Mississippi Arts Hour

Lauren Rhodes talks with author Lawrence Wells, whose memoir, Ghostwriter: Shakespeare, Literary Landmines, and an Eccentric Patron’s Royal Obsession, was just published by the University Press of Mississippi, along with the novel Fair Youth, which he ghostwrote for Gertrude C. Ford. Larry is the director of Yoknapatawpha Press in Oxford, Mississippi, which he established with his late wife, Dean Faulkner Wells. The author of two historical novels, Rommel and the Rebel and Let the Band Play Dixie, Wells’ manuscript Ghostwriter, was awarded the 2014 Faulkner-Wisdom gold medal for narrative non-fiction at the Words and Music Festival in New Orleans. If you enjoyed listening to this podcast, please consider contributing to MPB.  https://donate.mpbfoundation.org/mspb/podcast.  

Larry Morrisey visits with writer Boyce Upholt. He writes articles on the natural world for a wide range of publications. Upholt has just published “The Great River,” a book on the history of man’s attempts to control Mississippi River. The book includes looks at the mound builder civilizations who built along the river, through the steamboat era and to today. Upholt examines the damage to the Mississippi from various efforts to control it over the years and its ability to change and adapt around the controls.. If you enjoyed listening to this podcast, please consider contributing to MPB.  https://donate.mpbfoundation.org/mspb/podcast.  

Maria Zeringue revisits a conversation from 2022 with two traditional artists – quilter Janice Mitchell and tatter and jewelry maker, Alan Kolodny. Janice and Alan were both part of the exhibit, Mississippi Traditions: An Exhibit Celebrating Featured Artists of the Mississippi Folklife Directory. Janice recently passed away and we are sharing this episode in her memory. If you enjoyed listening to this podcast, please consider contributing to MPB.  https://donate.mpbfoundation.org/mspb/podcast.  

Maria Zeringue talks with musician Eden Brent. A native of Greenville, MS, Eden has spent her life playing tribute to the music of the region that raised her. As a talented piano player and songwriter, she carries on the tradition of Mississippi blues and boogie-woogie through her energetic performances and recording output. Eden is also a MAC Folk Arts Fellowship awardee and has been given numerous honors by her peers in the blues community. She recently released an album of new material called "Getaway Blues." The album was recorded in London with her husband, Bob Dowell. In this episode, we discuss her new album and hear stories from Eden’s life in Mississippi music. If you enjoyed listening to this podcast, please consider contributing to MPB.  https://donate.mpbfoundation.org/mspb/podcast.  

Leslie Barker speaks to Jason Bouldin. Jason is a portraitist who works out of his Oxford-based studio. He is also the son of portrait painter Marshall Bouldin, whose career of more than 50 years as a professional painter is being celebrated by dual art exhibitions at the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art in Laurel and the Walter Anderson Museum of Art in Ocean Springs. If you enjoyed listening to this podcast, please consider contributing to MPB.  https://donate.mpbfoundation.org/mspb/podcast.  

Lauren Rhoades talks with filmmaker and FY24 MAC fellowship recipient Carys Glynne Snyder. After attending high school in Starkville, Carys graduated from Columbia University in 2019, where she studied screenwriting, acting, and art. Her short independent film “Io’s Lament,” which she wrote, produced, and starred in, won Best Homegrown Movie from this year’s Magnolia Film Festival. Carys is also a professional actor with over twenty short films under her belt. She is currently in the U.K. working on her first full-length feature film entitled “Washed Up,” which will be filmed in Cornwall. If you enjoyed listening to this podcast, please consider contributing to MPB.  https://donate.mpbfoundation.org/mspb/podcast.  

Larry Morrisey talks with singer/songwriter (and Jackson native) Dent May. He first came to prominence as a musician while living in Oxford, but he’s currently based in Los Angeles. His new album, “What’s for Breakfast?” features collaborations with other musicians, including the singer Jordana and the group Pearl and the Oysters. If you enjoyed listening to this podcast, please consider contributing to MPB.  https://donate.mpbfoundation.org/mspb/podcast.  

This week on the Mississippi Arts Hour, Leslie talks to Dan Splaingard and Scott Barretta about the Hush Puppy Music Coop. Join us for our conversation about this unique community-driven organization that brings live music to Greenwood.  The Mississippi Arts Hour airs Sundays at 5 p.m. CST on MPB Think Radio. You can also listen through your favorite podcasting app.

David Lewis sits down with Hector Boldo and Jacqueline Wooton. They talked about their work as artists, Hector's mural works in Hattiesburg, their joint endeavor with Tom Boldo to create the Mississippi Latinx Art Association and their new gallery Nuestro Arte. Hector and Jacqueline shared how they wound up in Mississippi and the importance of their community's support of the arts. If you enjoyed listening to this podcast, please consider contributing to MPB.  https://donate.mpbfoundation.org/mspb/podcast.