Mississippi State’s Department of Art is in its second year of a residency program that is advancing the university’s fine arts programming efforts.
The MSU Emerging Craftsperson Residency Program is funded with a grant provided by Arkansas-based nonprofit Windgate Charitable Trust.
Bryan Parnham has been hard at work this semester creating new works of art while interacting with faculty and students.
“This opportunity allowed me to try things in my work I’ve been thinking about for years,” said the artist. “MSU and the Windgate Foundation provided invaluable resources and freedom to explore new ideas.”
Parnham recently taught a workshop to two art classes on ‘marquetry’ techniques – a process of cutting and arranging veneer to achieve a pattern. Each student made a number of samples and mounted their final piece on a sheet of bronze as a brooch.
“It’s been a pleasure to intermittently share demos and lectures,” he said. “I think this program is doing something important by putting young, professional artists in front of students.”
Parnham’s residency will conclude with a 6:30 p.m. show and reception Thurs., Nov. 9 in the university’s Howell Building sculpture studio. The event is free to all, and refreshments will be served.
Parnham began his jewelry practice in 2011 while attending the Virginia Commonwealth University, Craft/Material Studies Department. He served as a Penland Core Fellow from 2014-2016.
For more information on MSU’s Emerging Craftsperson Residency Program, contact Critz Campbell at 662-275-1064 or CCampbell@caad.msstate.edu.
Part of the College of Architecture, Art and Design, MSU’s art department is home to the Magnolia State’s largest undergraduate studio art program.
MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.