Mississippi Art Collection:
Alcorn County Welcome Center – Corinth
The Alcorn County Welcome Center in Corinth features a curated collection of original works by Mississippi artists that celebrate the cityscapes, history, and culture of the Magnolia State, offering a creative glimpse into Mississippi life. Each of the state’s welcome centers showcases its own unique selection of Mississippi art, giving visitors a distinctive introduction to the creative people and noteworthy places that shape the state. The collection was curated in partnership with Pacesetter Gallery, whose support helps highlight the remarkable talent and vision of Mississippi’s artists.
Chuck Rhoads
Hometown: Brandon, MS
Chuck Rhoads
Hometown: Brandon, MS
Grammy Museum Mississippi
As I journeyed through the back roads of Mississippi, I uncovered the hidden gems of my state. Acknowledging Mississippi’s rich artistic heritage, I decided to visit Cleveland, home of Delta State University, to explore the Grammy Museum. The striking modern design of the building sparked my creativity, inspiring me to see if I could translate this inspiration into a repoussé artwork.
While sketching on drawing paper, I observed how the interplay of horizontal and vertical lines created a harmonious pattern. The real challenge arose when I transferred my drawing onto aluminum for the repoussé piece. I had to ensure the two- and three-point perspectives aligned perfectly to convey the intended image clearly. Achieving this meant applying just the right amount of pressure with my sharp, needle-like tools to etch specific details accurately. I also employed various tools on both sides of the metal to establish permanent lines and depth, giving my artwork a three-dimensional effect.
Once I added shadows and highlights using paint and chemicals to depict the museum’s architecture, I reflected on my work. The design of the Grammy Museum symbolizes the essence of what lies within its walls. Many of the individuals represented here hail from the backroads of Mississippi. Each one embraced their imagination, tackled challenges, collaborated with others, and faced the pressures of their craft to create music that unites us all.
Mississippi Steamboat Repoussé
Standing by the riverbanks of Vicksburg, Mississippi, I was captivated as I watched a paddleboat set sail from the port. This movement sparked an idea: to capture the essence of this iconic vessel through the ancient technique of repoussé on a sheet of aluminum. Utilizing my tools, the strength of my hands, and my understanding of art’s fundamental elements, I aimed to transform the metal into a striking 3-dimensional representation. This reflection reminded me of the historical significance of these paddleboats, integral to the charm of southern river towns like Natchez and Vicksburg.
Artist Bio
A native Mississippian from Brandon, Chuck taught visual arts for almost 30 years around the inner city of the Jackson Public School District and the rural areas of the Rankin County School District. He is a graduate of Mississippi College, where he earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of Education degrees, with advanced studies at Mississippi College and Rice University. While at Mississippi College, Chuck studied design under Ron Alexander, using a range of techniques with different grades of aluminum. Rhoads is inspired by the work of the Byzantine Empire, with their architectural designs pressed into metal using the technique of repoussé to create their work of art. Using his imagination, Chuck is able to express his artwork while listening to music from many different composers.
Rhoads also appreciates watercolor and is inspired by its use of color. Chuck is able to capture the hues that he visualizes, mix the watercolors from his palette, and apply them onto his paper.
Chuck has received numerous awards including, The Thad Cochran Distinguished Arts Educator Award by the Mississippi Alliance in Art Education in 2004, The Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts for Arts Education by Governor Haley Barbour and the Mississippi Arts Commission in 2011, Mississippi Art Educator of the Year by the Mississippi Art Educators in 2018 and again in 2019, and National Educator of the Year for Keep America Beautiful in 2019. He is currently a member of the Mississippi Craftsmen’s Guild and Genuine MS.
For more information and to see his additional works, visit Pacesetter Gallery in Flowood, Mississippi, and pacesettergallery.com
Sandy Hubler
Hometown: Southaven, MS
Mississippi Calling
I have always been attracted to southern cotton fields. The white bolls are so stark against the ground and background of the fields, making it an artist’s delight to paint.
Artist Bio
Sandy and her late husband, Rob, purchased an art gallery and framing company in Little Rock called The Showroom, which she has owned since 2003. Sandy manages to run the company and still pursue her art career. The Showroom represents over 25 artists, with a large percentage of them local. In addition, Sandy works with many decorators, designers, and their clients in the purchase of art for both corporate and home interiors.
Sandy states, “I think it all started in the 3rd grade at Mountain Home Elementary School. A teacher set up a bouquet of flowers for us to draw and color from. I would never have believed that a piece of construction paper and a box of crayons would lead me to where I am today. I colored that bouquet, and it was entered in a school competition that I won for my class level. The prize was a check for $1.00, which I still have today.” Her art has continued to progress to higher levels. Sandy won Best of Show at the Memphis Fair for professional artists, representing several states, a few years ago.
She has been featured in several national and state magazines with her art, including Art Galleries and Artists of the South, Western Art Collector, American Art Collectors, and several local Little Rock magazines.
She states, “As I get older, I seem to be more obsessed with my paintings. I would like to get looser with my art and try to take on an abstract feel. But, for some reason, I can’t seem to make that happen. I do a lot of plein air painting and love being outdoors in a remote location. The farther away from a phone and computer, the better when painting. When I am painting on location, I have to paint fast, as the light is always changing and the shadows are getting larger. It is a challenge, and I love it. I paint a lot of very large paintings, ranging in size from several feet, and these paintings I paint in my home studio.”
Always having a horse as a child, Sandy still has horses, and when not taking care of The Showroom or painting, she competes in barrel races on some weekends. She states, “I like to say this is my way of trying to keep fit, taking care of my horses. Time doesn’t allow me to focus on my competition as I would like. Now, it is more of a getaway for a weekend, and I am fine with that.”
Sandy states, “If you had told me years ago that I would be a professional artist, I would never have believed it. My job is something I look forward to every day and get more inspired as time goes by. What more can I say; I get to work on what I love to do and love what I do”.
Susan Patton
Hometown: Bruce, MS
Eudora Welty’s Garden
Eudora Welty’s Garden, by Susan Patton, is inspired by numerous visits to the historic home and gardens of Eudora Welty in Jackson, Mississippi. Susan has also repeatedly taught plein air art workshops on the grounds of Eudora’s gardens. The artist’s connection to the site began when she attended physical therapy school in Jackson and met Barbara Lee, a classmate and volunteer at the gardens. Barbara often shared the history of Eudora’s house and gardens, emphasizing the meticulous restoration efforts. Barbara also introduced Susan to artist Susan Haltom, author of One Writer’s Garden, which details the story of Eudora’s gardens and how they, in turn, narrate our own stories. Haltom’s book highlights how garden restorers utilized diagrams created by Eudora’s mother, Chestina Welty, who designed the gardens in the late 1930s.
This painting serves as an invitation for viewers to explore Eudora’s gardens, perhaps even bringing a friend along. Much like this painting, one never knows what beautiful creations can blossom from the seeds that are planted.
Artist Bio
Susan Patton is an accomplished professional artist based in North Mississippi who has pivoted from her career as a Registered Physical Therapist to fully embrace her passion for art. Her artistry is deeply influenced by a family legacy; her mother, Dot Courson, is also a professional artist.
Susan’s talent has been recognized through various national and international accolades, including being named a Finalist in the Portrait Society of America’s Members Only competition in both the portrait and still life categories. She also received First Place Overall in the Plein Air Salon for her figurative painting entitled Still Stirring, At 93, which advanced to the Top 40 out of 11,000 paintings worldwide at the PACE convention.
Susan, an avid learner and educator, conducts multiple sold-out workshops each year, focusing on a variety of painting techniques, including design, brushwork, plein air, and portrait painting.
Susan’s work aims to capture fleeting moments that resonate with people, focusing on the simple moments and subtle details of everyday life. She wishes to glorify God in her work as she highlights these “Extra-Ordinary” experiences.
Susan Patton’s journey reflects her love for people and commitment to art, evidenced by her dedication to sharing that passion through teaching, ultimately enriching both her own life and the lives of others.
Ava Jeanne Davis
Hometown: Jackson, MS
Adventures at Tishomingo State Park
I had never heard of Tishomingo Park. I had never thought of traveling to that little corner of Mississippi, but that windy road up from Jackson was worth every second for the scene that unfolded before my eyes. As I exited my car, I entered a land of rocky mounds and babbling brooks that I had never seen in my part of Mississippi. The trail I trekked was wonderful and refreshing. My friends and I went to work right away to photograph the scene so I could try to capture the wonder of reality in my paintings. Adventures in Tishomingo State Park is my best attempt, through the layering and marriage of warm, bright browns, greens, and blues, to show nature’s visual feast prepared before our very eyes in Corinth, Mississippi.
Artist Bio
Ava Jeanne Davis is a visual artist native to Washington, D.C., and Jackson, Mississippi. She received her formal arts education during her formative years at Wells Academic and Performing Arts Complex (formally Power APAC), before studying Studio Art and Early Childhood Psychology at Tulane University in New Orleans, where she graduated in 2023. Since graduating, she has begun pursuing a Master of Social Work while refining and maintaining her painting practice. As a young artist, Ava Jeanne has shown work in multiple group exhibits and recently concluded a 9-month residency at St. Roch Community Church in New Orleans, Louisiana, where she immersed herself in the Saint Roch community while deepening her artistic practice.
Through every painting, watercolor, drawing, and print, Ava Jeanne constructs nostalgic moments where the figure, their environment, and the audience converse, transcending the substrate. Scenes move between warmth and coolness, singularity and groups, and direct eye contact and confrontation with the viewer. Within each piece, there exists a world where marks, strokes of color, and value either battle, dance, or sweep across the substrate, creating a relationship between the lives captured in the artwork and the life outside the piece.
Bill Wilson
Hometown: Jackson, MS
Governor’s Mansion Garden Gate, Governor’s Mansion Summer Garden, Governor’s Mansion Garden Path
I did these paintings in collaboration with the then-governor Phil Bryant for the book The Mississippi Governor’s Mansion: Memories of the People’s Home. The mansion is arguably one of the most beautiful in the country, which was so inspiring. And the privilege of painting on location, absorbing and becoming part of the rich history of the mansion, and getting to know the governor and all the people who keep the mansion running was a rare privilege.
Artist Bio
Bill Wilson has lived in Mississippi for 54 of his 61 years, with a career in art spanning 35 years. His portraits are held in collections across the country, including private, government, and corporate collections. He has painted eight state Supreme Court justices and one governor for the Virginia Historical Society. The artist’s work has hung in numerous galleries all over the South for decades. In 2007, he was named a Fellow of the Mississippi Arts Commission. Having worked and taught in most wet and dry mediums for most of his career, he is a trusted judge for shows across many disciplines. He is also a much sought-after instructor for both workshops and seminars, especially in figure and portrait painting.
The artist’s illustration career has been truly diverse. He has created murals for organizations such as the Mississippi Opera, worked as a courtroom artist, and is an active political cartoonist. Ten years ago, he and his family founded Hapax Creative Production Company. Through it, they have produced and helped create movies and television commercials for Sony, Paramount, Warner Brothers, and many more. Working in numerous positions both in front of and behind the camera, Wilson’s primary focus is concept design, storyboarding, and general illustration in the entertainment industry. He has also done motion graphics and animation, designed and sculpted puppets, and actively sculpts in clay for his concept design work. Wilson has written and illustrated five children’s books, with two more slated for release this year.
Bill Wilson was Artist in Residence at the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion from 2017 to 2019. In 2019, he collaborated with then-Governor Phil Bryant on a coffee-table book featuring the Governor’s memoirs and more than sixty plein-air paintings by Wilson covering the mansion. The artist was granted unprecedented access, and for over two and a half years, he painted from life both inside the mansion and on the mansion grounds. The book, The Governor’s Mansion: A Memoir of The People’s House, was published in 2020 by University Press of Mississippi.
Additionally, Wilson was the Founder, Creative Director, and Illustrator for Pippin & Maxx Arts and Entertainment. He served as Assistant Editor at Mississippi Aesthetic Magazine and is the current Art Director at The American Spectator Magazine. You can connect with Bill Wilson through his active podcast and YouTube channel, The Art Anthropologist.
