The Mississippi College Art Department has three state-of-the-art facilities, creating a learning environment that encourages you to grow academically and spiritually.
Dr. Samuel Marshall Gore joined the MC faculty in 1951 following his completion of a three-year B.F.A. program of study at the Atlanta College of Art. Prior to assuming this leadership role, pioneering effort and influence could be traced to the teaching of Marie Hull at Hillman College and more recent art instruction by others on faculty. Completing his B.A. requirement at MC in 1952, he was invited to remain in the only full-time art position at that time and to nourish a quiet but significant tradition of interest in art on campus. He developed the Art Major curriculum and recruited students with art career interests. From the beginning, his commitment was to the church-related mission of the college and to a concept of art with a strong Christian emphasis. He further qualified himself by completing both the Master’s and Doctoral degrees.
Through his perseverance, the full-time art faculty grew in number from one to six, with an equal number of adjunct and part-time instructors, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees including the Master of Fine Arts. He has been successful in fundraising for art scholarship funds and established the Sam Gore Art Scholarship Endowment. Under his leadership, significant firsts have been achieved, among which are: hosting the first loan exhibit in the South from the Guggenheim Museum, being the first of forty Southern Baptist Colleges to offer an M.F.A. degree program, and being the first among the small colleges to have a graduate elected to membership in the National Sculpture Society. His students have been highly motivated and have achieved a tradition of notable success in both studio and teaching careers. In recognition of his contribution to art in Mississippi, he received the following awards:
- The Mississippi Governor's Award for Career in Art, 1997
- The Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award by the Clinton Chamber of Commerce, 2000
- The Ageless Heroes Award for Creativity by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi, 2002
- The Order of the Golden Arrow Award by Mississippi College, 2002
As a tribute to Dr. Gore's faithful stewardship of energy and talent toward serving college students and establishing a legacy of teaching art from a Christ-centered perspective, the college administration established the Samuel Marshall Gore Art Galleries. The Galleries, located on Monroe Street and attached to the Library, house the permanent art collection for the University and ongoing art exhibits. With three indoor galleries, an outdoor gallery, and its easy accessibility, the Gore Galleries have been enabled to perform an even greater and more unique service role for the Department of Art in Christian higher education.
