By Gabrielle Terrett

The Vicksburg Post

Mississippi Artists of all levels and artistry components are invited to participate in the 37^th Annual Vicksburg Art Association’s Mississippi Artists Exhibition Nov. 11-14.

The event is held each year in the Old Constitutional Firehouse Gallery, 1204 Main St., and is a way to involve not only artists in the community, but patrons as well.

Randy Jolly, director of Gore Galleries, said the event is a way to educate people about art while also providing an outlet for artists to exhibit their work.

“It just bring artist’s from outside, this is a Mississippi Invitational so artists from all over Mississippi are invited to participate,” said Jolly. “This event allows people to come in and see art from around the state and it is a nice venue for tourism. A lot of the artists stay in Vicksburg the night before and some stay the night after the event. A lot of them go to the restaurants around Vicksburg as well.”

To participate, artists must submit pieces to the Firehouse Gallery before the event.

“We are receiving work Monday from 4-6 p.m. at the Firehouse Gallery or you can go online to our website (vicksburgartassociation.org) or Vicksburg Art Association’s Facebook page,” Jolly said. “It is the same for both sites, just go to events and perspectives and it should give you all of your information.”

Artists will not be the only ones to benefit from the exhibition. According to Jolly, art patrons and even the entire community will benefit.

“It is just a great experience to expose the community to a wide variety of art, it is a great learning experience really because everyone is invited, we have 13 categories,” he said. “There will be oil, watercolor, acrylic, monochrome, graphic design, fine craft, fiber which will include quilting and fabrics, and we even have printmaking, digital imagery, photo color and drawing. The only category we do not have is video, but we do have mixed media. This event shows the community more than just artist’s from the Vicksburg- Warren Counties.”

The Annual Artists Exhibition will be judged by category and each category will be awarded a first, second and third and honorable mention award said Jolly. There will also be one “Best-in-Show” award. The winner will receive $500

“The first, second, third and honorable mention awards will be awarded at the discretion of the judge in each individual category,” said Jolly.

“Each judge has their own individual thing they are looking for. Experienced artist, Bob Pennebaker will be one of our judges this year. He is a wonderful artist and he has taught in Jackson for many years.”

Along with exhibiting works of art for judges, artists are exhibiting art to patrons as well. Artists will be able to sell art pieces to those attending the event.

Artists’ pieces will be displayed for sale during the event and patrons will be able to purchase the pieces through the Vicksburg Art Association.

“Each art piece will be for sale. To purchase a piece the patron just needs to let us know which piece they would like to purchase,” said Jolly. “They then write a check to the Vicksburg Art Association and we in turn will send a check to the artist after the event.

The show is one of many hosted by the art association each year as they work to give artist and outlet to display their creations.

“We, the Vicksburg Art Association, are a group of artists and patrons who volunteer and put together art programs each month. We have two shows, an adult show and a child show,” Jolly said.

“Our purpose is to allow artists to show their art every so often. We also get involved on the educational realm as well. We demonstrate to children who have different ways of thinking how art relates to the three R’s — Reading, ‘Riting and ‘Rithmetic. We encourage anyone who wants to join us to meet with us weekly on Tuesday’s September- May at 7 p.m. at the Old Constitution Firehouse. It’s there unless something special is planned which then you can check the website for special events.”

Special events such as the Vicksburg Art Association’s Annual Mississippi Artists Exhibition are posted on the website and it will be held Nov. 11-14 at the Old Constitution Firehouse each night. Judges comments will be announced on the 14^th and it is open to the public.

“We would love to have everyone come and participate,” he said. “Everyone who is an artists in and around the Vicksburg Warren community, this is a great outlet for artists and for patrons as well.