‘In His Image’ exhibition now open at MSU’s Colvard Student Union

Students and others browse photographs in MSU’s “In His Image” exhibition at Colvard Student Union.
Students and others browse photographic recreations of Classical art pieces featured through Nov. 25 in the “In His Image” exhibition at Mississippi State’s Colvard Student Union art gallery. (Photo by Jarvis Mace)

Contact: Sasha Steinberg

STARKVILLE, Miss.—The Society of African American Studies at Mississippi State is presenting an art exhibition celebrating African-American religious experience through photographic recreations of Classical art pieces.

Free and open to all, “In His Image” is on display through Nov. 25 in Colvard Student Union’s second-floor art gallery.

African-American individuals look on as an African-American man points at a photograph on the wall.
Visitors of MSU’s Colvard Student Union art gallery look on as MSU African American Studies Program Director Don Shaffer points at a work of art in the “In His Image” exhibition. Free and open to all, the display celebrates African-American religious experience through photographic recreations of Classical art pieces. (Photo by Jarvis Mace)

“The goal of the exhibition is to confront racial biases that are endogenous to Abrahamic faiths and traditions while expanding archetypal depictions of religious figures to promote inclusivity and diversity,” said MSU African American Studies Program Director Don Shaffer.

Also an MSU associate professor of English, Shaffer said this exhibition seeks to challenge and examine the black community’s evolving relationship to religion and spirituality in the 21st century.

Featured works include Michelangelo’s “The Pietà” and “The Creation of Adam,” as well as Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.”

Part of MSU’s College of Arts and Sciences, the African American Studies program offers courses on history, literature, politics and other aspects of black life and culture leading to an undergraduate minor in AAS.

Graduate students also can develop a concentration in AAS. Those who successfully complete a combination of course work, teaching assignments and community engagement will earn a certificate of completion, as well as a letter of recognition from the director of the program. The graduate program also offers an online diversity certificate.

For more information on MSU’s College of Arts and Sciences or the African American Studies program, visit www.cas.msstate.edu or www.aas.msstate.edu.

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.