By Brittany Greer

For The Observer

Art imitates life in Virginia Rougon Chavis’ upcoming art exhibition at Northwest Mississippi Community College.

The exhibition, which features 20 prints on paper, will run Oct. 5-30 at the Art Gallery on the Senatobia campus. An opening reception will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 5.

Chavis, of Oxford, describes her show as a self-portrait, finding inspiration from her daily life and those around her, including her husband, Ashley Chavis, an art instructor at Northwest, and her two children, Bazil and Ruby.

“A lot of my ideas come from nature, as I enjoy gardening, animals and the outdoors,” Chavis said. “This show is reflective of family and the hard work that it takes to make it work.”

The process of making the work began with Chavis recording what she saw around her through drawing on paper and photography. Her studies, combined with a formal knowledge of design, lead to the serigraph, relief and digital processes.

“Printing, for me, is the most enjoyable process because of its unpredictability — many adjustments are made including changes in color and composition,” she explained. “The threads that run through the prints are aesthetic and functional, as they hold the paper together.”

Originally from Baton Rouge, La., Chavis has been a part of the department of art faculty at The University of Mississippi since January 2002 and currently teaches as an assistant art professor. She received her MFA from Savannah College of Art and Design, where she gained experience in teaching typography and production design.

“My favorite classes to teach are Graphic Design I and Typography,” Chavis said. “I teach it each semester, and it has yet to become monotonous. I feel as though I learn as much from the students as they do from me.”

When Chavis is not teaching, she works as a freelance designer and actively enters professional design competitions and exhibitions at the regional, national and international level. She has presented a discussion at the Southeastern College Art Conference and various AIGA events.

She is the Education Chair for AIGA-Memphis and developed Design Week, which has had such keynote speakers as Gary Baseman and Hank Richardson. One of her typography assignments was published in February 2006 in Ilene Strizver's new book, “Type Rules!: The Designer's Guide to Professional Typography, 2nd Edition.”

Her work has been shown in exhibitions and publications such as: HOW Magazine (13th Annual International Design Annual), projekt30.com (Online Exhibition, Philadelphia Pa.), SUMEI National Print Exhibition (Sumei Multidisciplinary Art Center, Newark, N.J.), Works of Heart (MCA Art Gallery, Memphis College of Art, Memphis), Southside Art Gallery (Oxford), Los Angeles Center For Digital Art (Los Angeles), Contemporary VI International Exhibition (Period Gallery, Lincoln, Neb.), and Ceramiqué and Typography Party (Gallery AD, Savannah, Ga.).

“I haven’t had a show at a college or university in a while. I’ve had my work mostly in galleries and museums, which can bring a certain type of dialogue,” Chavis said. “I’m hoping that this show will bring some interesting conversation by students who have been educated and want to learn more.”

Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to noon. Admission is free.