Temperatures are dropping and exams are on the rise in Oxford, Mississippi. This means it is about that time of year for long nights of studying and marble mochas from High Point Coffee. But, what is a latte without a side of artwork?
High Point coffee has teamed up with Art Crawl, an event held on the fourth Tuesday of every month on the Oxford Square. This event gives businesses the opportunity to showcase different artists. Most of the businesses involved include The Powerhouse, Southside Art Gallery, and The University of Mississippi Museum.
Why would a local coffee shop be involved in an event for artwork?
High Point Coffee manager, Jimi Myers said, “The idea behind getting involved was to support local artists. My personal goal is to show other people and businesses (supporting local artists) is something cool to be involved in, even if you’re not a store that specializes in art.”
June was the first month High Point participated in Art Crawl, and they have had a different artist participate each month since. The night of Art Crawl is used as the unveiling night of the new artist’s work, which will be hung and sold for that month according to Myers.
“It’s good for us too because every artist and artwork is different,” he said. “It always brings a new and different vibe to the store and keeps everything fresh, which is great for us.”
The most recent artwork that is on display in High Point belongs to Mississippi coast native and singer, songwriter Al Morse. The names of her pieces are called bone art.
“I always have been fascinated by bones and nature reworking itself,” she said. “Growing up on the coast, I used to go to Ship Island, and my mom would collect crab shells and other bones.”
Morse comes from a family of artists, her dad was a painter and her mom danced ballet. Morse said both parents are extremely expressive about art, but it was her grandmother that taught her how to create something out of nothing.
“I am very close with my Grandmamma,” Morse said. “She talked to me a lot about growing up in the ‘30s and ‘40s, and how her mother and grandmother used to use whatever they had to make what they needed. My bone art is my way of giving a thumbs up to my grandmother and the other women of the past, present and future.”
Bone art isn’t the only thing that Morse excels in, but she also sings and plays the ukulele around Oxford.
“I love singing so much,” she said. “My favorite thing about playing on the streets of Oxford is when little kids come up to me. I love seeing them so excited about my music and expressing themselves.”
Morse is just one of the many talented artists whose work has been displayed at High Point.
Starting in January, Art Crawl will begin again and High Point will be getting in new artwork.
Myers said, “I would love to get more students from Ole Miss involved.”
Victoria Lanza is a senior broadcast journalism major at the Meek School of Journalism and New Media. She can be reached at vglanza@go.olemiss.edu.
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