Armistead to showcase works in gallery honoring former teacher
John Armistead’s upcoming exhibit at Meridian Community College’s Casteel Gallery carries special meaning, as the gallery honors Homer Casteel, the influential art teacher who once guided Armistead in high school.
“I was very fortunate to have so many good art teachers,” Armistead said, listing John and Jane Shaw, Jo Garrett, Sam Gore, Everett Raymond Kinstler, and Homer Casteel. “Their words of instruction are constantly flowing through my mind.”
Armistead’s works will be on display from Nov. 6- Jan. 22, 2025, at the gallery that’s located in the Davidson Fine Arts Center in Ivy-Scaggs Hall. An opening reception is Nov. 6 and a closing reception is planned for Jan. 22.
Armistead, an ordained minister and award-winning author, has spent a lifetime creating — both on canvas and on the page. A Meridian native, he began painting as a child in Mobile, Alabama, under the guidance of John and Jane Shaw. His family moved to Meridian when he was 10, where he attended Highland Elementary, Kate Griffin Junior High, and Meridian High School before continuing his education at Mississippi College, the University of Mississippi, and several theological seminaries.
Over the years, Armistead’s life has woven together art, faith, and storytelling. He has served as a teacher, minister, and leader in the arts community including as president of the Painters Group of the Meridian Museum of Art and a member of its board of directors. Encouraged by fellow artist Alex Loeb, he joined the Mississippi Art Colony, further solidifying his ties to the state’s art scene.
In addition to his paintings, Armistead is known for his literary works. He is the author of several novels, including A Legacy of Vengeance, A Homecoming for Murder, and Cruel as the Grave. His young adult novel The $66 Summer was named by the New York Public Library as one of the best books for teenagers, and The Return of Gabriel is used in classrooms nationwide to teach about the civil rights era.
Now living in Tupelo with his wife, Sandi, Armistead continues to follow the creative motto he has adopted as his own — a quote from the ancient writer Pliny: Nulla dies sine linea — “Never a day without a line.”
The Casteel Gallery is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and by appointment by emailing ttaylor@meridiancc.edu. To learn more, visit meridiancc.edu/casteelgallery.