Pernell Goodwin
Staff Writer
On Tuesday, August 30, 2011 Gallery 1, a new art gallery opened at Jackson State University’s One University Place. It is the first business to open in the JSU-initiated real estate development.
JSU President Carolyn W. Meyers along with City of Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson, Jr. and JSU Vice President Felix Okojie, cut the ceremonial ribbon signaling the official opening, before a crowd of faculty, staff, alumni, students and community supporters toured the new facility.
“Art means so much to so many,” said Meyers, during the ceremony. “Its beauty can be enjoyed for generations.”
The director of Gallery 1 is Kimberly Jacobs, a fine arts graduate of Jackson State. Last December, Jacobs was tapped by Jackson State’s art department faculty to become director of Gallery 1.
“I wanted the students to have a place to come see fine arts, to learn from the artwork, and learn about our culture,” said Jacobs. “Lectures will also be held in the spring for students to attend.”
Gallery 1 brought a lot of excitement to students who attend JSU. Michael Morris, a political science graduate student, from Jackson, Miss. said: “I’m excited and glad to see big things happening in Jackson, especially on Jackson State’s campus.”
Monique Atkins, a senior graphic design major, from Chicago, Ill., said: “The new art gallery is awesome, I think this is great for the school to have a variety of art work around us and its strictly African American art.”
The gallery displays work by local and national artists and pieces from the JSU permanent collection, along with handmade items from Uganda. Student artwork is not yet in the gallery but Gallery 1 does have a variety of artwork by Ormond White from Canton, Eric Jones, of Vicksburg, and Lonnie Robinson of Jackson.
Artwork in the gallery ranges from $8 to $1,700. Gallery 1 will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, call 601-874-7993.
