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<\/p>\nBesides the artwork, recipients will also get brief artists’ biographies and information about when and where the piece was created. The painters hope that exposing the families to fine art will ignite creativity and appreciation \u2013 especially among children.<\/p>\n
\n“Several participating artists are international students, and some of the American artists created the art while studying abroad in Italy or France,” said Danita Beck, an Ole Miss MFA candidate who is providing some of her work in addition to spearheading the project. “We hope we can spark an interest in not only art but geography and history, just to name a few topics.”\n<\/p>\n
\nThe families can view the art before selecting pieces for their homes and will draw numbers to determine selection order. The work is to be distributed in two selection rounds \u2013 likely a pleasant surprise for the homeowners, who are unaware they will become art collectors Saturday afternoon.\n<\/p>\n
\n“Habitat homeowners receive things all the time \u2013 gifts, furniture, a full pantry. But I don’t know of any time that art has been offered,” said Dwayne Spencer, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis. “So bringing the art to them is very exciting.”\n<\/p>\n
\nBesides Beck, participating artists include MFA students Rina Chiu of Taipei, Taiwan; Robbie Carlisle of Amory; Amy Evans of Lake Jackson, Texas; Judy Ford of Oxford; and Josh Revord of Memphis. Faculty members Sheri Rieth Lee, Katherine Rhodes Fields and Lou Haney have also committed to donate artwork. The artists receive no financial compensation, but find the project rewarding nonetheless.\n<\/p>\n
![\"rina.jpg\"](\"http:\/\/ezing.me\/transfer\/wp-content\/uploads\/stories\/rina.jpg\" "\\"rina.jpg\\"")
<\/p>\n“When I approach artists and ask for a piece of art for Habitat, they wonder if it’s an auction,” Beck said. “When I tell them the art will go directly into the homes of families, they express great excitement and think about what specific piece or pieces they want to give to a family as a housewarming present.”<\/p>\n
\nHabitat appreciates the generosity of the UM artists, said Spencer, who added that he hopes to continue the project for years to come.\n<\/p>\n
\n“If that’s a possibility, we’re open to it,” Spencer said. “The demographic we serve, it’s unlikely that many have been exposed to original works of art. They probably don’t go to museums or have many cultural outings at all. For some, it’ll be their first exposure to original artwork, let alone having an original piece to hang.\n<\/p>\n
\nFor more information on the dedication and display, contact Crystel Hardin, communications and events coordinator for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis, at 901-761-4771, ext. 210. For more about Home Is Where The ART Is, contact Danita Beck at 901-674-1884. To learn more about art education at Ole Miss, visit http:\/\/www.olemiss.edu\/depts\/art\/<\/a> .<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"