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Hattiesburg -- The University of Southern Mississippi Museum of Art is hosting an exhibition of photographs by Pultizer Prize-winning photojournalist Clarence Williams through Sept. 29. Williams, a native of Philadelphia, Penn., is a Distinguished Visiting Lecturer in photojournalism at Southern Miss.
Two events have been planned to complement the exhibition. On Sept. 25, the Museum will host a closing reception for the artist from 4-6 p.m. On Sept. 26, the Museum also will present the Emmy-nominated documentary “Homeless Not Helpless: Opening Doors” by California filmmaker Jerry Jones at 6 p.m. “’Images of a Native Son’ is my first retrospective showing,” Williams said. “I started making pictures in 1991. I am truly honored by this opportunity so soon in my career.” Although Williams says he’s “truly an East Coast cat,” he has strong Southern roots. “My paternal grandmother is from Sheeplo, which is considered part of the Hattiesburg area,” he explained. Despite his jitters about his first exhibition of his photography collection, Williams is excited about one special guest he will be bringing to the show personally. “My great aunt Annie Laura Cole, who is almost 90, will be on the Southern Miss campus for the first time. While growing up here, she and her siblings weren’t allowed to even walk through the campus. This show is for her.” Williams graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in mass communications from Temple University. He interned at the Philadelphia Tribune, the oldest black newspaper in the United States, and the York Daily Record. His first staff position was with the Times Community Newspapers in Reston, Va. He went on to become an intern in the METPRO trainee program, operated by the Los Angeles Times and the former Times Mirror Corp. Upon completion of the two-year program, he was hired by the Times, where he worked until 2003. During his tenure at the Los Angeles Times, he won several awards, including a Pulitzer Prize, an RFK and the NABJ Journalist of the Year. He is one of the founding members of the IRIS Photocollective. The University of Southern Mississippi Museum of Art is located in the Fine Arts Building at the southwest corner of campus. The hours are Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m-5 p.m., and Saturday, 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 Museum at 601.266.5200 for more information.
These photos are among an exhibition of the works of Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Clarence Williams that are on display at the Southern Miss Museum of Art through Sept. 29. 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.
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