Barnard Observatory

The Center for the Study of Southern Culture, located at Barnard Observatory on the University of Mississippi campus, was the host of a full-circle moment in M.B. Mayfield’s art career. Nearly forty years after secretly “attending” classes in Peabody Hall, he had his very own public art exhibition on campus in the summer of 1986.

M.B. Mayfield's journey to publicly display his artwork was not easy, but thanks to archival material, it is now a documented one. Mayfield sent Chancellor R. Gerald Turner a copy of his autobiography that he had been working on in June of 1984, asking if the school was interested or could help with the project. It is unknown if the Chancellor himself responded, but the Chair of the English Department, Evans Harrington, received a copy of the manuscript in February 1985; he sent a copy of it to the Chancellor himself and the Chair of the Art Department, Margaret Gorove, and urged that they both get in contact with Mayfield. Although Gorove responded a few months later in April, she was harsh and said that Mayfield’s artwork was better suited for the Center for the Study of Southern Culture than the traditional art department. This did not deter Mayfield, though. Lamar Wilder (his future agent) soon contacted him with plans to showcase some paintings at the Center. The two men drove from Ecru to campus, presenting Dr. William R. Ferris (founding director of the Center) with a resume and sample paintings, and it was set: Mayfield would have an art exhibit the following summer.

When summer of 1986 rolled around, Mayfield was no longer hiding in the janitor’s closet---he was center stage with a month-long exhibition at the Center, starting in August. His work was greatly received; Mayfield recounted receiving fan mail, phone calls, compliments, and even commissions. From there, Mayfield’s career reached new heights: Wilder became his official agent, he increased the prices of his work, sold a painting for a thousand dollars to Tupelo Bank, had an exhibit at the Mississippi Educational Television in Jackson, won at the Center for Contemporary Arts in New Orleans, had an exhibit at Amherst University in Massachusetts, and conducted various other shows and lectures.

Entry by Brittany Ellis

Evans Harrington to Chancellor and Margaret Gorove, 5 February 1985, Evans B. Harrington Collection, University of Mississippi Archives and Special Collections, University, MS.

Margaret Gorove to Evans Harrington, 22 April 1985, Evans B. Harrington Collection, University of Mississippi Archives and Special Collections, University, MS.

Mayfield, M.B.. The Baby Who Crawled Backwards: An Autobiography. Memphis, TN. Langford & Associates, 2003