June at the University of Mississippi Museum | View in browser
JUNE 2021
FROM THE DIRECTOR
Greetings, everyone, from your University of Mississippi Museum, and William Faulkner’s Rowan Oak. Programmatically, everyone here remains engaged daily in furthering the development of augmented virtual offerings and digitizing collections for web-posting, while also turning now a full eye to a return to the ‘analog’ exhibitions world. We are beyond excited to be deeply in late-stage logistics planning for our major Fall, 2021 exhibition of Brooklyn-based and nationally MORE...
COVID-19 STATUS UPDATE
Museum Galleries & Exhibitions are Open to University Faculty and Students by Appointment
The University of Mississippi Museum and Historic Houses is committed to the safety of our visitors and staff through these uncertain times. Both sites, Rowan Oak and the museum’s galleries, will remain closed to the general public until further notice. However, the grounds of Rowan Oak and the Bailey Woods Trail are open daily from dawn until dusk. We ask that any visitors practice appropriate social distancing while on the property.
To stay up-to-date with the University’s ongoing response to the coronavirus pandemic, please visit coronavirus.olemiss.edu
WELCOME
Meet Grace Moorman, new Collections Project Manager!
Grace is a 2020 Art History graduate from UM and has served as a Collections & Exhibitions intern, while also serving as an
Education Intern, followed by being hired as a student worker, and as of late, a Recent
Grad Intern/Collections Project Assistant! Grace is pleased to become a permanent member of the Museum staff, "I am so excited to continue my experience and career here with the Museum. This place has been a home for me since I began my undergraduate career in 2016, and I am so thankful to be a part of this museum's team. I am looking forward to many wonderful exhibits, tours, and experiences in my time here!" Robert Saarnio, Museum Director, knows Grace will be a major asset to the team, "The Museum continues to augment its staff with emerging, talented, and highly-skilled professionals, and this is nowhere more evident than in our recent hire of Grace Moorman. Grace brings multiple years of familiarity with our collections and exhibition to her role, and we are thrilled to have her join the team!"
FAMILIES AND CHILDREN
The Bailey Woods Trail, a true treasure in our community,
connects the University Museum to Faulkner’s Rowan Oak. The University
Museum trailhead is now stocked with FREE SCAVENGER HUNT KITS—a fun
trail challenge for kiddos of all ages! So, hit the Bailey Woods Trail
with your kids and explore the wonders of nature in our own backyard. Kits are located at the museum end of the trail entrance.
FROM THE FRIENDS OF THE MUSEUM
"Friends of the Museum support the activities and acquisitions of the University Museum and Historic Houses through advocacy, fundraising, and special programming.” This is the mission statement of The Friends of the Museum, which is a Board comprised of eighteen (18) members representing a broad spectrum of individuals interested in the arts and supporting the University Museum and Rowan Oak. In order to support the Museum, a yearly fundraiser known as Harvest Supper is held to raise the necessary monies needed for education, collections, acquisitions, and a multitude of needs of both Rowan Oak and the Museum. Harvest Supper has grown to be one of the most successful fundraisers in Mississippi, thanks to all the hard work of the Friends of the Museum and the Museum staff. It continues to evolve, as it must, but the core experience remains the same: Showcase what North Mississippi has to offer and make sure everyone is treated as a valued guest!
There are several art and museum trips that are offered to the public through our Conversations committee, as well as many improvements to historical houses through the Rowan Oak Committee. These various committees will be discussed in future Museum newsletters.
Diane Scruggs, President
Friends of the Museum
CURRENT EXHIBITIONS
The Speaking Image highlights commercial art from the Museum’s permanent collection. Commercial artwork is typically commissioned and meant for mass printing and consumption, with the goal of illustrating or enhancing a message or story. MORE…
Southern African American quilts are one of the purest forms of southern
folk art. It is a craft handed down for generations, often done
communally, that represents family, region, and the love of its maker/s.
Born from necessity, where resources are limited, it is a way to reuse
scraps of cloth. MORE…
Southern Folk Art is our second largest collection, largely due in part to generous donations by Dr. Bill Ferris and the Study for Southern Culture. These selected works exemplify the diversity and intuitive spirit of this genre. This exhibit also celebrates the ten-year anniversary of the Hattie Mae Edmonds Gallery; established in 2010. The Hattie Mae Edmonds Fund supports the exhibition, acquisition, and care of Southern Folk Art and was created by Mike Edmonds and friends.
Image above: Untitled, 1975, by Jesse James Aaron.
Check out the virtual exhibit of Theora Hamblett's Dreams and Visions series. Watch a video interview with Theora and find out more about these paintings which she considered to be her most important work. MORE ...
Image above: Angel's Request #2, 1956, by Theora Hamblett.
Follow the Museum on social media to learn more about artists from our permanent collection, important milestones, and celebratory days!
FOR EVERYONE
SUMMER SUNSET SERIES
The Summer Sunset Series is back! Join us at 6:00 p.m. in the Grove, every Sunday in June for FREE concerts on the Grove stage. The Museum is pleased to sponsor June 20th concert featuring Blackwater Trio.
Watch this delightful 1975 Mississippi Public Television interview of Theora Hamblett by famed famed potter, Lee McCarty.
MEMBERSHIP
Being a member provides you with the special distinction of being part of a dynamic group of supporters of the University of Mississippi Museum and Rowan Oak. Now its easier than ever to become a member or renew a current membership online!
BAILEY WOODS
Even though both Rowan Oak and the University Museum are currently closed to the public, the Bailey Woods Trail remains open from dawn until dusk daily. We ask that all trail visitors practice appropriate social distancing while enjoying this National Recreation Trail, which connects the two sites.
The Beautiful Mysterious: The Extraordinary Gaze of William Eggleston, co-published by the University Museum and University Press of Mississippi, is an examination of the life and work of William Eggleston. Widely considered to be the father of color photography, Eggleston helped establish the artistic medium and has inspired photographers and artists around the world.
Get the Memphis Flyer at the Museum!
To arrange receiving a copy in this period, please contact our Director Robert Saarnio, at 662-915-7202.