Several notable exhibits should be noted this week. Southside, Bozarts Gallery and the University Museum have some new work hanging that is worth taking a peek at.

With these local arts venues always offering fresh art, Oxford and Water Valley are adding to North Mississippi’s cultural appeal.

At Bozarts Gallery, Lucia Vinograd has a painting of local Water Valley resident Robert Lee Fleming.

Born in 1947 in the Valley, Fleming suffered through the racism and discrimination that most African-Americans endured during the mid-century and beyond. Vinograd interviewed him and then rendered a beautiful portrait of him which is located in the front window of Bozarts Gallery.

Vinograd is the daughter of the late Marti Vinograd, a local artist whose work is hanging in the permanent collection of the University Museum. Lucia is an artist in her own right with work in many private collections around the country.

This portrait has been entered into a regional art contest, so try to go out and see it and learn more about Robert Lee Fleming as I am sure it will not stay in the area long.

Southside Gallery is pleased to announce an exhibition of works by Wendy Olson and Jay Jensen, both of River Falls, Wisconsin.

Joining in the show will be Maggie Russell of Memphis, Tennessee.

Olson has paintings and colorful, whimsical ceramics on display, and Jensen will be exhibiting his ceramic works. Russell’s interesting portraits rounds out the show.

Their work will be on display through April 2. There will be an artists’ reception on Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m.

At the University Museum, “Of Rivers: Photography by Young Suh, Poetry edited by Chiyuma Elliott and Katie Peterson” is being shown in conjunction with the 2016 Conference of the Book.  This show went up on Feb. 16 and will stay up until June 25.

The poets began with Langston Hughes’s 1921 award-winning poem “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” and asked people to write their responses to it.  Several poets participated as well as artist Young Suh from El Cerrito, California, who responded visually to all of the poems.

Today at 3:30 p.m., the university will host a poetry reading with Jericho Brown, Chiyuma Elliott, Derrick Harriell and Katie Peterson. This interesting collaboration between writers and artists makes for a perfect addition to the annual Conference of the Book as well as to the University Museum. The opening reception for the show will follow the reading from 4:30 to 6 p.m.

As we progress into spring more art offerings will be popping up as we make our way into the busy spring season with Double Decker, thesis shows at the University Art Department and special exhibits at the Powerhouse and Bozarts Gallery.

I will attempt to keep you posted on these and as many arts related events as possible. Please help me by submitting your arts news to The EAGLE so we don’t miss a thing.

ANDI BEDSWORTH is owner of Art To Go, which brings free art opportunities to children in the community.