Jackson Free Press

Walking into the Mississippi Arts Commission's office, you're treated to a cacophony of acquired art and kitsch. When you make your way past the Elvis cutouts and glittery signposts which, instead of pointing to destinations, read "folk art," you'll find an office that doubles as an art exhibit. In and among the desks are works of art from Mississippi women, including painters Ellen Langford, Heidi Pitre, Ginger Williams-Cook, as well as doll maker and painter Shannon Valentine, and glass artist Elizabeth Robinson. Together, the women's art make up the "Girls of Summer" exhibit.

The Mississippi Arts Commission has been putting on shows like this every two months or so for about the past three years, Public Relations Director Susan Liles says. The commission's business is to promote the arts in Mississippi, give artists grants to support their work, host events and educate Jacksonians on the importance of the arts.

"Bet you didn't know your tax dollars went to that," Liles says with a smile.

Those tax dollars help fund art such as Shannon Valentine's Frida Kahlo dolls. Valentine's work pushes identity politics, just as her doll's namesake did. One doll's hoop skirt doubles as a cage for a bird, prompting thoughts of the restriction in gender roles. Valentine also makes forays into canvas work, with a scene of black workers celebrating in a field. The piece is labeled "Cotton Club," reminding us of our state's less-tolerant past. A doll with widespread arms called "Free Hugs" adds a dose of whimsy.

Ginger Williams-Cook's contributions include a series of cartoonish portraits of sour-faced women. Ellen Langford provides an innocuous painting of a possum, which stands out among the southern landscapes she renders with bold, blocky brushstrokes. Elizabeth Robinson's glass piece, "Dive Below Reef," features bubbles carved into the blue-green background.

Heidi Pitre's work may be the boldest of the bunch. A 2012 "Best in Show" winner at the Cedars art show, Pitre's paintings expose the power and vulnerability of the nude female form. Frequently, her pieces feature a woman holding a paintbrush as a blowtorch, but occasionally her subject is dangling from a cliff or kneeling on a net with a piece of cake.

The Girls of Summer exhibit will be up until Sept. 27 at the art commission building (501 N. West St., Suite 701B, 601-359-6030). Admission is free. Keep your eye on the Mississippi Arts Commission Facebook page for future events.