Mississippi is certainly no stranger to incredible artists who have called this great state home. The Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience, referred to as The MAX, is the first museum of its kind to pay tribute to the wonderful culture and legacy of these artists. To name a few: B.B. King, Elvis Presley, William Faulkner, John Grisham, Morgan Freeman, Jim Henson, Eudora Welty, and Oprah Winfrey. After nearly 10 years in the making, The MAX is now open in Meridian, Mississippi. Using their words, we've listed every exhibit below with a full breakdown of what you can expect.
The Experience:
First Floor
The MAX Hall of Fame Gallery is the centerpiece of the first floor of the museum. The eighteen artists represented in the gallery are the inaugural class of The MAX Hall of Fame. Touch screens and videos enhance the Hall of Fame Experience. A recording studio, two art studios, and a changing exhibition gallery round out the museum space downstairs.
Second Floor
The second floor is divided into six galleries that focus on influences on Mississippi artists, past and present: Land, Home, Community, Church, People + Places, and Global Community.
Exhibit 1 The Hall of Fame
Kiosks are arranged along the mezzanine railing and the ground floor. They will include stories about the inductees highlighting their Mississippi connections, how they became an artist, their work, and their legacy.
Exhibit 2 Introduction
Creativity spans every region of the state, every color and background, men and women, young and old, artists from the past paired with emerging talents. All reflect the artistic traditions and heritage of Mississippi. Come see a place that continues to encourage and support creativity and self‐expression.
Exhibit 3 Land
Mississippi art and artists are born from the soil, sands, and red clay of the state and see the land as a source of inspiration, toil, refuge, and nourishment. The land often encourages the first spark of creativity for many, whether artists work the land, travel through it or simply live among the crop fields, forests, waterways and towns. The landscape also generously provides some of the raw materials that artists use to create their work.
Exhibit 4 The Community
Celebrates the neighborhoods, cities, and small towns that supported and inspired the artists of the past, and continue to nourish the emerging artists of today. Explore where people live, work, play, collaborate and create. See how artists “cross-pollinate”, influence and energize one other. This section breaks into 4 smaller exhibits: Juke joint, TV & radio store display, town theater, school environment.
First Floor
The MAX Hall of Fame Gallery is the centerpiece of the first floor of the museum. The eighteen artists represented in the gallery are the inaugural class of The MAX Hall of Fame. Touch screens and videos enhance the Hall of Fame Experience. A recording studio, two art studios, and a changing exhibition gallery round out the museum space downstairs.
Second Floor
The second floor is divided into six galleries that focus on influences on Mississippi artists, past and present: Land, Home, Community, Church, People + Places, and Global Community.
Exhibit 1 The Hall of Fame
Kiosks are arranged along the mezzanine railing and the ground floor. They will include stories about the inductees highlighting their Mississippi connections, how they became an artist, their work, and their legacy.
Exhibit 2 Introduction
Creativity spans every region of the state, every color and background, men and women, young and old, artists from the past paired with emerging talents. All reflect the artistic traditions and heritage of Mississippi. Come see a place that continues to encourage and support creativity and self‐expression.
Exhibit 3 Land
Mississippi art and artists are born from the soil, sands, and red clay of the state and see the land as a source of inspiration, toil, refuge, and nourishment. The land often encourages the first spark of creativity for many, whether artists work the land, travel through it or simply live among the crop fields, forests, waterways and towns. The landscape also generously provides some of the raw materials that artists use to create their work.
Exhibit 4 The Community
Celebrates the neighborhoods, cities, and small towns that supported and inspired the artists of the past, and continue to nourish the emerging artists of today. Explore where people live, work, play, collaborate and create. See how artists “cross-pollinate”, influence and energize one other. This section breaks into 4 smaller exhibits: Juke joint, TV & radio store display, town theater, school environment.
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Exhibit 5 The Home
Focus on early influences and creative processes rather than an artist’s eventual achievements or fame, and reflect the unexpected connections and relationships of one’s place to creativity. Home celebrates artists in their earliest environments, where they were first shaped and inspired. This exhibit is broken into 4 smaller exhibits: front porch, living room, kitchen, and library.
Exhibit 6 The Church
Faith remains a vital element of Mississippi culture, community and creativity. Diverse religious traditions have given hope, sparked rebellion, encouraged social activism, and provided churchgoers with venues for artistic expression. The church continues to be a foundation that shapes artistic styles in music, literature, and performance. Church celebrates life and the life cycle, provides political and community forums, social gatherings and food. Church is more than just worship.
Exhibit 7 People + Places
Whether working alone or within collaborative groups, artists have put Mississippi on the map. Artists and their environments—in which they live, work and inspire one another—are front and center. Some area— such as Oxford—have evolved into important creative and intellectual centers, while more “hardscrabble” environments—like Parchman Prison—spawn creativity from labor, sweat, and dirt.
Exhibit 8 The Global Community
Explore Mississippi’s rich artistic contributions and creative impact on art & artists worldwide. Through reality or stereotype, the distinct characteristics of Mississippi have permeated our international creative and popular culture, and in literature, music, food, film, television, fine arts, craft traditions, and performance. Here Mississippi reveals its lasting creative influence on artists across the globe. The area will make connections, start dialogues, encourage relationships, and showcase the breadth of Mississippi’s creative power.
Focus on early influences and creative processes rather than an artist’s eventual achievements or fame, and reflect the unexpected connections and relationships of one’s place to creativity. Home celebrates artists in their earliest environments, where they were first shaped and inspired. This exhibit is broken into 4 smaller exhibits: front porch, living room, kitchen, and library.
Exhibit 6 The Church
Faith remains a vital element of Mississippi culture, community and creativity. Diverse religious traditions have given hope, sparked rebellion, encouraged social activism, and provided churchgoers with venues for artistic expression. The church continues to be a foundation that shapes artistic styles in music, literature, and performance. Church celebrates life and the life cycle, provides political and community forums, social gatherings and food. Church is more than just worship.
Exhibit 7 People + Places
Whether working alone or within collaborative groups, artists have put Mississippi on the map. Artists and their environments—in which they live, work and inspire one another—are front and center. Some area— such as Oxford—have evolved into important creative and intellectual centers, while more “hardscrabble” environments—like Parchman Prison—spawn creativity from labor, sweat, and dirt.
Exhibit 8 The Global Community
Explore Mississippi’s rich artistic contributions and creative impact on art & artists worldwide. Through reality or stereotype, the distinct characteristics of Mississippi have permeated our international creative and popular culture, and in literature, music, food, film, television, fine arts, craft traditions, and performance. Here Mississippi reveals its lasting creative influence on artists across the globe. The area will make connections, start dialogues, encourage relationships, and showcase the breadth of Mississippi’s creative power.
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To learn more about The MAX, view events and purchase tickets, make sure to go to their website at: msarts.org
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