Hattiesburg, Miss. -- Mitchell Gaudet, a New Orleans glass artist was to show his works in August and September 2005 at the University of Southern Mississippi Museum of Art.  Hurricane Katrina had other plans.

Rescheduling this important artist for the 2005-2006 museum season of exhibitions, the Museum of Art will present “Myth of Romance” Oct. 12 through Nov. 17, with an opening reception, with the artist in attendance, Oct. 12 from 4-6 p.m.

 “I have always used found objects in my work,” Gaudet explained of his works.  “In fact the looking, collecting and displaying of these objects have been a life-long activity.”

Gaudet enjoys the hunt as much as using the finds in his works.  “I look for objects that have a presence, a Mana (intrinsic life force).  I, then, collage these finds together to create pieces that have a presence of their own,” he said.

His collection of objects that deal with the subject of love found and lost will be featured in the Southern Miss show. Pieces will include “objects of beauty,” “torso's,” “knifes and daggers” and “the book of love.”

In addition to the “Myth of Romance” show, Gaudet will exhibit work in the Karnes-Sullivan Gallery that he recently completed while in residency at the Glass Museum in Tacoma, Wash., inspired by Hurricane Katrina.

Susan Fitzsimmons, chair of the Southern Miss Department of Art and Design, calls this an important exhibition for the museum.  “We are highly anticipating this show, having waited a year because of Hurricane Katrina.  Mitchell’s works are intriguing and thought-provoking.”

Also making the exhibition a reality is Partners for the Arts--an organization formed in 1997 to support the arts at Southern Miss—thanks to the hard work of its museum subcommittee, headed by Becky Montague.
           
Born and raised in New Orleans and owner of his own studio, Studio Inferno, Gaudet designs and produces cast glass.  He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Louisiana State University and a Master of Fine Arts from Tulane University.  He has taught at Pilchuck Glass School; Penland School of Arts and Crafts; Urban Glass; Red Deer College; Alberta College of Arts and Crafts at Alberta, Canada; Bild-Werk Glass School in Germany and Glass Furnace in Istanbul. 

Gaudet received a National Endowment for the Arts artist grant through the New Orleans Arts Council and was an emerging artist in residence at Pilchuck Glass School, where he was selected to design the Pilchuck auction pieces in 2000.  His work is exhibited both nationally and internationally and is represented by galleries in Atlanta, Houston, Seattle, Washington, D.C, Memphis, New Orleans, Hawaii and Miami.

The University of Southern Mississippi Museum of Art is located in the Fine Arts Building at the southwest corner of campus. The hours are Tues.-Fri., 10 a.m-5 p.m., and Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.  Admission to the museum and reception is free and open to the public. School and community groups are welcome.   Call the Southern Miss Museum of Art at 601.266.5200 for more information.

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About The University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi, founded in 1910, is a comprehensive doctoral and research-extensive university fulfilling its mission of being a leading university in engaging and empowering individuals to transform lives and communities. In a tradition of leadership for student development, Southern Miss is educating a 21st century work force providing intellectual capital, cultural enrichment and innovation to Mississippi and the world. Southern Miss is located in Hattiesburg, Miss, with an additional campus and teaching and research sites on the Mississippi Gulf Coast; further information is found at www.usm.edu.