The Hattiesburg Arts Council invites you to an art exhibit featuring JJ Foley and Jacqueline Gonzalez Wooton taking place Saturday, September 10 from 3-6 p.m. Meet the artists from 3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. “Afro-Caribbean Rhythms” conducted by Dr. John Wooton with a reception to follow from 4-6 p.m. Appetizers and drinks will be served. We encourage visitors to wear white or colorful Caribbean tropical party attire. The event is free and open to the public. Venue: Hattiesburg Cultural Center, 723 North Main Street, Hattiesburg, MS 39401. Parking is available at the rear of the building and in the adjacent Hattiesburg Community Arts Center parking lot. To access the elevator, use the back entrance on the first floor.
Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, JJ Foley currently lives, works and creates in Gulfport, Mississippi. JJ earned a BFA from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1980. This naturally gifted artist has drawn and painted her entire life and exhibited for 40 years. She has had several group and solo exhibitions on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, solo exhibitions in New Orleans and New York, and her work is included in numerous collections across the country and in Europe.
“My work is figurative in nature and always has been. I work in virtually all mediums including oils, gouache, ink, ceramic and fiber. My main goal is to use oil paint on canvas or on panels, and I aspire daily to continue to grow and learn in the field of visual language. -JJ Foley
“The research”
Oil on canvas
48″ x 60″
Born in Puerto Rico, Jacqueline Gonzalez Wooton moved to New Orleans in 1978. What was a traumatic experience as a teenager quickly became a love for a city that has become part of who she is as a person and as an artist. In 2017, Jacqueline moved to Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Currently, she enjoys working in her studio and is inspired by the renovation of her 1920s home located in the historic downtown district.
In 2021, while exhibiting her work in Laurel, Mississippi, an HGTV “Home Town” agent noticed her talent. Subsequently, some pieces from his extensive portfolio were featured in one of the episodes of the hugely popular TV series.
“I have been painting since I was a child. But it wasn’t until I was 30 that I decided to take art classes. Although I learned some necessary basics, I soon realized that what I loved most about painting was the freedom to create in different ways without rules or preconceived ideas. So I decided to keep learning on my own by trying things, making lots of mistakes and loving unexpected results. These days I continue to explore and let my travel experiences influence what I create, bringing together different ideas, beliefs and mysteries, creating what I call visual symbolic art. -Jacqueline Gonzalez Wooton
“Silent Sanctuary”
Mixed media
12″ x 12″