OXFORD,
Miss. – From his childhood to the present, Oxford native Steve Gates
has treasured the people and places of his hometown. That’s why the
Birmingham-based professional photographer is elated that his first
exhibition is making its debut at the University of Mississippi Museum.
“Characters,
Crossroads and Other Observations” is a collection of 31 photographs
Gates took between 1966 and 1972. The display opens Tuesday (Jan. 20)
and runs through March 8. A free public reception for the artist is
scheduled for 2-4 p.m. Jan. 25.
“Oxford has always been and
always will be home for me,” Gates said. “While looking through my
files and seeing all of these photos, I had incredible memories. Each
one selected is truly one of my favorites.”
Gates’ show features photos of people such as artist Theora Hamblett and a group of old men sitting around the Square playing dominoes. There’s even a photo of the members of the Hungarian State Symphony playing chess backstage at Fulton Chapel on the Ole Miss campus. “They were so intense,” Gates said. “It was a wonderful moment.”
Other images capture North Lamar Avenue as viewed from the top of the Lafayette County Courthouse at night and a row of mailboxes on Highway 6 near Highway 334.
“Several of these photos were taken while I was still in high school,” Gates said. “Together, all of these come together to create a nice portrait of Oxford and the surrounding area.”
Gates said that because it is his first show “ever,” it was important to him that it be held in Oxford. “I truly appreciate Dr. (Robert) Khayat for giving me the opportunity to display my work. He is truly an amazing person.”
“When Chancellor Khayat told me about a photographer that had images of Oxford from the ’60s, my interest was piqued,” said Albert Sperath, director of University Museum. “I asked Steve to send some samples for us to consider and after seeing them, invited him to have an exhibition.”
While Gates’ photos are nostalgic, they also give insight into a young man’s vision of his home, Sperath said.
“In 2006 we had an exhibition of Colonel Cofield’s Oxford photography from before this time, so this extends that visual history,” he added.
Gates is the son of the late William “Billy” and Chris Gates. Billy was sports information director at Ole Miss for 35 years until his death in 1976.
With more than 20 years experience as a professional freelance photographer, Gates also worked as a photojournalist for the now-defunct Birmingham Post-Herald. He has also taken editorial pictures for several national magazines, including People and Time. He continues to freelance and was on the Square shooting during the public events of the presidential debate in September.
For more information on Gates, visit http://www.stevegatesphoto.com
University Museum, Fifth Street and University Avenue, is open 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays and 1-4:30 p.m. Sundays. Admission is free. For more information, call 662-915-7073 or visit http://www.olemiss.edu/museum