January 29 - April 17 | April 23 - July 3, 2022
Ke Francis and Hoopsnake Press
Due South: Ke Francis and Hoopsnake Press
Part I: January 28 – April 17, 2022
Part II: April 23 – July 3, 2022
The desire to tell stories is universal. Through storytelling, we can entertain, inform, and connect with one another. The work of Ke Francis (American, b. 1945, Memphis) embodies the rich tradition of story telling in the American South. While Francis is recognized for his work in a variety of media including painting, sculpture, and photography, this exhibition highlights the artist’s exceptional talent for printmaking and book arts that he produced through Hoopsnake Press. His tales, told through words, images, and occasionally sound, introduce the viewer to a unique cast of characters ranging from Billy Jay, a hot sauce connoisseur, to a walking pet catfish who forgets how to swim. At times moralizing or cautionary, and always entertaining, his work responds to everyday life in all its highs, lows, and the mundane moments in between.
Hoopsnake Press in Tupelo, Mississippi, was founded by Francis in 1970, and is run by Francis, his wife, Mary, and daughter, Kerry. There, he writes, designs, illustrates, prints, and binds artist’s books along with a group of seven associated artists, and he frequently collaborates with artists, poets and musicians. Francis studied at the Memphis Academy of Arts(1964–1967) and earned his BFA from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 1969. His work is exhibited nationally and is held in public and private collections including the High Museum, Atlanta, GA; The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, CA; The National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, and the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, among many others.
The works on paper in this exhibition are light sensitive. To preserve these works long-term, this exhibition will change with new works by Ke Francis and Hoopsnake Press on April 27.
Presented in conjunction with the exhibition will be a book reading by Ke Francis followed by a conversation with the artist and Dr. Patricia Daigle, Associate Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. Date May 4, 2022.
Exhibition Programs
Ke Francis and the Art of Storytelling
Join us for an evening of storytelling and conversation with Ke Francis, celebrated artist and founder of Hoopsnake Press in Tupelo, MS.
Free with Registration
Homeschool Days: The Stories of Ke Francis
Did you know that books can be art? By focusing on The Brooks' special exhibition Due South, students will learn about visual storytelling and the importance of illustration. Explore the special exhibition Due South: Ke Francis and Hoopsnake Press on view through July 3.
Free
Artist
Curators
Artist + Curator
Ke Francis
Hoopsnake Press in Tupelo, Mississippi, was founded by Ke Francis (American, b. 1945, Memphis) in 1970, and is run by Francis, his wife, Mary, and daughter, Kerry. There he writes, designs, illustrates, prints, and binds artist’s books along with a group of seven associated artists, and frequently collaborates with artists, poets, and musicians. Francis studied at the Memphis Academy of Arts (1964-1967) and earned his BFA from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 1969. His work is exhibited nationally and is held in public and private collections including the High Museum, Atlanta, GA; The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, CA; The National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, and the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, among many others.
Printmaker and Storyteller
Ke Francis
Hoopsnake Press in Tupelo, Mississippi, was founded by Ke Francis (American, b. 1945, Memphis) in 1970, and is run by Francis, his wife, Mary, and daughter, Kerry. There he writes, designs, illustrates, prints, and binds artist’s books along with a group of seven associated artists, and frequently collaborates with artists, poets, and musicians. Francis studied at the Memphis Academy of Arts (1964-1967) and earned his BFA from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 1969. His work is exhibited nationally and is held in public and private collections including the High Museum, Atlanta, GA; The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, CA; The National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, and the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, among many others.
Dr. Patricia Daigle
Patricia Lee Daigle is the Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. She previously served as Director of The Martha and Robert Fogelman Galleries of Contemporary Art at the University of Memphis and Curatorial Assistant in Contemporary Art at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. Daigle received her Ph.D. in the History of Art and Architecture from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art
Dr. Patricia Daigle
Patricia Lee Daigle is the Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. She previously served as Director of The Martha and Robert Fogelman Galleries of Contemporary Art at the University of Memphis and Curatorial Assistant in Contemporary Art at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. Daigle received her Ph.D. in the History of Art and Architecture from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Program Recordings
Resources
The 901 Black American Portraits Soundtrack
Listen to a soundtrack of Memphis music that exemplifies Black Love, Power, and Joy. The 901 Black American Portraits Soundtrack celebrates the vibrant legacy and future of Black musicians in the city of Memphis. This playlist was curated by Jared “Jay B” Boyd, a Memphis-based multimedia artist, journalist, DJ, and on-air personality.
MCA Exhibition Questionnaire
Help us generate the fullest picture possible of the MCA experience.
Submitting a questionnaire, which includes a request for an image of an artwork, is essential to be considered for part of the exhibition.
Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?
The American art theorist Linda Nochlin (1931-2017) posed this question as the title of a pioneering article in 1971. This essay was considered one of the first major works of Feminist art history, it has become a set text for those who study art internationally, and it is influential in many other fields.