The Department of Fine Arts is presenting a Joint Senior Thesis Art Exhibition by Jacoby Cornell and Eric Miles in the Johnston Gallery from now through June 15. The Johnston Gallery is located on the Itta Bena campus in the Walter Sillers Fine Arts Building.
Cornell is a resident of Greenwood where he graduated from Greenwood High School. His works consist of ten offensive greeting cards, created from Photoshop, in which he provides rude gestures for a mature audience in a humorous vein for various holidays and life milestones. “The figure of speech and messages conveyed are not personal feelings that I hold against anyone, but created specifically to entertain my audience, especially for those who may be concerned,” said Cornell, who is a member both the MVSU Marching and Symphonic Bands. He served as a drum major in the former and earned his educational training partially from the support of a band scholarship. In addition, he is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Fraternity for college bandsmen.
Miles of Memphis, Tenn. graduated from Oakhaven High School. His works in this exhibit consist of thirteen digital images, originating from an Elandro magazine, which he created, and progressed from the cover page to page thirteen in the magazine. Created with Photoshop and InDesign, the magazine focuses on such topics as the rise in gas prices, the death of Whitney Houston, MVSU winning the SWAC Tournament, celebrities providing their input about television shows they participate in, education attendance practices in other countries and advertisements of marketable items.
According to Miles, “my work offers a bold, vibrant, and colorful blend of forms. My love and exploration of color started as a middle grade student while studying one summer at the Memphis College of Art. The use of contrast between light and dark values and a pleasant facial expression (except for the scene of the Funeral of Whitney Houston) are important to me.” Miles is a member of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.