Southbound: Photographs of and about the New South

A partnership between The MAX and MMA brings the community together with an exhibition that celebrates the New South through photography, video, and literature.

June 12- September 6, 2020

Southbound: Photographs of and about the New South presents 56 photographers’ visions of the South over the first two decades of the 21st century. "Each photographer presents us with a personal take on the South, one that challenges us to rethink how we see the region," said William Ferris, professor of history at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

In addition to its 220 photographs, the exhibition features a commissioned documentary film by John David Reynolds, interactive digital maps created by Rick Bunch at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, an extensive website (southboundproject.org), and an exhibition catalog including images by all exhibiting artists and essays offering a range of perspectives about the South. The maps, collectively titled “Index of Southerness,” show geographical clusters within the United States of such regional characteristics as the locations of businesses, churches, populations, and more.

The exhibition focuses on both the positive and less flattering aspects of life in the South. Art critic, editor and author Eleanor Heartney, a contributing editor for Art in America, said, "Revealed here is the dark side of the human soul, but also flashes of hope and happiness bursting through in musical celebrations, joyful communal rituals and dusky skies darkened with flocks.”

Visitors can view Southbound at the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience (The MAX) and at the Meridian Museum of Art. Street parking is available at both museums, with shops and restaurants within walking distance.