Exhibits at the Museum
Temporary Exhibit
A CAST OF BLUES
NOVEMBER 10, 2023 - JANUARY 6, 2024
Blues music was born in Mississippi, came of age in Chicago, and inspired generations of rock and rollers, ranging from the British invasion of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones to contemporary groups, such as The Black Keys. As America’s unique contribution to the world of music, the blues took root in the fertile soil of the Mississippi Delta. Early greats in the Delta pioneered the strong rhythmic style of music, accenting the raw emotions of the lyrics by squeezing chords out of a guitar with a bottleneck or metal slide.
A Cast of Blues, a celebration of Mississippi’s rich musical heritage, features 15 resin-cast, touchable masks of blues legends created by artist Sharon McConnell-Dickerson. “A life cast is like a 3D photograph to someone who is blind. It captures the flesh, muscle, bone, hair and subtle expressions of emotion,” says McConnell-Dickerson, who is visually impaired herself.
In addition, the exhibition includes 15 color photographs of blues artists and the colorful juke joints in which they played. The images were selected by acclaimed photographer Ken Murphy, a longtime Mississippi resident, captures the essence of the blues through highly detailed, panoramic color pictures. The compilation of casts and photos creates a compelling portrait of the men and women who define—and continue to shape—the tradition of Mississippi blues.
A Program of ExhibitsUSA, a national division of Mid-America Arts Alliance with Texas Commission on the Arts and The National Endowment for the Arts.