USM Faculty Member Torres Named 2022 Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters Visual Arts Award Winner

Fri, 05/06/2022 - 02:41pm | By: Ivonne Kawas

Each year the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters (MIAL) recognizes Mississippi's best writers, artists, and musicians by bestowing awards in creative fields. This year, Jennifer Torres, professor and 3D Area Coordinator in The University of Southern Mississippi’s (USM) Art and Design program, housed in the School of Performing and Visual Arts, received an award in the Visual Arts category for her piece entitled, Garden Boats for Osage Park.

“Professor Torres is a distinguished artist whose trajectory spans an impressive range of achievements. Her work in sculpture has been exhibited around the nation and is an inspiration for our students in their own work. I am honored to offer my congratulations to Professor Torres for this prestigious award on behalf of the MIAL,” said Dr. Chris Winstead, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Torres and the other winners will be honored at the 43rd Anniversary Awards Gala in Jackson, Miss., on June 11 at the Mississippi Museum of Art. All nominees and winners will be honored at a reception prior to the banquet.

“I am very pleased and honored to receive this exceptional award,” Torres said. “I work hard as an artist and professor. To be so recognized by such an esteemed organization shows that hard work pays off.”

Torres also reflected on the integral role that USM played in her development as an artist. “Over the years only a few from USM have been honored and am humbled that I have been chosen to join such a venerated group.”

“An award like this is also important for the students to see,” Torres added. “Never mind that it’s a reminder of the work their professors do but more importantly, it’s a reminder of what they can achieve and gives them another example of why the arts are so important in our society.”

The public artwork Garden Boats, inspired by the curving lines of the paths in the park, is permanently installed at Osage Park in Bentonville, AR.

Torres began her studio training at the Art Students League in New York City. She went on to earn a BFA at the Cooper Union and an MFA in Sculpture from the University of Georgia in Athens. She has worked in steel fabrication, casting, woodworking and photography, and trained as a cabinetmaker in New England. She has previously received numerous awards including being selected for a highly-competitive 2020 Mississippi Visual Arts Fellowship and named as the Creative Researcher of the Year at USM’s College of Arts and Sciences.

“We are thrilled to celebrate our talented Mississippians — extraordinary artists, writers, and musicians that make our state a better place,” said Sarah Frances Hardy, President of the board of the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters.

This prestigious college of awards was first made in 1980 and is presented in nine categories: Fiction, Non-fiction, Youth Literature, Visual Art, Music Composition (Classical), Music Composition (Contemporary), Photography, Poetry and Life Writing. At the organization’s discretion it occasionally presents a special, lifetime, or career achievement award.

The MIAL juried competition is one-of-a-kind in the state, as recipients are carefully selected by out-of-state judges prominent in their respective fields. MIAL is a privately funded non-profit that is supported by Mississippi Institutes of Higher Learning and members. Its founding members include: Noel Polk, Aubrey Lucas, Governor William Winter, Cora Norman, Keith Dockery McLean, and other distinguished Mississippians.

View more information about the 2022 MIAL award recipients.