MERIDIAN, Miss. (Queen City Newsfeed) — Mississippi artist Susan Chakiris Busby will bring her paintings to Meridian Community College’s Casteel Gallery this month, according to the college.
The exhibit runs from Oct. 7 through Nov. 4. The gallery will host an opening reception Wednesday, Oct. 7, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Inspired by the Natural World
Busby paints, takes photographs and spent years teaching art. Landscapes, waterways and the colors and textures of nature drive much of her work. Her paintings move between impressionistic and abstract styles, and they often feature bright colors and layered surfaces.
“My art originates from paying attention to the natural world of light, reflections, shadows, textures and colors that surround us in nature,” Busby said.
She said she aims to capture what she sees around her on a flat surface, leaning toward an impressionistic approach.
For years, Busby worked mainly in watercolor and acrylic. More recently, she started working with cold wax and oil. That method lets her build up layers of color and texture on birch panels and yupo paper.
From Arizona to Jones County
Busby grew up in Pennsylvania and later lived in the Phoenix area. There, she worked as a freelance commercial and fashion photographer and assisted a commercial photographer. She also taught black and white photography at the Phoenix Arts and Crafts Center and studied art at Arizona State University.
After she moved to Mississippi, Busby earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in art and art education from the University of Southern Mississippi. She went on to teach art in Jones County Schools, where she helped launch the art program at Nora Davis Magnet School. She also served as an adjunct professor at USM.
Busby has called rural Jones County home for more than 40 years. She and her late husband built their log home on 38 acres, using trees cut from their own land. Gardening, raising a family and farm animals, and exploring the state’s woods and rivers still shape her art today.
The Gulf Coast also left its mark. Sailing, fishing and trips to Cat Island inspired many of the coastal scenes in her paintings.
A Familiar Name in Mississippi Art Circles
Busby has shown her work in exhibitions across the state. She has entered the Meridian Museum of Art Annual Juried Competition and exhibited at the Lucile Parker Gallery. The Mississippi Art Colony Traveling Show has also included her pieces.
She belongs to the Mississippi Art Colony and received its Becky Feder Award for Artistic Achievement. In addition, she has been affiliated with the National Museum of Women in the Arts. She holds memberships with the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art, the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art and the Mississippi Museum of Art.
Plan Your Visit
The Casteel Gallery is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday visits are available by appointment. For more information, visit meridiancc.edu/casteelgallery or email [email protected].
