Museum Exhibit Features Work of 100 Alumni

An art exhibit like 100 Alumni happens only once in a hundred years.

The University of Southern Mississippi Museum of Art and the Department of Art and Design will reunite its century old family of Southern Miss artists in a special exhibit titled 100 Alumni debuting Thursday, Oct. 21.

100 Alumniis a lively manifestation of the importance of the visual arts in the history of Southern Miss. This exhibit will showcase a range of diversity in size, technique, content, message, style and materials. Each artist is represented by one artistic piece of his or her choice. The walls of the museum will be a veritable outburst of creativity from Southern Miss artists from 1950 through 2005.

In honor of the university's contribution to the art world, a public reception will take place on the following Saturday, Oct. 23 at 5 p.m. in the museum. Featured alumni from all over the United States will gather with spouses, friends and colleagues to celebrate this collection.

“Many of these artists are teachers in high schools, colleges or universities; others are independent artists and a few are retired after a successful career and have picked up the passion of their youth more actively than ever,” said Museum Director Dr. Jan Siesling.

The show will run from Oct. 21-Nov. 20 in the Museum of Art. The reception is open to the public and free of charge.

The museum is located in the Fine Arts Building on the Southern Miss campus in Hattiesburg.  Admission is free and open to the public Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 pm.  For more information, call 601.266.5200.