In 2016, as we celebrate our tricentennial, we are inviting all Natchezians, wherever you may be, to rejoin us in celebrating the culture and blessings that Natchez has shared over the last 300 years — one of those being the arts.

To celebrate the visual arts, we’ve invited five nationally known former Natchezians to return home and share their talent and works with the Miss-Lou community in a month-long exhibit titled Coming Home: A Salute to Renowned Natchez Artists to be housed at the Historic Natchez Foundation Building at 108 South Commerce St.

Vidal Blankenstein, Dale Campbell Fairbanks, Susan Colter Hollingsworth, Noah Saterstrom and Will Smith Jr. are the featured artists who currently show and sell their art in public galleries in several states. Each of the exhibiting artists has a unique way of portraying the world they see around them. From fabric arts to abstract narratives and photorealism, each of these extremely talented individuals was influenced by their time growing up in Natchez and have generously agreed to participate in this signature tricentennial arts event. Their works will be available for purchase.

The kick-off event for the exhibit will be a cocktail reception in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Historic Natchez Foundation at 5 pm on Jan. 28 at the Foundation Building at 108 S. Commerce. Members and non-members of the foundation are cordially invited. Our five “renowned artists” will be present and happy to reacquaint themselves with their Natchez friends, classmates and patrons. A short HNF annual meeting and awards ceremony will take place at 7. Both the kick-off cocktail reception and short meeting are free and open to the public.

The exhibit will stand throughout the month of February and end at the closing of the Natchez Literary and Cinema Celebration on Feb. 28. It will be open daily from 9 to 5 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on Sundays from 1 to 3 p.m.

While this exhibit celebrates our artistic heritage by showing works by former Natchezians, Natchez currently boasts resident talented artists whose works are available year round through Arts Natchez and in their own local galleries and retail venues. We hope this tricentennial exhibit awakens an appreciation for the artistic talent our Natchez environment has spawned — and today shows itself through our current and former residents.

 

Marty Seibert is chairperson of the Tricentennial art exhibit and is a resident of Natchez.