NEMCC to Host Exhibition Featuring Works by College Employees

Exhibit of employee works lasts through September

by Michael H. Miller

BOONEVILLE, Miss. (09/16/2024) — Northeast Mississippi Community College's (NEMCC) Art Department has announced its inaugural exhibition for the 2024-2025 academic year in the Anderson Hall Art Gallery.

Titled "The Usual Suspects," the opening exhibition will be on display through the end of September. This unique show features an exclusive collection of works by the college's own employees, highlighting the talent within the Northeast community.

Leading the exhibit are art instructors Melody Shinn, Tim Kinard, and Crystal Bryde, whose contributions highlight their dedication to both education and creative expression.

Joining them are pieces by Beth Benson, Mary Hall, Brad Holley, and Michael H. Miller, whose diverse works adorn the gallery walls, offering visitors a glimpse into the creative minds of Northeast's faculty and staff.

In recognition of this special exhibition, Northeast hosted a reception in honor of the artists on Tuesday, September 10, from 2-4 p.m. in the Anderson Hall lobby. This event gave an opportunity for the community to meet the artists and discuss the inspiration behind their works.

Northeast's Anderson Hall Art Gallery will be open to visitors Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. throughout September.

For those unable to visit the gallery in person, Northeast now offers a virtual tour of its art exhibitions. The virtual walkthrough will be available on the Northeast YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LTpXXGncBY allowing friends, family and art enthusiasts near and far to experience "The Usual Suspects" from the comfort of their homes.

--NEMCC--

Artist Bios:

Beth Benson (Recruiter/Career Technical Education "CTE" Success Coach): Beth Benson works in the NEMCC Recruiting Office and works closely with the Business and Engineering Technology Departments at Northeast. She loves working with community partners and all students to help develop the future workforce of Northeast Mississippi!

She graduated from MSU with a Bachelor's in Educational Psychology and a master's in Counseling and Student Affairs. Beth has also always had a deep love for art! Her first job was setting up at local craft fairs and selling her canvas art. This love of art led to her side business, Beth's Bungalow. Beth's Bungalow was established in 2020, and it has transformed over the years, but the mission has always been the same - to create and help others do the same.

Weekends are filled with painting, drawing, installing balloon garlands and arches, and spending time with her daughter, Rosie.

Crystal Bryde (Art Instructor): Crystal Bryde has loved art her entire life and gets pleasure in creating her works or teaching students in the classroom. Painting and drawing both allow her to express her love of nature and history in a form other than words. She is most herself when she is working or teaching.

Crystal developed a desire to draw while in elementary school. She picked up on the techniques taught and tried to use them on her own later. The periodic visits from art teachers captivated her and gave her something to do in her spare time at home. As she entered high school, that art experience was not available except through private lessons. Her parents found an instructor who loved teaching but could not teach in the public schools because of handicap issues. It was from him that she developed a deep love for drawing and painting and decided to major in art degree in college.

Post-graduation, Crystal went on to college to major in graphic design starting at Northeast Mississippi Junior College (now Community College) where she improved her basic skills into something more advanced. Transferring to Mississippi University for Women, she loved all her studio classes that focused on drawing and printmaking but found her heart not in the commercial end of the art world. Crystal felt compelled to teach.

Years later, after working as a screen printer/artist and at retail businesses, she heard about the Mississippi Alternate Path to Quality Teachers (MAPQT). This was her opportunity to get certified to teach. Crystal took the step and moved forward with this program.

She worked in the printmaking and art retail industry until she started teaching in the Itawamba County School District in Mississippi. Crystal taught kindergarten through sixth grade at three schools as well as a high school art class at Tremont Attendance Center. Since then, she has taught in the Tunica County and Alcorn School District in Mississippi.

Crystal Bryde has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from Mississippi University for Women and an MA in Art Education from The University of Florida. She now teaches and advises students at Northeast Mississippi Community College in Booneville, Mississippi.

Her work and biography can be found online at fineartsamerica.com, and on Northeast Mississippi Community College's website.

Mary Hall (Assistant Bookstore Manager): Hello, art enthusiasts! I'm Mary Hall, your friendly assistant manager at the NEMCC Bookstore and a passionate artist with a story to tell. My artistic journey began in the 6th grade when a perceptive teacher noticed my love for drawing. Thanks to her keen eye, my mom enrolled me in art classes, setting the stage for a lifelong affair with creativity.

Fast forward to Mississippi University for Women, where I earned my Bachelor's in Graphic Design. While exploring various mediums, it was in college that I discovered my true artistic love - oil painting. The rich textures and vivid colors of this medium became my go-to choice whenever the muse struck.

Now, I'm thrilled to share my artistic evolution with you at this gallery. Each piece reflects not just my skill but the influences of my academic journey. Join me in exploring the world of art that convey my passion, dedication, and the joy I find in every artistic endeavor. Welcome to a glimpse into my imaginative universe!

Brad Holley (Postal Service Associate): My name is Brad Holley, and I am a native of Booneville, MS. I graduated from Booneville High School and Northeast MS Community College. I hold a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in painting from Mississippi State University. I began my career at Northeast 24 years ago in the Print Shop and have since worked in the Office of Institutional Research and the Office of Enrollment Services. I am currently employed as the Nzone Associate.

My favorite medium to work with is acrylic paint, but I have tried several other mediums over the course of my time as a student at Northeast and Mississippi State. This medium is quick drying and allows me to complete several layers of a painting in a very short amount of time. My main subject matter is landscapes because I like to capture my interpretation of what I see in nature. I don't always get it right, but I enjoy seeing what I can create using different colors and brush strokes. For me, landscapes allow me to express how I feel, whether it be your typical blue skies and green grass or a little more expression with red or green sky with golden yellow or purple grass.

Tim Kinard (Art Instructor): Tim Kinard is an art instructor at Northeast Mississippi Community College (NEMCC), where he is in his second year of teaching. He has a total of 15 years of experience teaching art at both K-12 and college levels. Originally from Texas, Tim now lives in Saltillo, MS, where he and his wife run OK Clay Shop, their pottery business. He earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) from William Carey College in Mississippi and his Master of Fine Arts (MFA) from the University of Memphis in Tennessee.

Tim's pottery is functional and traditional, inspired by historical and cultural forms. His sculptural work, on the other hand, focuses on figurative pieces that explore current events and personal stories. This work combines these two approaches in an attempt to bridge traditional craft with contemporary themes.

Michael H. Miller (Public Information Specialist): Michael H. Miller, a lifelong resident of northeast Mississippi, is a photographer whose journey is deeply intertwined with education and storytelling.

Coming from a family with a strong tradition in public education, Miller's path was shaped by the influences of his mother, who dedicated over 45 years to teaching high school mathematics, and other family members who also served in educational roles. Despite this background, Miller's own connection with education evolved over time, finding its true expression through visual arts and journalism.

His early professional years were spent at the "University of Life-Hard Knocks," where he honed his skills as a webmaster, photo manager, sports reporter, and journalist at Mississippi's ninth-largest newspaper, the Daily Corinthian, and the Banner-Independent. These roles laid the foundation for his narrative-driven approach to photography, blending the immediacy of news with the timelessness of visual art.

In 2008, Miller joined Northeast Mississippi Community College (NEMCC) as a part-time employee, eventually rising to the position of Public Information Specialist. His work at NEMCC has been multifaceted, involving oversight of the college's social media, co-advising student publications, and serving on numerous committees, all while bringing a unique blend of technology and artistry to the academic environment. Miller, and his best friend the late Jeffrey Powell, were some of the first people on the Northeast campus to use an iOgrapher setup to live broadcast events from the campus.

Miller's artistic vision extends beyond his professional duties. He was a co-owner of Take 5 Studios in Saltillo, Miss., where he collaborated with other photographers to offer a wide range of services, from family portraits to wedding photography. His work has also been featured in prestigious publications and websites globally, including The Washington Post, The New York Times, and ESPN, spanning six continents.

His photography captures the essence of life in Mississippi, often documenting over 1,000 events annually at NEMCC, preserving the college's history through his lens. Miller considers his work to be a testament to his commitment to both education and the art of storytelling, creating a visual archive that resonates with both local and international audiences.

Outside of his professional life, Miller is actively involved in various professional organizations and enjoys spending time with his family, wife Janie and daughter Claira, his mother Kona and his nephew, Bentley, a freshman at Mississippi State University, who affectionately calls him "Bubba."

He continues to pursue his passion for photography with a goal to have his work published on all eight continents, aiming for the elusive Antarctica.

Melody Shinn (Art Instructor): Artist and Designer Melody Shinn is a native of Louisville, MS. She showed an interest in Art from an early age while making clay forms on her parents rural Winston County property and winning a drawing award in First Grade, and she never stopped. Following graduation from Louisville High School, she enrolled at Mississippi University for Women, Columbus MS, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Interior Design. She holds a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Interior Design with a secondary focus in Photography from Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY. While a graduate student at RIT, Melody was a Resident Hall Director and Graduate Assistant in the College of Imaging Arts and Sciences (CIAS). In addition to studying Interior Design and Architectural History at the School of Art and Design, Melody studied photography at the Eastman School of Photography, and she studied Ceramics and Glassmaking at the School for American Craftsmen.

Following graduate school, Melody experienced a 15-year career working in private industry emphasizing her interest in design processes and materials. She worked on both sides of the furniture industry in retail and manufacturing. As an interior designer, buyer, and business manager, she created residential designs for clients across the southeast. As a sales representative, merchandiser, and sales coordinator, she worked with research and development teams to design and market furniture at major US market centers.

Melody joined the Northeast Fine Arts Faculty in 2008 where she has taught numerous Studio Art disciplines, Art History, and Art Appreciation. As an educator, she advises the Visual Arts Club, was selected as 2015 Humanities Teacher of the Year, and was a 2018 TOP Award recipient. She is a member and former President of the MCCAIA - Mississippi Community College Art Instructor's Association; she coordinated the 2020 State Art Show. She serves as the Fine Arts Division Representative on the Presidential Advisory Board along with numerous other committees. She provides private professional consultation and seminars for both individuals and organizations.

Melody has volunteered for the past two years with the Prison Writes Initiative in Oxford, MS teaching Art Workshops at the Alcorn County Regional Correctional Facility in Corinth, MS. Her students' artworks have been displayed at Northeast Booneville and are currently on display at Northeast Corinth. She is a member of the Mississippi Consortium for Higher Education in Prison (MCHEP). Melody believes in the transformative power of the visual arts in the life journey and the perception of the world for both the artist and the viewer.

The selection of color photographs is from her travels and represents a key element of her work which is isolation of the subject.

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