By: Mary Ellen Powell
DBJ Contributing Writer
Genesis Gallery of Fine Art in Yazoo City brings talent from around the state
and the country right into the Delta’s own backyard
Heading north on Highway 49 around Yazoo City, travelers enter the Delta proper.
Just the name “Delta” conjures up images crops, combines, and
. . . canvases? Perhaps works of art do not immediately come to mind when
thinking of the Delta, but the owner of the Genesis Gallery of Fine Art in
Yazoo City hopes that that will change.
Opening an art gallery in the Delta may not seem like an obvious choice, but
the area abounds with talented artists who have historically had few outlets
for their work.
Gallery owner Tina Bradford says, “There are very few galleries north
of Jackson and almost none in the Delta, but there are so many artists and
there is a need for a place to display their work.
“We have the work of over 50 artists in the gallery and 43 are from
within our state. When the gallery opened, artists came asking us to exhibit
their work. I was amazed at the large number of wonderful artists that we
have right here in the Delta.”
An artist herself, Bradford came back to the art world after years of doing
“left brain” tasks such as computer training and programming.
She and her partner owned a business in Yazoo City that took them all over
the country providing computer training in business and corporate settings.
It was through these travels that she became particularly interested in southwestern
art and artists. And, through visiting galleries in places as far-flung as
New Mexico and South Carolina, she received her inspiration to open a gallery
in her own town.
“When I entered college I wanted to major in art, but that was in the
60’s and the type of art they were teaching just wasn’t who I
am,” explains Bradford. “So, I became a science teacher instead
and taught for several years in other parts of the state and country. All
the while, I continued to paint and teach art classes on the side.”
Now, years and several chapters in her life, later, Bradford has come full
circle back to the world of art as her full-time career. She is happy to be
in profession where things of beauty surround her each and every day and appreciates
the work of the varied and talented artists in the gallery.
The art exhibited at the Genesis gallery includes a wide range of work from
paintings to pottery and photography to jewelry. The paintings in the gallery
exhibit the artists’ talents in the use of traditional mediums such
as acrylics, oils, and watercolors. Works of art are also available that utilize
paper collage techniques as well as fiber, pen and ink, and pastels.
“We have the National Pastel Society winning work here at the gallery
as well as work by a well-known artist of the Southwest, Dale TerBush,”
says Bradford.
The work of Mississippi artist Cathy Hegman, who has been invited to be a
signature member of the National Watercolor Society, can be seen and purchased
at the gallery. Photographer Marion Brown’s work, which has been exhibited
in such prestigious venues as the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, D.C., and
galleries in Europe, is also exhibited.
Handmade jewelry from the Navajo, Zuni, and Pueblo Indian tribes has made
its way to the Delta via the gallery. Each piece is not only decorative, but
is truly a work of wearable art, says Bradford. Pottery is also available
from the Southwest, the Navajo tribe, and from a Yazoo City artist.
The gallery offers something for everyone’s tastes as well as everyone’s
budget. Bradford says that the prices of the objets d’art at the gallery
range from around $10 to in the thousands.
Bradford is not only excited to be offering beautiful works of art to the
Delta, but is also pleased to be part of the ongoing revitalization of the
downtown Yazoo City area.
“The presence of the gallery goes hand-in-hand with the Main Street
revitalization effort and we are hoping to see other art-related businesses
come into the area,” explains Bradford. “We are participating
in the effort by providing art-related activities where people can come out
and enjoy the artwork as they stroll through the downtown area.”
One such event was the art walk which was held in October. Five downtown businesses
opened and displayed art from the gallery. Three of the businesses even offered
live music for the enjoyment of the event’s participants.
Bradford says that some of the gallery’s artists are interested in teaching
classes in a variety of mediums.
“We hope that in the future we will be able to offer ongoing art classes
at a location separate from the gallery,” she says.
The response to the gallery has been warm and guests have been slightly shocked
to find such an extensive artistic offering on Main Street in Yazoo City.
Visitors have already come to the gallery from places as far away as Nova
Scotia and the Caribbean and as close by as the office next door, which happens
to be where Bradford’s former business is located.
“I have come all the way around the world career wise, but only moved
into the building next door,” Bradford says.
Bradford and the artists whose work she represents hope that, whether you
come all the way around the world or all the way down the street, you will
just come to Yazoo City to see what the Genesis Gallery of Fine Art has to
offer. DBJ