Like father, like son: MCC Miller Art Gallery to display duo’s art
Meridian Community College’s Miller Art Gallery upcoming exhibit will feature a father and son show of works.
Drawings, paintings and ceramics by Mississippians Joe A. MacGown and Joseph H. MacGown will be displayed at the MCC gallery from Feb. 22-March 29. The gallery, located in the Davidson Fine Arts Center, is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free of charge.
John Marshall, MCC art instructor and curator of the Miller Art Gallery, said he had seen the duo’s works shown in tandem before and thought it would make a great show at MCC. “Joe is an internationally recognized Mississippi artist who draws and paints creative mutated figures/creatures of strange and exotic ‘things’ in busy, chaotic compositions.”
Marshall added often the images are captivated in “surreal landscapes” or fantasies of the mind revealing Joe’s thoughts and visual observations of life on earth.
“Joe's work is very detailed, and he brings this imaginary world to life that he calls, ‘Subconscious Meandering,’” Marshall added.
Known for scientific illustrations, mostly in entomology, but also botany and other fields, Joe’s work has been featured in local and regional exhibitions in the Southeast as well as in over 70 international shows in Dallas, Chicago, Memphis, San Francisco, Washington D.C.; Germany; Canada; Nepal; the Philippines; Russia; Greece; Netherlands; France; Italy and Portugal. Joe’s work has been published in international books, magazines, scientific journals, newspapers, blogs and other media sources.
Son Joseph, Marshall said, creates organic movements in clay and ceramics. “These have a life of their own merging life observations with imagination.”
Joseph is studying art at Mississippi State University. His early resume includes one installation, participation in four international exhibitions, two solo exhibits, participation in at least 12 regional group exhibitions, 60-plus art walks, festivals, and pop-up shows. He has recorded over 250 of his musical compositions.
Photo: Joe A. MacGown’s work, including this painting, Madonna and Child, and Joseph H. MacGown’s ceramic pieces will display through March 29.