Art exhibition opens at Northwest in September
By Brittany Greer| 8/14/09

The upcoming Northwest Mississippi Community College art exhibition “Hughey Burchfield Photographs” features work from a local photographer who finds beauty in everyday life and nature. The exhibition will run Sept. 1-30 at the Northwest Art Gallery on the Senatobia campus. An opening reception will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 1.

“Hughey Burchfield is a fine gentlemen and a wonderful local photographer. We look forward to this exhibition, the first for the fall semester. We encourage the community to visit our gallery. Guests are always welcome,” said Lawayne House, chair of the Art Department.

Burchfield, 67, of Senatobia is a retired seven-year educator and 30 year banker who has developed a life-long love for photography into a business that has allowed him to live his dream.

“I am an old retired guy chasing my dream. This is what I have wanted all my life,” Burchfield said. “The exhibition will feature 55 landscape and nature photographs that I have taken over the past two years. Outdoor photography is what I love to do.”

Burchfield holds a bachelor’s degree in Education from Mississippi State University and a master’s degree in Education from Mississippi College.

His work consists mainly of landscape and everyday life. He finds inspiration in the works of world-renowned landscape and wildlife photographer, John Shaw, who’s Web site he visits weekly. 

He said, " I had the privilege of attending a two day seminar in 2004 of Mr. Shaw's that encouraged me to chase my dream and have fun with it. His is the best advice I've ever received with regards to photography.”

Burchfield’s advice to aspiring photographers is to photograph what interests them; and don't be late for work. “Landscape photography is not for the late sleepers,” he said.

Burchfield and his wife, Faye, live in Senatobia. He is a member of the DeSoto Arts Council and the DeSoto Camera Club.

Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to noon. Admission is free.

The Northwest Mississippi Community College Fine Arts Division offers classes in the fundamentals of Drawing; Painting; Ceramics; Art History; and Computer Graphics for individuals seeking opportunities for a career in the arts or for personal enrichment. For more information, contact House at 662-562-3399 or e-mail lhouse@northwestms.edu. 

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