Artist Deborah Curtis grew up in Vicksburg, graduated from Vicksburg High School in 1975, and eventually moved away. In 2021, after the loss of her husband, she returned to her roots and now resides at Klines Resort. Curtis since then has been healing, reflecting, and expressing herself through her lifelong passion for art.
She attended the 5th Annual Mill Reunion on October 12 with her father, James Curtis, who had worked at the Mill. There, she realized, “I wanted to do something special, give back to my hometown in some meaningful way. I wanted to contribute.”
During the event, she asked Chris Moore what he thought would be the best way to get involved. Because of her artistic talent and interests, he directed her to John Kern and the Prairie Ronde Artist Residency.
After Kern saw photos of her work in acrylics, he suggested a time in January after the holidays, and between the residency schedule, for a solo exhibition and artist reception.
Curtis said, “My goal is to show a bit of my artistic journey. I will display a few of my earlier works. I will also show some of my remaining artwork that I have in my personal collection, as well as a couple of pieces in other private collections that I will borrow for the event. A few select pieces will be for sale as well.”
It is also her wish to highlight and pay a special tribute to the Mill. “In my experience, The Mill was a community unto itself. When people thought of Vicksburg back in the 1970s and 1980s, it was like all of our lives were somehow intertwined with the Mill in some way. It was the very heart of the Vicksburg Community. And I believe it will be once again.”
The artist reception will be held Thursday, January 9, 2025, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Prairie Ronde Artist Gallery, 101 E Prairie St, Vicksburg. The event is open to the public. Curtis’s art will be on display at the Gallery from January 9 until January 22, 2025.
Curtis said this will be her final show. In retirement, she is seeking a slower-paced lifestyle “where I can spend more time in my organic perennial gardens, complete artwork for my own home, family, and friends, get out in nature and continue to heal.”
