Our Faith Affirmed—Works from the Gordon W. Bailey Collection

Angels Playing Music by Purvis Young

The University of Mississippi Museum of Art presents Our Faith Affirmed—Works from the Gordon W. Bailey Collection. Curated by the Los Angeles-based, scholar and collector Gordon W. Bailey the important exhibition features works by 27 artists, born between 1900 and 1959. Many of the artists are widely known and several, most notably, Thornton Dial Sr, Roy Ferdinand, Bessie Harvey, Lonnie Holley, Robert Howell, Joe Light, Charlie Lucas, Jimmy Lee Sudduth, and Purvis Young are considered self-taught masters.

The powerful exhibition underscores the significance of Southern vernacular artists whose influence extends far beyond the realm of aesthetics. The artworks exude an authority of experience and directness of expression that bears witness to the considerable weight of Southern history, the saga of American politics, and, most clearly, to their faith and clarity of vision. Bailey suggested: “The arts are our cultural mortar. They solidify the bridges connecting diverse communities. Though the region is rooted in conflict, there are many good people of all races, genders, and socio-economic levels pulling, or in some cases, pushing in the same direction.”

Image: Angels Playing Music, Purvis Young