91视频

May 1, 2018

When 91视频 art major Audrea Powell鈥檚 mother passed away in November, she immersed herself in artwork as a means to take her mind off of her loss.

鈥淚 came into the art studio every day,鈥� Powell, 22, said recently. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 finish the rest of my classes until this semester. But I never left art class. It was kind of like therapy for me. It was a break from being at home with my thoughts.鈥�

In fact, on the day her mother died Powell sought comfort in the EMCC art studio located in the Humanities and Fine Arts Building on the Golden Triangle campus. That鈥檚 where the Maben native who has resided in Starkville since 2010 can be found most days during the week.

鈥淎udrey has learned one thing that a lot of artists don鈥檛 get until a little later and it is that art is what makes her happy,鈥� EMCC art instructor Cindy Buob said. 鈥淪o whenever she is feeling troubled she turns to artwork as her respite.鈥�

Through that experience, Powell said she has found her calling.

鈥淚 want to open up my own gallery and offer art therapy for people who are having a hard time,鈥� said Powell, who considered majoring in psychology before deciding to pursue a career in art. 鈥淚 mentioned this to a lady at my church and she said, 鈥業 don鈥檛 know how to draw.鈥� The fun thing about art is you don鈥檛 have to know how to draw but it takes your mind off of other things because you are trying to focus. That鈥檚 the point of art therapy.鈥�

But that鈥檚 down the road. For now, Powell wants to complete her education. She graduates from EMCC in May and has been accepted into the art program at the Mississippi University for Women where she was awarded a $1,000 scholarship after professors there reviewed her portfolio.

Buob said the hours Powell has spent in the studio have helped her hone her craft.

鈥淪he is the real deal,鈥� Buob said. 鈥淪he keeps getting better because she is practicing on her artwork so much of the time.鈥�

The practice has paid off. A drawing by Powell titled 鈥淭he Reality of November 28,鈥� which was the date her mother died, was chosen for the cover of 鈥淪yzygy,鈥� EMCC鈥檚 annual literary magazine.

The drawing depicts a skull surrounded by various household objects that belonged to Powell鈥檚 mother.

鈥淚t was about how my mother couldn鈥檛 take all of her nice things with her when she died,鈥� Powell said.

Powell also took third place in the Drawing category in the Mississippi Community and Junior College Art Instructors Association State Art Competition in March, which included artworks from students at all 15 community colleges in Mississippi. Powell鈥檚 drawing, titled 鈥淐hef Greg,鈥� featured pots, pans and utensils.

Two other EMCC students also placed in that contest, which took place this year in the Marie Hull Gallery on the campus of Hinds Community College. Scooba campus student Brejenn Allen won second place in the Painting category for a piece titled 鈥淗omeless Transportation鈥� that depicts a bicycle festooned with flags and brightly colored wheel spokes.

Golden Triangle student Claire Crutcher was awarded an honorable mention in the 2-D Design category for her piece titled 鈥淯PC Forest,鈥� which portrays a bar code with a forest canopy motif.

As for Powell, after she graduates from MUW she hopes to open her first gallery in Starkville, and eventually expand with branches elsewhere. Powell said working through her mother鈥檚 death has been a process that will take time to complete.

Similarly, she said, achieving her career goals will take time as well.

鈥淭hat is a process too,鈥� Powell said. 鈥淚n 10 years I probably won鈥檛 have everything I want but I hope to at least have the building for my studio.鈥�