A new art gallery recently opened at 317 North Magnolia St., across from the Leader-Call’s office, and will feature Mississippi artists.
The Caron Gallery South had a grand-opening recently and unveiled a 2,500-square-foot gallery that will feature works from more than 50 Mississippi artists. For the past two years, the art gallery was located on Short 7th Avenue, but outgrew that facility quickly, making the move to the larger exhibition hall necessary.
Inside the exhibition room, an array of color, imagination and visualization immediately grabs the attention of visitors, who are able to also purchase the works they are especially fond of.
“Only Mississippi artists are featured in the Caron Gallery South,” owner Lily Trest said. “Mississippi gets a bad reputation at times, but we also have many artists that the world needs to know about.”
Local artists Adam Trest and Cherilon Stevens were among those in attendance, and their works are a part of the collection, along with Jason Kimes.
Stevens, a longtime calligrapher, has developed quite a career in intaglios, an art form in which images are engraved into gems or other precious materials.
“It is a wonderful opportunity to have a gallery here in downtown Laurel to display our art,” Stevens said. “It is a huge blessing.”
Laurel Mayor Johnny Magee, who lamented the fact that all of those ads in comic books that promised to teach kids how to be an artist didn’t work, still is very appreciative of the art community and its presence downtown.
“Thank you (Caron Gallery South) for investing in downtown Laurel,” Magee said. “Downtown continues to grow and continues to thrive, and this just shows that we are more than southern hillbillies.”
In addition to fine art, the Caron Gallery South will also offer custom framing.
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