SouthTalks: “Art in Barnard”

“Art in Barnard” by Robin Whitfield

Robin Whitfield is a Mississippi artist dedicated to connecting with nature and helping others do the same. Her creative process begins with observing natural environments such as rivers, swamps, and forests. Her paintings are poetic explorations of visual and ecological relationships. Whitfield works on paper using traditional watercolors or foraged plant and mineral pigments. In this SouthTalk, Whitfield will discuss her art practice and the mission of her non-profit, Friends of Chakchiuma Swamp. Weather permitting, Whitfield invites all attendees to join a 30-minute workshop using wild pigments from 1 to 1:30 p.m., immediately following her talk.

Robin graduated from Delta State University in 1996 with a BFA in painting. She gives presentations, leads creative workshops, and exhibits her work at the intersection of art, ecology, and conservation. In 2018, she founded the non-profit Friends of Chakchiuma Swamp to manage and interpret the Lee Tartt Nature Preserve (LTNP) near her downtown studio. She serves as Executive Director and is currently studying Forest Technology at Holmes Community College, refining her skills in managing LTNP, a 300-acre bottomland forest. Whitfield lives and works from her studio, situated just off the square in downtown Grenada, Mississippi. For more information about Whitfield and her work, visit her website at www.robinwhitfield.com. 

SouthTalks is a series of events, including lectures, performances, film screenings and panel discussions, exploring the interdisciplinary nature of Southern Studies, sponsored by the Center for the Study of Southern Culture. All events are free and open to the public.