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• Tupelo artist William Heard’s artwork opens ICC’s fall art exhibition

  Itawamba Community College has opened its fall 2026 exhibition schedule with “Becoming Butterflies, Lovely Ladybugs and Heavenly Honey Bees,” a collection of paintings by Tupelo artist William Flewellen Heard. Heard, a 1994 graduate of Tupelo High School, served in the Army National Guard as a medical specialist before attending ICC and Mississippi State University. In 2000, Heard sustained a spinal cord injury in an automobile accident that resulted in quadriplegia. During rehabilitation at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia, he discovered a passion for art through art therapy. After returning home, Heard was inspired by “Pollock,” a film chronicling the life and work of artist Jackson Pollock. Heard began experimenting with drip painting and has spent more than two decades developing and refining his own technique. Heard later returned to Mississippi State, where he earned a degree in general business with an emphasis in furniture production. He also became involved with Living Independence for Everyone of Mississippi, a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities. Heard is the founder of Our ArtWorks, a nonprofit organization that provides artistic opportunities for individuals ...
• “My Watercolor Journey: From There to Here” by Feixue Yang Concludes ICC’s Fall Gallery Season

  The final exhibition in Itawamba Community College’s W.O. Benjamin Fine Arts Center Gallery for the Fall 2025 semester showcases the delicate artistry of Madison-based watercolor painter Feixue Yang. Her show, “My Watercolor Journey: From There to Here,” features a collection of landscape and portrait paintings that blend Eastern aesthetics with Western impressionistic techniques. The exhibition will be on display November 11 through December 3, with an artist’s reception at 1 p.m. on December 3. Yang’s watercolor work is known for its serene yet expressive quality, capturing moments of stillness and emotion through the interplay of light and color. A self-taught artist, Yang draws inspiration from both her surroundings in Mississippi and her deep emotional connection to her hometown in China. “Watercolor is my language,” Yang said. “It reminds me to embrace imperfection—because beauty often appears in unexpected places. My hope is that my work invites viewers to slow down and rediscover the poetry of ordinary life—to see not just with the eyes, but with the heart.” Yang’s award-winning plein air paintings have earned her recognition across Mississippi. She received second and third ...
• "Between Earth and Sky," works of two artists, now on display at the W.O. Benjamin Fine Arts gallery on the ICC Fulton Campus

  Now through Sept. 18, Itawamba Community College is hosting “Between Earth and Sky,” a collection of works by two participating artists in the gallery of the W.O. Benjamin Fine Arts Center at the Fulton Campus. A collection of ceramic pieces by Melanie Eubanks of Jones College is complemented by the large acrylic paintings of clouds by Hattiesburg artist Martina Sciolino. All of the works are for sale.             Eubanks is a ceramic artist who works primarily in stoneware and porcelain. The surface of her work is often decorated with brushwork, sgraffito or Mishima or a combination of all of these. With these techniques, she can make images that usually reference the organic shapes of nature and are echoed by the marks made by wood firing. Most of her work is functional and fired in a wood burning kiln, which creates irregular surfaces due to wood ash adhering to the side of the objects facing the flame, which interests her most. She fires her work at various kilns in Louisiana, Alabama, Florida and at her home in Hattiesburg, where she shares a ...
• ICC President Allen opens fall 2025 convocation with challenge to 'create a masterpiece;' new faculty/new roles announced

  Itawamba Community College President Dr. Jay Allen challenged faculty and staff to “create a masterpiece” during his remarks at the fall 2025 convocation Wednesday at the Fulton Campus. “Each year when we gather for convocation, I’m reminded that our work here is more than a list of tasks, programs and budgets – it’s a living, evolving canvas. And this year, our theme reminds us of ‘The Power of One: The Big Picture Begins with You!’ Think of ICC as a great mural in progress. Across its expanse are the colors, textures, patterns and decades of service – brushstrokes laid down by those who came before us, strokes that define our heritage and our foundation.” Those who attended had an opportunity to paint a section of an art piece in the lobby. Allen said that masterpieces don’t happen all at once. “They are built one stroke at a time. One deliberate motion of the brush, and each of you holds a brush in your hand.” Allen noted that there are those who add bold colors, bring delicate details, work in the foreground while ...
• Faculty, Student Exhibitions Highlight Spring Season in ICC Fine Arts Gallery

  Itawamba Community College is showcasing its second exhibition of the semester with a double feature highlighting the work of both faculty and students. The exhibition is free and open to be public while on view through Wednesday, March 4, in the W.O. Benjamin Fine Arts Gallery on the Fulton Campus. The Art Faculty Exhibition features paintings, drawings, metalpoint, mixed media and ceramics by Dr. Dana Arnold, Elizabeth Owen and Shawn Whittington. The exhibit presents works in traditional and experimental media and techniques, offering a broad view of the creative scholarship within ICC’s Fine Arts Division. A reception and question-and-answer session with the faculty artists will be held Wednesday, March 25, at 1:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Gallery. The ICC Student Art Exhibition and Competition is on display in the lobby and hallways of the W.O. Benjamin Fine Arts Building. Student works are represented in drawing, painting, 2D and 3D design, digital art and ceramics. Participating students include Omarion Agnew, Courtney Black, Jordan Cayson, Alex Conseco Martinez, Logan Crane, Malakai David, Kaiden Donaldson, Brady Edington, Christian English, Daniella Estoque, Paula Elaine ...
• ICC kicks off '25 football season with free Red Zone Tailgate

  Itawamba Community College will kick off the 2025 Indians football season, Aug. 28, with a free Red Zone Tailgate in the Grove at Butch Lambert Stadium in Fulton. The public is invited.             The event features free food, activities and entertainment for all ages.             The Indian Spirit Walk will start the festivities at 4 p.m., and fans will have an opportunity to cheer for the Indians as they make their way to the stadium. The ultimate tailgate showdown is the Kickoff Cookoff, and local teams will fire up their grills and bring the flavor. Those who attend will have an opportunity to taste, cheer and vote for their favorite dishes. A panel of four judges will select the Best Tailgate Dish, Most Creative Tailgate Dish and Fan Favorite.             ICC will take on Hinds Community College with the kickoff at 7 p.m. Additionally, the 2024-25 Lady Indians basketball team will be recognized at halftime for their spectacular season, which culminated in the Region 23 Women’s Championship and a trip to the NJCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament in Casper, Wyoming.             More information about ...