“Art is a way of expression.. I guess I just feel like it’s something I need to do,” said Janet Barnes at the Art Crawl in Oxford, Miss., Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2014. Photo by Cady Herring
The thriving art scene in Oxford has always been one of the city’s main attractions, so much so that it is oftentimes referred to as “the cultural mecca of the South.” On the fourth Tuesday of each month, infants to retirees eat, drink and support local artists by attending the city’s Art Crawl.
“Art from all around Oxford is showcased throughout the crawl at the University Museum, The Powerhouse, Southside Gallery and Gallery 130,” said Marti Funke, collections manager at the University of Mississippi Museum. “We change the exhibits every month in order to keep things interesting for visitors and residents attending the Art Crawl. Light refreshments are provided, and the double decker bus provides transportation to each stop.”
The Art Crawl has featured exhibitions from all over Oxford, each different from the next.
The first stop on the crawl was at The Powerhouse, which showcased black and white art only, all of which was done by local artists such as Emilee Smith.
“I am trying to pursue art equally as much as I am nursing school,” Smith said. “I hope to eventually illustrate children’s books. I am in Memphis now, so there are a bunch of galleries there that I am hoping to figure something out with.”
Along with Smith, local artist Cecil Bowers also had art on display. Bowers specializes in woodworking and has recently started woodturning.
“I’ve been turning for about four or five years, but I have been woodworking for over 35 years,” Bowers said. “I started out just making simple things like jewelry boxes, small pieces of furniture and toys. I tried selling a football that I had made out of wood, but my neighbor came over one day and asked if I wanted to have it signed by Archie and Eli Manning, of course, I said yes, and now it is not for sale anymore.”
The next stop on the Art Crawl was the University Museum. Crawlers piled on to the double decker bus trying to get a spot on the top to feel the cool fall breeze before reaching the next exhibition.
“I like art, but mostly I like riding the Double Decker bus with my friends,” said 11-year-old crawl-goer Bella Young.
This was the second Art Crawl Young and her mother Laura Cole have attended.
“We really enjoy coming out to this every month when we can make it,” Cole said. “It is always a great time, and the art is amazing. It definitely makes for a fun evening.”
“This is the third season that the Art Crawl has taken place,” said Yoknapatawpha Arts Council Director Wayne Andrews.
The arts council coordinates the Arts Crawl, working with community groups, art spaces and artists to organize and promote the free, monthly event.
“It has been a great partnership with all the local art spaces and Visit Oxford as a way to highlight our community as supporting the arts and to showcase the opportunities and artists,” Cole said. “We hope, because it is a monthly event that people plan to attend. We hope it gives out of town visitors a reason to drive over to Oxford, enjoy the crawl and stay for dinner. The pre-crawl is from 5 – 6 p.m., which highlights one venue on the crawl, and then all venues are open from 6 – 8 p.m.”
The Art Crawl provides local shops and restaurants with the ability to showcase Oxford artists, which in turn bring in business.
“My favorite part of the Art Crawl is that all of the small, local businesses participating in the crawl turn into mini-museums full of really cool art from very talented artist’s around town,” Funke said. “It is a great event for the entire community of Oxford.”
The city’s next Art Crawl will take place on Oct. 28 and is free to the public.
