Mary Hardy is a mixed media artist living and working on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi. Her show, “Varying Images; Same Path”, deals with aspects of depth explored through random and entwined myths and memories. Hardy’s education includes a Bachelor’s and a Masters degree from the University of South Alabama, both in Art Education, and a very long list (which continues to be added to) of workshops taken throughout the U.S. and Mexico.
Hardy has received numerous awards for her artwork. It has been recognized with grants, fellowships and residencies such as a Fellowship from Anderson Ranch Colorado, and a Mississippi Arts Commission Visual Arts Fellowship Award based on the merit of her work. The Land Trust for the Mississippi Coastal Plain recently awarded her a 4 month Artist Residency to produce work on their property at 12 Oaks. She was chosen as one of two artists to receive the “2005 Artist of the Year” given by the MS Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts for the state of Mississippi.
Hardy’s work was also used in the movie “Mississippi Murder” to represent the artwork of the heroine.
During her 27 years of teaching art, Mary Hardy maintained a dual career of a working and exhibiting artist and as well as being a full time art teacher. Hardy’s teaching career culminated in retirement with her final position as Art Gallery Director and Instructor of Drawing and Painting for Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. Mary Hardy’s work is represented by Carol Robinson Gallery in New Orleans, Louisiana and Fischer Galleries, Jackson, Mississippi. Her work and additional information may be found on her website www.maryhardystudio.com
“Varying Images; Same Path” inn the Merkle and Price Galleries March 2- April 26
Art Reception on Saturday, March 3, 6-7:30pm