MGCCC Fine Arts Gallery and Honors College students salute retired military through art and storytelling
In honor of Veterans Day, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s School of Visual and Performing Arts, in collaboration with Honors College students from the Harrison County Campus, is celebrating the service and stories of retired military members residing at the Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH) in Gulfport. The tribute will be presented through “Our Veterans’ Art Adventures,” an art exhibition showcasing the work of AFRH veterans who have pursued art classes at the facility. The exhibit will be on display from November 4 through December 6, 2024, in the Fine Arts Gallery on MGCCC’s Harrison County Campus.
Milton Williams, Art Specialist at the AFRH, works closely with veterans who, for many, are discovering their artistic abilities for the first time. “When I think of the veterans here at the Armed Forces Retirement Home and the sacrifices they made for us, I realize how blessed we are to have the liberty to follow our vocations,” Williams said. “If they had not stood the ‘watch,’ we might be limited in choices to use our God-given gifts and talents.”
Many AFRH veterans had never previously tried their hands at painting or pottery, but Williams notes their enthusiasm for learning and growing in the arts. “When they come to class and pick up a brush, they discover they can paint, they can sculpt – to their delight. The next neat thing is seeing them teach each other what they just discovered, helping each other grow in the arts,” he added. Williams shared that his students’ dedication and curiosity continually inspire him to further his own creativity.
As part of MGCCC Honors College’s “Connection” project theme, Honors College students will also be meeting with the veteran artists to hear and record their stories. Dr. Angela Bruni, Honors College Director, expressed the importance of human connection in the project, explaining, “We as humans seek connection with others. We forge connections with words, thoughts, and ideas. This Veterans Day, we can work with our military in the Veterans Home to collect and share their stories.”
The stories gathered by Honors College students will be shared during a Veterans Day event held on November 11 at 10:30 a.m. in the courtyard of MGCCC’s Harrison County Campus, with a reception immediately following in the Fine Arts Building. The exhibit and event are free and open to the public, honoring veterans and celebrating their artistic and personal journeys.
Exhibit Details:
- Exhibit Title: “Our Veterans’ Art Adventures”
- Dates: November 4 – December 6, 2024
- Location: MGCCC Harrison County Campus Fine Arts Gallery, 2226 Switzer Rd, Gulfport, MS, Fine Arts Building (Building D)
- Gallery Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
- Contact: Cecily Cummings at Cecily.Cummings@mgccc.edu or 228-897-3909