Mississippi Arts Hour

Larry Morrisey visits with opera conductor Christopher James Ray. Ray is the resident conductor at Opera San Jose and a native of Sumrall, Mississippi. They talk about Ray's career and his recent work conducting a production of the opera "Three Decembers" that was presented virtually and has received a lot of favorable press in the opera community. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sarah Story speaks with curator Ryan Dennis about the newly opened Dusti Bongé exhibition at the Mississippi Museum of Art. Widely considered to be the first Mississippi artist to work consistently in a Modernist style, the exhibition includes works from throughout Dusti Bongé's career. Visitors will be able to experience her paintings, works on paper, and sculptures as well as see the influences of Bongé’s life in different stages.Image description: Dusti Bongé, Void 6 (detail). 1982, Oil on canvas. Collection of the Dusti Bongé Art Foundation See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Highlights of the annual Governor's Arts Awards ceremony. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Leslie Barker talks with this year’s Governor’s Arts Awards honoree for Excellence in Literature, Jesmyn Ward. The first woman to win the National Book Award twice, a recipient of a McArthur Genius Grant, and one of Time Magazine’s Most Influential People of 2018, Ward’s writing pulls deeply from her Mississippi roots. It’s a conversation about storytelling, community, education, and life in DeLisle, MississippiPhoto Credit: Beowulf Sheehan See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Melody Moody Thortis talks with Raphael Semmes, who is being recognized this year with a Governor’s Arts Award as a Cultural Ambassador. Raphael is a lifelong musician, songwriter and event organizer based in Jackson who has contributed to the music and festival scene across the state for decades. His creation of the song, "Feels like coming home" was recorded for Visit Mississippi as a reminder of all the positive attributes of our state. Photo © Portico, by James Patterson See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sarah Story interviews the Governor’s Arts Awards recipient for Excellence in Media Arts, Arthur Jafa. An acclaimed artist, film maker and cinematographer, Jafa has worked to address African American identity through contemporary imagery for the past three decades. The two discuss Jafa’s early years in Clarksdale and Tupelo, films and comic books that influenced him, his time at Howard University as well as upcoming film projects, some of which may take place in Mississippi. Photograph by Robert Hamacher. Image courtesy of the artist and Gavin Brown’s enterprise, New York / Rome. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Larry Morrisey talks with 2021 Governor’s Arts Award recipient Nellie McInnis (aka Nellie Mack). McInnis is a Jackson-based bass player and band leader. She has played with several legendary Mississippi blues and R&B musicians and currently leads a number of groups. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Leslie Barker talks with GRAMMY award-winning musician and this year’s Governor’s Arts Awards Lifetime Achievement honoree, Benjamin Wright. Wright, a native of Greenville, shares stories about his work with Michael Jackson, Gladys Knight, Earth, Wind & Fire, Justin Timberlake, and countless other musical legends. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As part of The Mississippi Arts Commission’s series of interviews featuring the recipients of this year’s Governor’s Arts Awards, Melody Moody Thortis focuses on the work of the Tutwiler Quilters; known nationally for their quilts, potholders, placemats and purses. During the pandemic, the group transitioned to making masks for local hospitals and others in need. This year the Tutwiler Quilters are being honored for the Arts in Community and on behalf of the quilters, Melody spoke to the Executive Director of the Tutwiler Community Education Center, Melanie Powell. Photo credit: Rory Doyle See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Larry Morrisey and his Arts Commission colleague Maria Zeringue discuss the online publication Mississippi Folklife; a MAC project documenting the state’s present-day cultural heritage. Three Mississippi Folklife contributors are featured. Vish Shenoy, a sitar player based in Clinton, MS; Addie Citchens, the author of two essays about Clarksdale and Oxford-based artist, Lee Harper, creator of a  diorama project called History Bones. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sarah Story, the new Executive Director of the Mississippi Arts Commission, interviews sociologist and storyteller Dr. Brian Foster about his new book “I Don’t Like the Blues: Race, Place & the Backbeat of Black Life.” An account of Foster’s five years of research in Clarksdale, the book explores the life of Black citizens, their relationship to the blues and blues tourism, and the inequalities that still exist in the rural South. They also discuss his path to becoming a sociologist, the power of place, and his influences growing up in Mississippi. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Melody Moody Thortis speaks with Leah Kemp, Director of the Fred Carl Jr. Small Town Center at Mississippi State University in Starkville. The Center is a community design center on the campus of MSU where they provide a range of design and planning services for small towns across Mississippi. Melody and Leah talk about how community centric programming continues to change and adapt during the pandemic as well as the new and innovative ways that people and communities are finding to gather together.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Leslie Barker interviews playwright and librettist, Jerre Dye. Jerre is a recipient of the Fellowship of Southern Writers’ Award for Dramatic Literature. His work has been seen at venues such Chicago Opera Theater and the Kennedy Center. From Faulkner and Welty to his childhood in Amory, Jerre talks about how Southern stories and his deep Mississippi roots always find their way into his work. Photo credit: Joe Mazza at Brave Lux Inc. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Larry Morrisey visits with Sarah Story, the new executive director at MAC.  Story is a Jackson native with family roots throughout the state. She has worked at visual arts museums throughout the south and has just returned home to lead the Commission. They talk about her artistic journey and what areas she wants to explore at MAC. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Melody Moody Thortis speaks with artist, canoe builder and river guide, John Ruskey. Owner of Quapaw Canoe Company and former curator of the Delta Blues Museum, John is one of the most experienced guides on the lower Mississippi river. Melody and John talk about his passion for nature and his passion for passing down traditions including the process for making dug-out canoes and his work with young apprentices. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Malcolm White talks with singer-songwriter Chelsea Lovitt. A native of Hattiesburg, Lovitt now resides in Nashville, Tenn., where she has recently released her album “You Had Your Cake, So Lie In It.” The two talk about country music, garage-rock, MAC grants, and more. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Leslie Barker talks with comedian, musician, and veteran, Rita Brent. Rita talks about life growing up in Jackson, sharing her Mississippi story with audiences all over the country, and how comedy is her superpower for connecting and sparking vital conversations. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Larry Morrisey talks with sculptor and MAC Artist Fellowship grant recipient Lawson King. King is a native of the Delta. He creates public sculpture using steel. His current work was influenced by his work as an artist-in-residence in schools around the Delta. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Malcolm White talks with singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Charlie Worsham. A former member of the Old Crow Medicine Show, Charlie Worsham was born in Jackson, Miss., and grew up in Grenada. Malcolm and Charlie talk about his Mississippi roots, grants from MAC as well as his experiences playing with country music legends.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Candice Salyers is dance artist based in Hattiesburg and currently serving as Assistant Professor in Dance at the University of Southern Mississippi. Melody Moody Thortis talks to Candice about her exploration of dance and how it intersects with social issues and site-specific locations. Candice, a recent recipient of MAC's new Individual Project Grants, also shares about her time as a dancer and what’s she learned along the way See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.