School of Performing and Visual Arts
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This summer show features two exhibitions: (1) the annual Make Your Mark exhibition featuring drawings made by sophomores, juniors, and seniors from Mississippi high schools across the state, and (2) Drawing on Katrina: Mississippi Children Respond to the Storm, 20th anniversary show, featuring a remarkable collection of children's artworks created in response to the ravages of Hurricane Katrina. In 2005-2006 when these works were made, the young Mississippi artists from Forrest, Harrison, Jackson, Jones, Lamar, and Pearl River counties were in grades K-5. Curators for the Drawing on Katrina project were USM professors Janet Gorzegno and Mark Rigsby.
Gallery Closing Reception: Saturday, August 23, 2 p.m.
Gallery of Art & Design, George Hurst Bldg.
Free
Contact: Museum Director, Mark Rigsby, mark.rigsby@usm.edu
A national juried biennial art exhibition of paintings made by both emerging and established artists from across the U.S., juried by the esteemed McArthur Binion. This exhibition was made possible in part through the Nan and Ben Stevens Art and Music Endowment and a grant from Partners for the Arts.
Gallery Opening Reception: Thursday, September 4, 7 p.m.
Gallery of Art & Design, George Hurst Bld.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday
Free and open to the public
Contact: Museum Director, Mark Rigsby, mark.rigsby@usm.edu
McArthur Binion (b. 1946 Macon, MS) lives and works in Chicago, IL. He creates highly personal and labor-intensive works that assert his unique position between minimalism, identity politics, and abstraction. Binion employs materials such as paint stick, ink, and graphite to create interlacing geometric grids on the surface of his paintings, applied to a ground layer of neatly tiled images-—reproductions of personal photographs and documents-—that offer a glimpse into the artist’s life. Binion’s work can be found in nationally recognized museums and galleries across the country, including the Art Institute of Chicago, IL, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY; Mississippi Museum of Art, Jackson, MS, New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans, LA; and the Phillips Collection, Washington, DC, to name only a few. This lecture was made possible in part through the Nan and Ben Stevens Art and Music Endowment and a grant from Partners for the Arts.
Location: LAB 108, Gonzales Auditorium
Free and open to the public
Contact: Museum Director, Mark Rigsby, mark.rigsby@usm.edu
A masterwork of the theatre of the absurd, Rhinoceros explores what one individual can do when the rest of the world has gone mad. Directed by Matthew Earnest.
Tatum Theatre, Theatre & Dance Building
$18 General Public, $15 Seniors, Military, Faculty/Staff, $8 Students
www.southernmiss.com/tickets
Contact: David Coley, David.coley@usm.edu
Raisonné is a printmaking exhibition curated by USM alumnus, Andrew Blanchard, Professor of Printmaking and Photography at Converse University, Spartanburg, SC. This group exhibition is organized in honor of painter and printmaker, USM Professor Emeritus, Wiliam Baggett. The show features prints by Baggett and Blanchard, several USM alumni and a selection of contemporary printmakers from across the US.
Gallery Opening Reception: Thursday, October 30, 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Gallery of Art & Design, George Hurst Bldg.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday
Free and open to the public
Contact: Museum Director, Mark Rigsby, mark.rigsby@usm.edu
2025 Blaine Quarnstrom Playwright Series featured artist Lisa D’Amour brings us this profound and funny play about motherhood, home, and the supernatural. Directed by Kylie Royce
Hartwig Theatre, Theatre & Dance Building
$18 General Public, $15 Seniors, Military, Faculty/Staff, $8 Students
www.southernmiss.com/tickets
Contact: David Coley, David.coley@usm.edu
Andrew Blanchard is a USM alumnus and Professor of Printmaking and Photography at Converse University, Spartanburg, SC. Blanchard is the guest curator for our current printmaking exhibition, Raisonné, organized in honor of painter and printmaker, USM Professor Emeritus, Wiliam Baggett. Blanchard will present a studio lecture, and demonstration of his printmaking methods and techniques.
George Hurst Building, 121 (printmaking studio)
Free and open to the public
Contact: Museum Director, Mark Rigsby, mark.rigsby@usm.edu
An evening of movement, expression, and artistry, featuring a bold and dynamic repertoire featuring choreographic work by dance faculty & students.
Theatre and Dance building, Studio 115
$15 General Admission, $10 Faculty/Staff/Military/Seniors/Students, $5 Children
Contact: Lauren Soutullo, Lauren.Soutullo@usm.edu, 601-266-6451
The acclaimed revue depicting black life in America has been entertaining and challenging audiences since its premiere in 1986.
Directed by Hillary Scales
Hartwig Theatre
$18 General Public, $15 Seniors, Military, Faculty/Staff, $8 Students
www.southernmiss.com/tickets
Contact: David Coley, David.coley@usm.edu
This concert showcases the power of dance to captivate, challenge, and inspire. Experience a stunning fusion of contemporary and classical choreography, featuring faculty and student work and the premiere of our new dance majors in Dr. Salyers’ Performance Foundations piece.
Theatre and Dance building, Studio 115
$15 General Admission, $10 Faculty/Staff/Military/Seniors/Students, $5 Children
Contact: Lauren Soutullo, Lauren.Soutullo@usm.edu, 601-266-6451
Join us for a presentation about the creative practice in sculpture and metal arts presented by visiting artists Virgina Elliott, Metal Arts Director, and Ian Skinner, Foundry Director, Sloss Metal Arts, Birmingham. Elliott and Skinner will also be leading the Annual Iron Pour on Saturday, Nov. 22.
Made possible through generous support from Partners for the Arts.
3D Arts Building- 2905 West 4th St. Hattiesburg, MS 39406
Free and open to the public
Contact: email- sculpture@usm.edu
Join us with participating sculptors from across the south and visiting artists Virginia Elliot and Ian Skinner for the 2025 Annual Iron Pour. USM holds the distinction of having one of the largest cupolas in the US. The public is invited to observe and to also purchase a scratch block for $20 to create their own small relief sculpture cast in iron.
Activities starting at 9:00 am, Iron Pour beginning at 2:00 PM
3D Arts Building- 2905 West 4th St. Hattiesburg, MS 39406
Free and open to the public
Contact: email- sculpture@usm.edu
BFA capstone exhibition with works of art by Asher Beeles, Emma Nehlig and Raena Sosa.
Gallery Opening Reception: Thursday, December 4, 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Gallery of Art & Design, George Hurst Bldg.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday
Free and open to the public
Contact: Museum Director, Mark Rigsby, mark.rigsby@usm.edu
Experience the raw energy, creativity, and passion of emerging dance artists at the Student Dance Showcase. From bold contemporary pieces to jazz and beyond, each choreographic work is a unique expression of artistry you do not want to miss!
Theatre and Dance Building, Studio 115
Free and open to the public
Contact: Derreck Williams, Derreck.Williams@usm.edu
A group art exhibition by the Hattiesburg Women’s Art Collective featuring recent works by members: Claudia Ka Cartee, Barbara-Ann Carver-Hunt, Stephanie DeArmey, Melanie Eubanks, Chatham Kemp, Rebekah Stark Johnson, Andrea Kostyal, Carolyn Norton, Betty Press, Martina Sciolino, Susan Stevens, Traci Stover, Jennifer Torres, and Kim Whitt.
Opening Reception: January 29, 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Gallery of Art & Design, George Hurst Bldg.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday
Free and open to the public
Contact: Museum Director, Mark Rigsby, mark.rigsby@usm.edu
Shakespeare’s classic tragedy about jealousy, betrayal, and power. Directed by Matthew Earnest
Tatum Theatre, Theatre & Dance Building
$18 General Public, $15 Seniors, Military, Faculty/Staff, $8 Students
www.southernmiss.com/tickets
Contact: David Coley, David.coley@usm.edu
We invite you to the Thomas V. Fraschillo Stage at the Mannoni Performing Arts Center for the highlight of our season, the annual Dance Gala Concert. Featuring select choreographies by faculty and students, this evening will be one to remember. Performances feature the USM Dance Program's Repertory Dance Company (RDC).
Mannoni Performing Arts Center (PAC)
$15 General Admission, $10 Faculty/Staff/Military/Seniors/Students, $5 Children
Contact: Lauren Soutullo, Lauren.Soutullo@usm.edu, 601-266-6451
The Annual Student Show is a juried exhibition of works produced by Art & Design students in the School of Performing and Visual Arts. This greatly anticipated event is held each spring and allows Art & Design students from all levels to exhibit their creative achievements in the visual arts. The student show features work from studio courses in art foundations, drawing, painting, printmaking, digital photography, ceramics, sculpture, and graphic design.
Gallery Opening Reception: March 24, 2026, 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Gallery of Art & Design, George Hurst Bldg.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday
Free and open to the public
Contact: Museum Director, Mark Rigsby, mark.rigsby@usm.edu
Don't miss your last chance this season to see the Repertory Dance Company (RDC) in concert! Join RDC for Bloom in the intimate Studio 115 theater, where you will enjoy senior dance majors’ final works as well as an exciting new guest artist piece.
Theatre and Dance building, Studio 115
Ticket link and info:
$15 General Admission, $10 Faculty/Staff/Military/Seniors/Students, $5 Children
Contact: Lauren Soutullo, Lauren.Soutullo@usm.edu, 601-266-6451
An exhibition of BFA capstone projects by seniors in Graphic Design.
Gallery Opening Reception: Thursday, April 23, 5:30-7 p.m.
Gallery of Art & Design, George Hurst Bldg.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday
Free and open to the public
Contact: Museum Director, Mark Rigsby, mark.rigsby@usm.edu
A hilarious contemporary musical about a blind date full of anxiety, miscommunication, and a fleeting chance for a real connection. Based on the book by Austin Winsberg. Directed by Benji Stockton
Hartwig Theatre, Theatre & Dance Building
$18 General Public, $15 Seniors, Military, Faculty/Staff, $8 Students
www.southernmiss.com/tickets
Contact: David Coley, David.coley@usm.edu
An exhibition of BFA capstone projects by seniors in Studio Art.
Gallery Opening Reception: Thursday, May 7, 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday
Gallery of Art & Design, George Hurst Bldg.
Free and open to the public
Contact: Museum Director, Mark Rigsby, mark.rigsby@usm.edu
Join us for the Student Dance Showcase, an exciting afternoon of original works highlighting Repertory Dance Company II and the innovative movement styles of our student artists.
Theatre and Dance Building, Studio 115
Free and open to the public
Contact: Derreck Williams, Derreck.Williams@usm.edu