Published: June 11, 2008 11:00 pm      

Andrew Willis photography exhibit at the Arts Center of Mississippi

The Greater Jackson Arts Council announces the opening of a photography exhibition at the Arts Center of Mississippi by Choctaw, Mississippi native Andrew Willis, Jr.

The show is entitled Tamaha (phonetic Tah-MAH-hah), which means town or city in native Choctaw language.

Andrew’s photography is basically still photos, black and white, sepia tone renderings of architectural views, statues and old buildings. Most of his recent photos are from Mississippi, Chicago and Paris, France.

“The exhibit is compelling and Andrew’s eye for unusual perspective is what drew us to want to show him,” states Sylvia Pooley, development and special events manager. Willis states that his work “has to have the perfect surroundings to complement each other and brings into consideration the background, height, light and shadows.”

Although he considers himself a novice to the world of photography, Andrew Willis, Jr. of Choctaw, has garnered much acclaim with his recent photo exhibition in Jackson at the Eudora Welty Library. A member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, Willis, 40, is a graduate of Choctaw Central High School and his talent in photography was discovered during a Bastille Day party in Jackson.

The son of the late Andrew Willis, Sr. and Eileen Billie of the Tucker Community near Philadelphia, Mississippi, Willis credits his oldest brother Jimmy Ben for igniting his interest into photography when he was growing up. He states "looking back, I saw my brother’s work and got into my mind that this is something I would like to do, maybe one of these days this would be me." That dream did not blossom until recently. As a teenager, Willis received his first 35mm camera as a gift and started taking pictures of every thing and found a new respect for photography.

The Tamaha exhibit began Tuesday and will hang through July 13 in the Gertrude C. Ford Atrium at the Art Center of Mississippi located at 201 East Pascagoula St., Jackson. It is free to the public. Hours are Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday Noon-5 p.m. For more information call (601) 960-1500.