In Austin, Texas, the local saying is, “Keep Austin Weird.” If anyone is keeping Starkville, Mississippi, weird, it is the local artists who make the small southern town welcoming and interesting to all who pass through.
Not only do many creatives call Mississippi’s College Town home, but they also have multiple opportunities to display and profit off of their art. The Starkville Area Arts Council, SAAC, hosts many events throughout the year to develop that sense of community for local artists.
This sense of an artistic community is one of the things that led Joe MacGown to put down roots in the Mississippi town that he moved to for college. He has loved art for a long time, engaging in professional artwork through sketches for the entomology department. In an interview, however, he shared skepticism toward finding people with similar interests in Starkville. Now, he has a studio here and produces art purchased and displayed around the world.
Unlike MacGown, not all Starkville artists come from far away. Georgia Graham, an artist in various ways, grew up in the area. She is a painter, whose work has been shared at the Midnight Bizarre and the Cotton District Arts Festival, and a musician with her husband.
Graham said she is a firm believer in practicing art to get better, not just considering art a natural talent that you either have or do not.
“These are all skills that you can develop and become better at with time,” Graham said. “Getting involved in the artistic community, you know, having peers and friends who are supportive and help you challenge yourself is really important.”
Plumalia Henson is another Starkville creative who has found a community for a specific style of Japanese ero guro genre and body horror art. One of the prime motivators of Henson’s art is the impact it has on viewers.
“I’ve always struggled with mental health, intrusive thoughts and stuff like that,” said Henson, embracing vulnerability. “It sounds really cheesy to talk about, but I was surprised by how many people actually felt seen and connected with me.”
Two artists with a ceramic focus have also encountered and enjoyed the local art scene. Mia Parker and Bonnie Brumley produce quite different kinds of ceramic pieces, which adds to the diversity of art in the community.
Mia Parker, a recent MSU graduate and professional in virtual reality animation, creates art in her kiln that she purchased after winning a ceramics award in a competition. Her most famous creation for her brand, Afterwhile Crocodile Studios, is “The Jackalope,” a unique piece that showcases her creativity and architectural knowledge.
Parker now lives in Jackson, Mississippi, where she sells her creations and participates in festivals alongside her virtual reality work. She shared that holding onto her artistic passions is important and expressed immense gratitude for the department of art professors who helped build her confidence and craftsmanship.
Bonnie Brumley had her first encounter with clay as a medium at MSU nearly 10 years ago. Since then, her style has developed and built quite a following. Although Brumley loves creating art, there is more to her pieces than just becoming another decor item. She loves that a handmade piece— like a mug, pair of earrings or a vase— can become a part of someone’s routine.
Burmley sells her art online and locally at the Starkville Community Market and festivals in the city. Attending local events has become special to Brumley. She loves that the community of creatives in Starkville not only still exists but is growing and thriving.
“I may be older than most of the crowd that goes to the events, but it’s so nice to know there are still, you know, weird people in Starkville— in the best way possible,” Brumley said with a laugh.