Mural Contest receives $1000 grant from Mississippi Ats Commission

Holly Springs CDC of Holly Springs MS. was awarded $1000 grant from the Mississippi Arts Commission. This grant is a portion of the $1.3 million in grants the Commission will award in 2020-2021 and has been used to fund the creation of three large paintings for public display celebrating African American Culture. The grants are made possible by continued funding from the Mississippi State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.

We are excited to announce the winners of our Black Culture Celebration community project, a mural design contest “Paint The Joint”. The winners are Ms. Jenique Gulledge (3rd Place), Anielcia Myers (2nd Place) both from Holly Springs and Mr. Michael Carter (1st Place) of Oxford, MS.

*KIMBROUGH Cotton Patch Soul Blues KINGS mural by Michael Carter* 2021

Holly Springs CDC awarded MAC funds were allocated to purchase arts supplies, and pay artists fees for each contest winner to produce a painting for public display. Ms. Gulledge’s painting is on display at GraceLand Too, 200 E Gholson Ave., Ms. Myers’ work will be on view at Mr. Caldwell’s Aikei Pro’s Record Shop, 125 N.Center Street. Mr. Carter is presently installing his mural of life long Holly Springs residents internationally celebrated Cotton Patch Soul Blues Legends David “Junior” Kimbrough and his sons David Jr. 3rd, Kinney, and Robert Sr. The mural is located in Blues Alley at E. Falconer Ave. on the NY Beauty Outlet Building.

*Ms. Myers pictured with her painting, and Mr. David Caldwell. 2021*

The mural design contest “Paint The Joint” was organized by Ms. Amy Verdon from grassroots group Son and Friends of Junior Kimbrough, under the direction of Mr. Clencie Cotton, Holly Springs CDC with cooperation of former Mayor Kelvin Buck. Matching funds for our community project were provided by FANCY!. This project is supported in part by funding from the Mississippi Arts Commission, a state agency, and in part, from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

The Mississippi Arts Commission, a state agency, serves the residents of the state by providing grants that support programs to enhance communities; assist artists and arts organizations; promote the arts in education and celebrate Mississippi’s cultural heritage. Established in 1968, the Mississippi Arts Commission is funded by the Mississippi Legislature, the National