Mississippi Arts Hour

Sarah Story talks with award-winning author Kiese Laymon. The two talk about their home state, Laymon’s newly revised and repackaged book “Long Division" and the author’s upcoming appearance at the Mississippi Book Festival, which will take place on Saturday, August 21 in downtown Jackson. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Larry Morrisey talks with Carolyn Brown and Ellen Ruffin, co-editors of "A De Grummond Primer," a new book that examines the extensive children’s literature collection at The University of Southern Mississippi. The collection includes original items from a number of legendary children’s book authors, including Margret and H.A. Rey, the creators of “Curious George. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Leslie Barker talks with musician, Adam Collier. Also known as AJC of AJC and The Envelope Pushers and AJC the DJ, he is a man who wears many musical hats. It’s a conversation about Adam’s influences, process, and upcoming projects.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Melody Moody Thortis talks to Erin Rockwell, a dancer and choreographer currently serving as a Professor of Dance at Belhaven University as well as the Director of its MFA Program. Erin is also a former Mississippi Arts Commission Fellowship recipient. They discuss Erin’s journey as a dancer, her frequent collaborations with local musicians and her passion for integrating dance and film.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sarah Story interviews Ralph Eubanks about his new book, "A Place like Mississippi: A Journey Through a Real and Imagined Literary Landscape." They talk about Ralph’s experiences of growing up on a farm in Mississippi during the Civil Rights Movement, returning to the state after a long absence, and how he was inspired to write a book about the literary landscape of the state. The two also discuss the upcoming Mississippi Book Festival, which will take place Aug. 21 in downtown Jackson. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Larry Morrisey talks with musician and composer Igor Iwanek. Iwanek combines academic training in western classical music with longtime independent study of Indian classical music to create music that fuses the multiple traditions. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sarah Story speaks with Catherine Pierce, Mississippi’s new Poet Laureate. Pierce has been a professor of creative writing at Mississippi State University since moving to the state in 2007. She received the 2021 Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters’ Poetry Award for her book Danger Days. Sarah and Catherine discuss the role of the state’s environment on her work, why poetry is for everyone, and Catherine’s plans to promote poetry throughout the state in her role as poet laureate. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Melody Moody Thortis speaks with H.C. Porter, a visual artist whose work is often recognized due to its unique style and high contrast colors. As a photographer, printmaker and painter, Porter’s work as an artist and cultural ambassador is rooted in an effort to use the visual arts to tell the stories of Mississippians. They talk about her journey to document the people of Mississippi after Katrina and her work with blues legends across the state – this work is chronicled through her books, Backyards and Beyond and Blues at Home.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Leslie Barker talks with Heather Barnes and Heather Bailey about Uproar Theatre Company, Inc.; a new company in Jackson, created by and led by women. Uproar works to create theatre that will inspire audiences and spark important community conversations.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Larry Morrisey travels to Malaco Records in Jackson to talk with label president Tommy Couch, Jr. Malaco has just published a large-format book that documents the history of the music label, from its beginnings as a small music booking operation and growing into a highly regarded independent record label focused on blues, R&B and gospel music.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sarah Story speaks with Cali Larson Noland, Griot Youth Program founder, and Leonette Henderson, Griot’s new executive director. Sarah speaks with the two about the founding of Clarksdale-based Griot and the diverse arts programs they offer for grades 3 – 12. They share their excitement for the opportunity to create new community in Clarksdale and talk about their local coffee shop, Meraki, which gives workforce development training for young adults. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Leslie Barker talks with theatre artist and Jackson native, Melissa Mickens. Melissa is an actress, writer, director, producer, and teaching artist based in New York. She is the director of Adler Youth and Summer Shakespeare and the Black Arts Institute coordinator at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. The discussion includes thoughts on the vital importance of arts education and all aspects of the collaborative theatrical process. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Melody Moody Thortis talks with Kristen Brock, Director of Programs and Promotions at Visit Hattiesburg and Director of the Hattiesburg Alliance for Public Art. They discuss how Hattiesburg has embraced the arts as a driver for community growth, economic development and community engagement. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Larry Morrisey talks with composer Ivan Elezovic, a professor in the music department at Jackson State and one of this year’s MAC Artist Fellowship grantees. Larry and Ivan talk about his early years as a performer, discovering contemporary music and composition in college and his path to becoming a composer. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Mississippi Arts Commission Executive Director Sarah Story talks with Jackson-based visual artist Alexis McGrigg. They discuss her influences from the Mississippi School for the Arts, her journey from undergraduate painting to the graduate painting level, and McGrigg’s current exhibitions which reach from Mississippi to New York See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Melody Moody Thortis speaks to Silbrina Wright, executive director of the Greater Jackson Arts Council (GJAC) about her work at the intersection of the arts and social justice. They talk about the efforts of the Greater Jackson Arts Council to grow its programming and expand its work. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Leslie Barker talks with visual artist and Mississippi Arts Commission Special Initiatives Director, Victoria Meek. They discuss Victoria’s love of museums and how they helped spark her passion for art at an early age. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Larry Morrisey talks with photographer and folklorist Robert Stone about "Can't Nobody Do Me Like Jesus!" his new book of photographs documenting the "sacred steel" music tradition. A group of African American churches use the steel guitar as their lead instrument. The churches are found throughout the eastern half of the US, including in north Mississippi. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sarah Story talks with Benjamin Saulsberry, museum director of the Emmett Till Interpretive Center in Sumner. The two speak about the Emmett Till story and the work of the Interpretive Center. The Center was recently awarded a grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to support racial healing efforts and strategic planning to coordinate the preservation of the Mamie and Emmett Till story across the Mississippi Delta and in Chicago. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Leslie Barker talks with her former student, Jay Jurden. Jay is a comedian, actor, and writer who was named one of the Comedians You Should and Will Know in 2020 by Vulture. He has appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Comedy Central Featuring, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and HBO's High Maintenance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.