By Ainsley Weems | MSU Communication Student Class of 2026
On Saturday, April 25 the Mississippi Department of Art hosted the second Starkville Pop Culture, Art, Cosplay, and Entertainment (S.P.A.C.E.) Expo. The event celebrates Mississippi artists, filmmakers, writers and designers who use their art, films, literary works and costume designs as vessels for storytelling and creative expression.
Each of these areas emphasizes human and cultural modes of production through distinct and creative apparatuses. Whether through a painted portrait, comic book, or documentary film, the focus of the event is to show how lived, historical, and fictional stories are told through a variety of media forms.
The interdisciplinary event offered a variety of board game competitions, video game tutorials, a vendor’s market, Q&A sessions and panels with experts in diverse art industries.
Filmmakers Hal Teasler and Glenn Payne discussed the art of filmmaking from animation, illustration and documentary perspectives. Local artists Joe MacGown and Alex Bostic led panels on being an artist in Mississippi, sharing insights on their influences and career paths. Both artists emphasized the strong impact of the region on their work.
Additionally, two panels were hosted by Associate Professor of English Dr. Andrea Spain and focused on student films and scholarship. Another panel, led by Associate Professor of Illustration Garrett Kaida, alum Tre Braswell and Jackson Comics, explored the impact of sequential art on popular culture and their illustrative work.
Artists, such as Jackson-based artist Rosemary Ferguson Gathings, were also able to exhibit their artwork. Gathings discussed her trajectory from MSU fine art student to professional artist. Her artwork is pop-art inspired and celebrates historical icons from Mississippi.
The event was supported by the Department of Art, the College of Architecture, Art and Design, MSU Photography Concentration, Department of English, MSU Gender Studies, and the Mississippi Humanities Council.
Click here to see photos from S.P.A.C.E. Con 2026.