NATCHEZ — To see all of Mississippi, from the Gulf Coast to Tupelo, without spending a small fortune on gas, you need travel no further then the Mississippi Museum of Art in Jackson.

The majority of the Museum’s permanent collection is in an exhibit called The Mississippi Story, which is divided into four sections and uses art to depict Mississippi’s landscape, Mississippi’s people, life in Mississippi and exporting Mississippi’s culture.

“It speaks to a sense of place, as to being a Mississippian,” said Nina Moss, director of communications for the museum. “You can just see it in every piece and you can just relate to it. You can say I’ve seen those hills, or I’ve seen a person like that or even I’ve seen that dog. It really catches the essence of being from Mississippi.”

Moss said that one piece in The Mississippi Story that really speaks to her is “Second Notice” by Michael Bouldin III. The painting shows a Mississippi sharecropper about to lose his land. The piece, like many in the museum, can apply today Moss said.

“It’s such a poignant piece,” she said. “These people are working so hard. That certainly applies to today’s economic situation.”

The museum’s collection extends far beyond the Mississippi Story, museum curator Dan Piersol said. They also have paintings from masters like Edgar Degas, Claude Renoit, Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, and James Whistler. However, Peirsol was not able to name his favorite piece.

“I have about 300 favorite paintings,” he said. “It depends on what time of day it is and what gallery I’m in. It also depends on what I’m standing in front of at the time.”

Along with its great collection of art, Peirsol said what really sets the Mississippi Museum of Art apart from other museums is how comfortable it is. It is not stuffy like many art museums, he said.

“We wanted people to feel comfortable and for people to feel welcome and for people to stay,” Peirsol said. “It’s like a big living room. You can really spend the day here.”

Moss said that the museum is also very family friendly and great for children.

“Children are everywhere here,” she said. “There are family corners that the parents can leave the kids and know they’re safe and go enjoy the art. And the kids are enjoying art too, they just don’t know it.”

The museum also has more adult themed events, she said. jazz night, which is usually held on the fourth Thursday of the month, has a cash bar, free hors d’oeuvres and a jazz band.

Unburied Treasure is usually on the third Tuesday of each month. In this event, a piece is chosen from the permanent collection and three presenters discuss it — one discusses its history, one reads a piece literature that relates to the art and a musician plays music to accompany it. There is also a cash bar and free hors d’oeuvres with admission.

Starting July 5, the museum will show off its love of music with a new exhibit called The Sight of Music. The exhibit will feature prints from the 1920s to the 1990s that show various interpretation and variations on the theme of music.

“(Some) painters painted what they heard,” Moss said. “Some times you can tell just from the brush stroke if it’s fast or jerky. Other painters created portraits of musicians. It runs the gambit from Beethoven to Elvis.”

Because high gas prices have changed many people’s summer travel plans, Moss said the museum is a great day trip.

“You can’t go to Orlando with the gas prices, so come to Jackson to the museum,” she said. “You can come to Jackson and get back home for supper in Natchez.”

For more information go to www.msmuseumart.org.

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