Jolly hits the ‘jackpot’ in having pieces selected for art show

Published 5:28 pm Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Initiated in 1974, the Meridian Museum of Art Bi-State Art Competition and Exhibition showcases art ranging from traditional to avant-garde from artists that have resided in Mississippi or Alabama during their lifetime. This marks the 46th annual event, and local artist Randy Jolly will have pieces in this year’s show.

“This is a great show and is known to showcase some really great work,” Jolly said. “And I was thrilled to have work accepted for this show. And to get two pieces selected was like hitting the jackpot.”

Selecting from 114 artists with 322 entries, juror Stephanie Smith selected 65 works for the annual exhibit.

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“This is the highest number of entries since I became the director in 2008,” Meridian Museum Director Kate Cherry said. “It was an extremely competitive show to jury. I believe Stephanie selected a fine show of contemporary works from several states.”

The competition allows works that encompass drawings, paintings, sculpture, mixed media, photography, and printmaking.

“Subject and media are left up to the artist,” Jolly said.

The two pieces Jolly chose to enter, he said, had significant meaning to him personally.

“I use my work to tell stories of my view and remembrance of growing up in rural Mississippi and the changes that have been made over the last 65 years,” Jolly said.

Jolly said since Smith could not travel and review the actual works on site due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she juried the submitted artwork through a comprehensive process of initial judging by digital image.

“This is not my first time to have my work selected through digital images,” Jolly said. “So the process was not totally foreign to me. As an artist I have had to learn to photograph my work and capture the actual textures and colors to show the work at its best.

I have had to work hard to become as familiar with this process as possible and I’m still learning,” he said. “I have also been the judge selecting a show through digital images. I find the process much harder when your only reference is the digital image and not the actual work of art.”

The exhibition officially opened to the public on March 9, but due to the pandemic, it ended a few days later.

The tour can be viewed at www.facebook.com/Meridian-Museum-of-Art-118715604865397/.

About Terri Cowart Frazier

Terri Frazier was born in Cleveland. Shortly afterward, the family moved to Vicksburg. She is a part-time reporter at The Vicksburg Post and is the editor of the Vicksburg Living Magazine, which has been awarded First Place by the Mississippi Press Association. She has also been the recipient of a First Place award in the MPA’s Better Newspaper Contest’s editorial division for the “Best Feature Story.”

Terri graduated from Warren Central High School and Mississippi State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in public relations.

Prior to coming to work at The Post a little more than 10 years ago, she did some freelancing at the Jackson Free Press. But for most of her life, she enjoyed being a full-time stay at home mom.

Terri is a member of the Crawford Street United Methodist Church. She is a lifetime member of the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary and is a past member of the Sampler Antique Club and Town and Country Garden Club. She is married to Dr. Walter Frazier.

“From staying informed with local governmental issues to hearing the stories of its people, a hometown newspaper is vital to a community. I have felt privileged to be part of a dedicated team at The Post throughout my tenure and hope that with theirs and with local support, I will be able to continue to grow and hone in on my skills as I help share the stories in Vicksburg. When asked what I like most about my job, my answer is always ‘the people.’

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