Art Talk

If you are looking for a short road trip destination, think of going out to New Albany to see the Union County Heritage Museum located at 114 Cleveland St.
This little museum has a great show called Folk Art and Friendly People Exhibit and Sale which will be up until March 20. It features work by many Mississippi artists including Water Valley local, John Steele Davis.
The work in this show is colorful, bright, and whimsical. There are great fiber and gourd pieces by Jeanette Stone of Potts Camp, delightful metal creatures, vehicles and characters made of salvaged metal by talented Brad Smith from Jug Fork.
Of course there are also the familiar wooden furniture pieces by skilled artisan, John Steele Davis. His work in this show is finely crafted, and I was thrilled to see his handmade instruments including an upright bass fashioned from a washtub. I have seen and admired his chairs and tables, but the addition of his instruments showed me that there is more to this craftsman than just great furniture. His talent and skill is diverse, and his work shines in this venue.
This museum has a great exhibition on William Faulkner and other New Albany related history, including a gift shop well stocked with books on Mississippi history.
This museum was a surprising little gem in a cute town filled with boutiques, antique shops and cafes. It is definitely worth a visit. The museum is open Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.