Senate Concurrent Resolution 566

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE VILLAGE OF TAYLOR, MISSISSIPPI, AS THE WINNER OF THE 2002 GOVERNOR'S EXCELLENCE IN THE ARTS AWARD IN THE CATEGORY OF CIVIC LEADERSHIP IN THE ARTS.

WHEREAS, in the red clay hills of Northern Mississippi, just nine miles south of Oxford, sits the rural town of Taylor (population 288); and

WHEREAS, at the turn of the 20th Century, Taylor thrived as a train depot for the Illinois Central Railroad, but after a fire in 1910, the town was quieted; and

WHEREAS, Taylor was featured in a scene with Temple Drake in Sanctuary, the William Faulkner novel; and

WHEREAS, by the turn of the 21st Century, Taylor might have dropped off the map altogether had not a cluster of talented artists made it their home: William Beckwith, in 1982, was the first to open shop in Taylor. His statues brought distinction to many high profile places, including the statue honoring the Ole Miss students in the 11th Mississippi Infantry Regiment "the University Greys" who fought in the Pickett/Pettigrew Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg. Next came Obie Clark, whose top quality raku pottery earned him a coveted spot in both Art in Mississippi 1720-1980 and The Mississippi Almanac. Then came Jane Rule Burdine, whose color photography documenting the Mississippi Delta since the 1960's has found fame in museums, galleries and private collections. Keith Stewart, a fourth generation potter whose family recently won the Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts, brought prestige with his fine ceramics. In September 2000, Marc Deloach and Christine Schultz opened a seven-room art gallery, displaying Taylor artists such as Jim Daigle, a local landscape painter from the Savannah College of Art and Design; Delta State graduate Jared Spears, an accomplished stone carver; Alice Hammell, a popular self-taught abstract painter, who married Obie Clark and opened a studio shop in Taylor; Christine Schultz, a national magazine writer and recipient of the Mississippi Arts Commission's Literary Arts Fellowship; and Marc Deloach, a noted furniture maker working with old cypress, featured on ETV; and

WHEREAS, Taylor is home to the world-famous Taylor Grocery & Restaurant serving catfish to such noted persons as Jimmy Buffett and William Styron; and

WHEREAS; tourists nationwide leave Taylor with first-rate art and a story to tell about a place of people working together to capture the offbeat beauty that is found in Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize the artistic contributions of Taylor, Mississippi, whose civic dedication brings honor to its citizens and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the Village of Taylor, Mississippi, as the Winner of the 2002 Governor's Excellence in the Arts Award in the Category of Civic Leadership in the Arts, and wish its citizens continued success in their future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the Mayor of Taylor at induction ceremonies in February 2002, in Jackson, Mississippi, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.