillo. Dominic is among nine visual artists from around the region receiving a State Fellowship from Atlanta, Georgia-based and MAC‘s regional partner South Arts. In addition to Mississippi, this year’s recipients represent Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Dominic Lippillo's work questions the role of photography by making digitally constructed images that address notions of space versus place, memory, and experience. Selections of his collaborative work are included in the permanent collections of The Museum of Photographic Art; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa; and the University of North Dakota. His work has been published in Don't Take Pictures, Exposure, Daily Serving, and The Eye of Photography See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Larry Morrisey travels to Starkville to talk with percussionist Robert Damm. Damm is the director of Music Education Partnerships at MSU and is specialist in African percussion. He performs throughout the region with his group and leads drumming classes at MSU See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Malcolm White talks to Jackson based artist Amelia Key. They discuss her artistic influences, her artwork and her job working with stained glass at Pearl River Glass Studio in Jackson. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Larry Morrisey traveled to Starkville to learn about the arts and cultural programs at the Mississippi State University Library. Library staffer Sarah McCullough gives details on these programs, including the upcoming Ragtime Festival, the new Ulysses S. Grant Museum and programming at the Historic Cotesworth home in Carroll County. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Malcolm White talks to Mississippi Arts Commission Grants Director Diane Williams about the grant programs offered through the MAC. They also talk about her work as an artist. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Turry Flucker talks to La Tanya Autry. She currently serves as Art and Civil Rights Curator at the Mississippi Museum of Art. Her role is in partnership with the Tougaloo College, where she will organize exhibitions lecture about works of art related to the African American liberation struggle from the early 20th century to today. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Turry Flucker talks to Executive Director Stuart Rockoff about the work of the Mississippi Humanities Council. The Mississippi Humanities Council was founded in 1972, and during that time the Mississippi Humanities Council played an important role in helping to bring about social change in Mississippi, organizing and supporting interracial meetings and funding grants to communities to discuss desegregation and other important issues. Today, MHC continues to create opportunities for Mississippians to learn about themselves and the larger world and enrich communities through civil conversations about our history and culture. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Larry Morrisey hosts a tribute to the late bluesman and MAC Roster Artist Leo “Bud Welch. Welch passed away in December 2017 at the age of eighty-five and a busy but brief career as a touring musician. Larry talks with “Highway 61” show host Scott Barretta about Welch’s career and his impact on the Mississippi blues scene. He also will speak with Vencie Varnado, Welch’s manager who helped him land a recording contract and accompanied the musician on tours around the world. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Malcolm White talks to Jackson based singer/songwriter Chris Gill. They talk about his career, his musical style and influences and his guitars. Chris plays some tunes live in studio as well See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Turry Flucker talks with 2018 Governor’s Arts Awards recipient and Artistic Director of Ballet Mississippi, David Keary from Jackson. David Keary began his ballet training with the Jackson Ballet under the direction of Albia Kavan Cooper, and later became the first professional dancer under the direction of Thalia Mara. He completed his training at the School of American Ballet, the official school of the New York City Ballet. Keary was invited by George Balanchine to join the New York City Ballet. David Keary currently serves as artistic director of Ballet Mississippi. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Larry Morrisey talks with Governor’s Arts Award recipient Steve Azar of Greenville. Starting in music as a teenager, Azar had major hits on country radio in the early 2000s. He continues to perform, but also is the co-founder of the Mighty Mississippi Music Festival and helps to support Delta-based non-profits through his charitable foundation. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Turry Flucker talks with Betsy Bradley, director of the Mississippi Museum of Art and former executive director of the Mississippi Arts Commission. A Greenville native, Betsy received her B.A. in English from Millsaps and M.A. in literature from Vanderbilt University. A longtime arts leader, her role as director of the Mississippi Museum of Art has allowed her to expand the Museum's mission, especially in the realm of education and public participation. Her love of the arts comes from espousing a basic belief that art speaks for us all. Betsy outlines the current programs and exhibitions which includes, Picturing Mississippi, 1817-2017: Land of Plenty, Pain, and Promise, the landmark exhibition exploring Mississippi identity, and commemorates the 200th anniversary of Mississippi's statehood and White Gold: Thomas Sayre is an immersive site-specific installation, by artist Thomas Sayre, which depicts a cotton-filled Southern landscape. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Larry Morrisey talks with 2018 Governor’s Arts Awards recipient V.A. Patterson from Jackson. Patterson got her start in the arts at an early age, attending performances with her mother a columnist for the Clarion-Ledger newspaper. She spent her career in the arts and culture, working in historic preservation, museum work and heading up the Craftsmen’s Guild and Very Special Arts of Mississippi. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Malcolm White talks to the Executive Director of the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council, Wayne Andrews. The Council is a recepient of one of the Governor's Arts Awards for 2018. They talk about the goals of the organization and some of their programming. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.