Mississippi Arts Hour

Lauren Rhoades talks with novelist Katy Simpson Smith, who was born and raised in Jackson and now lives in New Orleans. Katy's fourth novel, THE WEEDS, was published this spring. She is also the author of the novels THE STORY OF LAND AND SEA, FREE MEN, and THE EVERLASTING, as well as a book of nonfiction. On the Arts Hour, Katy talks about her unconventional path to writing fiction and the process for writing her most recent novel set in Rome.  If you enjoyed listening to this podcast, please consider contributing to MPB. https://donate.mpbfoundation.org/mspb/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Lewis speaks to the Executive Director of the USA International Ballet Competition (USA IBC), Mona Nicholas. David and Mona discuss what it takes to pull together what is considered the Olympics of ballet and the village it takes to put together this remarkable international competition. The International Ballet Competition happens every four years in Jackson, Mississippi, the only location in the United States, and will take place June 10-24 this year. If you enjoyed listening to this podcast, please consider contributing to MPB. https://donate.mpbfoundation.org/mspb/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Mississippi Arts Hour, Maria Zeringue talks with writer, filmmaker, and mentor Maximus Wright. As a proud native of Yazoo City, Wright is passionate about telling Mississippi stories and fostering talent in his home state. In 2020, Wright started the Jackson Film Festival through his non-profit, Soarpreneur, to help give Mississippi filmmakers a platform to showcase their work. He has written 3 books and directed two films, “My Name is Lola” and “Soul Damage.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leslie Barker talks with Coldwater, Mississippi native, Princeton James. Princeton is a film, television, and theatre artist who has appeared in the Netflix film, Uncorked and has worked on the NBC shows, Bluff City Law and Young Rock. He is also very passionate about creating meaningful arts experiences for young people in the Mid-South. Don’t miss our conversation about his creative journey and how Coldwater finds its way into his work. If you enjoyed listening to this podcast, please consider contributing to MPB. https://donate.mpbfoundation.org/mspb/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lauren Rhoades talks with documentary film director, writer and producer Roderick Red. Roderick is also the owner of Red Squared Co, a video production and communication design firm based in Jackson. Tune in to hear more about Roderick's entrepreneurial path and unique approach to community building and creativity. If you enjoyed listening to this podcast, please consider contributing to MPB. https://donate.mpbfoundation.org/mspb/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leslie Barker talks with storyteller, teaching artist, and member of the Mississippi Artist Roster, Da Terrence Roberts. Not only does Da Terrence dive into his process and the importance of stories – he also performs one!  If you enjoyed listening to this podcast, please consider contributing to MPB. https://donate.mpbfoundation.org/mspb/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Poetry is alive and thriving in the Magnolia State! On the Mississippi Poetry Podcast you’ll hear poets sharing their work, telling their stories, and offering tips to help listeners flex their poetic muscles. In this episode, poet Christie Collins joins host and Mississippi Poet Laureate Catherine Pierce for a conversation about sound in poetry, the difference between writing and being a writer, and baby elephants. A resource for teachers or community leaders can be found here: https://arts.ms.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Podcast-Supplement_Collins-.pdf Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Larry Morrisey talks with Will Thompson, a jazz musician and college professor based in Hattiesburg. Will talks about his student years as a pianist in New Orleans, playing with legendary musicians in Jackson, and his current work in experimental music and sound design. If you enjoyed listening to this podcast, please consider contributing to MPB. https://donate.mpbfoundation.org/mspb/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lauren Rhodes speaks with vocalist Holly Brand, from Meridian, Mississippi, who has just wow-ed audiences across the country with her appearance on NBC’s The Voice. When she was 10, Holly opened for country artist Blake Shelton after winning a local competition. She started singing in public at church and then began participating in beauty pageants, which led her to be crowned Miss Mississippi in 2021. If you enjoyed listening to this podcast, please consider contributing to MPB. https://donate.mpbfoundation.org/mspb/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Lewis talks with the George Bassi. George is the Director of the Lauren Rogers Museum in Laurel, Mississippi. In the conversation, they talk about the unique and moving history of how the museum came to be, the impact that the Building Fund for the Arts has had on the Museum, and the current 100th anniversary celebration of the Museum's collection. If you enjoyed listening to this podcast, please consider contributing to MPB. https://donate.mpbfoundation.org/mspb/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Maria Zeringue talks with Katie Clark. Katie is a crochet artist, and she is a current participant in MAC’s Folk Arts Apprenticeship program. In their conversation, Katie discusses her path to learning crochet and developing as an artist, her apprenticeship experience mentoring Sarah Rose Govero, and her work with the Craftsmen’s Guild of Mississippi. Photography: Rory Doyle. If you enjoyed listening to this podcast, please consider contributing to MPB. https://donate.mpbfoundation.org/mspb/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leslie Barker talks with Teneia Sanders. Teneia is an award-winning international touring musician and songwriter whose work has been featured on HBO and Netflix. In our conversation, Teneia reflects on making music from Jackson to Tanzania. If you enjoyed listening to this podcast, please consider contributing to MPB. https://donate.mpbfoundation.org/mspb/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lauren Rhoades talks with Church Goin Mule, a Southern artist born and raised across the South. Mule's work is influenced by Southern literature and music and has been exhibited widely across the Southeast. Today she can also be found managing the JX Farms artist residency in Cleveland, Mississippi. Tune in to learn about Church Goin Mule's artistic journey and the inspiration she gathers from the Delta landscape and community. If you enjoyed listening to this podcast, please consider contributing to MPB. https://donate.mpbfoundation.org/mspb/podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Larry Morrisey visits with David Lewis, the new executive director of the Mississippi Arts Commission. David comes to MAC from the City of Jackson, where he served as the Deputy Director for the Department of Human and Cultural Services. While with the city, he worked on a wide range of projects that bolstered the city’s arts community. If you enjoyed listening to this podcast, please consider contributing to MPB. https://donate.mpbfoundation.org/mspb/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Larry Morrisey talks with Ke Francis, the recipient of the 2023 Governor’s Arts Award for Excellence in Visual Art. Francis is a narrative artist who has been actively producing artwork for over fifty years. His book works, paintings, prints, photographs, and sculptures are in numerous public and private collections. He currently maintains an active studio practice in Tupelo, Mississippi, where he and his wife, Mary, own HOOPSNAKE PRESS. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Poetry is alive and thriving in the Magnolia State! On the Mississippi Poetry Podcast you’ll hear poets sharing their work, telling their stories, and offering tips to help listeners flex their poetic muscles. In this episode, poet Ann Fisher-Wirth joins host and Mississippi Poet Laureate Catherine Pierce for a conversation about the necessity of adventure, the mysteries of childhood, and why it's important to remember that the poem is not you. A resource for educators of community groups can be found here: https://arts.ms.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Podcast-Supplement_Fisher-Wirth-1.pdf Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Larry Morrisey talks with Ed McGowin, the recipient of the 2023 Governor’s Arts Award Lifetime Achievement Award. McGowin is an internationally recognized multi-media artist who has participated in more than ninety one-person exhibits and four hundred group exhibits across six continents. They talk about his path from Hattiesburg to being an internationally known artist.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lauren Rhoades talks with Ralph Eubanks, the 2023 Governor’s Arts Award-winner for Excellence in Literature & Cultural Ambassador. Eubanks is a writer whose work focuses on race, identity, and the American South. He is faculty fellow and writer-in-residence at the Center for the Study of Southern Culture at The University of Mississippi - Ole Miss. He is the author of the book A Place Like Mississippi, as well as two other works of nonfiction, Ever Is a Long Time and The House at the End of the Road. If you enjoyed listening to this podcast, please consider contributing to MPB. https://donate.mpbfoundation.org/mspb/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Maria Zurang talks with King Edward Antoine. They discuss King Edward’s career as a musician playing zydeco, jazz, country, rock, R&B, and most notably, the blues. King Edward is this year’s Governor’s Arts Award recipient for Excellence in Music, If you enjoyed listening to this podcast, please consider contributing to MPB. https://donate.mpbfoundation.org/mspb/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leslie Barker talks with the Mississippi Museum of Art Director Betsy Bradley. Bradley is this year’s Governor’s Arts Award recipient for Leadership in Visual Arts and community. If you enjoyed listening to this podcast, please consider contributing to MPB. https://donate.mpbfoundation.org/mspb/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.