A large winter storm that powered its way through Mississippi on Saturday and Sunday covered the Delta in ice and snow.
After the weather had settled, my boyfriend and I decided to take the adventure of visiting my family’s ranch. They said that this storm would be more difficult than the storm we had in 1994, and I have seen that is the case to some people. However, for us, the storm came and left us with a clean canvas of land; it felt as if God had decided to start over with our Mississippi Delta.
Before leaving our house, I chose to bring my camera to document the spaces we passed. I was suddenly very interested in taking the time to focus on capturing images of southern/Mississippi-specific elements: a familiar cross that we see on the side of the road, maybe a little too familiar; wrought-iron architecture that serves as a staple to our homes; tall, strong magnolia trees that are frozen solid and yet still remain green; and snow-covered fields that look empty canvases, as if God wanted to paint something new.
Gunner Sizemore of Cleveland is a commercial and art photographer and assistant professor of digital art at Mississippi Valley State University. After earning a bachelor’s degree in fine arts program at Delta State University in 2020, he spent two years producing commercial work and teaching classes, mostly in photography. He returned to Delta State and earned a master’s degree in studio arts. His work has been shown across the United States, including in Sedona, Arizona, where he won the third-place award in the Big Gay Art Show.