In December 2006, famed Mississippi cartoonist Marshall Ramsey celebrated his tenth anniversary at Mississippi’s largest newspaper, the “Clarion-Ledger.” In celebration of that milestone and in honor of Ramsey’s true artistry, Northwest Mississippi Community  College’s Division of Fine Arts presents “10! A Decade of Cartoons by Marshall Ramsey.” The exhibition will be on display at the Northwest Art Gallery on the Senatobia campus beginning March 6 and running through March 31.

More than 70 original drawings by the artist will be featured, which represents a small selection of several thousand drawn by Ramsey over the years. Cartoons of state-elected officials hang alongside nationally-recognized topics including 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina.

“The scope of Marshall Ramsey’s work is evident as well as his outstanding personal character. It seems one could become a cynic after a few years of daily commentary on current events, but the approach of these cartoons remains good-natured,” said Robin Dietrick, Mississippi Museum of Art curator.

Ramsey has been awarded many honors throughout his career including multiple nominations for a Pulitzer Prize and being named a Pulitzer Prize finalist twice. His artwork is syndicated by Copley News Service and has appeared in such well-known publications as “Time,” “Newsweek” and “The New York Times,” among others.

Throughout the exhibition, visitors will encounter commentary on each cartoon from the artist himself, which is a privilege not enjoyed in the daily newspaper read. “Being a cartoonist in Mississippi is almost too easy. I’ve been blessed with some great subjects to draw. This collection includes some of my favorite cartoons from the last decade. I hope people enjoy seeing them as much as I did drawing them,” Ramsey said.

Ramsey began his career in college, drawing editorials for “The Daily Beacon,” a publication at the University of Tennessee. From there, he took several jobs before securing his current position at the “Clarion-Ledger” in December 1996.

“Having Marshall Ramsey’s cartoons on display will be an exciting opportunity to view 10 years of contemporary work relevant to our own time,” said Lawayne House, Northwest art chair.

“10! A Decade of Cartoons by Marshall Ramsey” is organized by the Mississippi Museum of Art and supported with funds provided by the Museum’s statewide Traveling Exhibition Endowment, a fund made possible through significant private contributions matched by the National Endowment of Arts, a federal agency.

Gallery hours are 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday - Friday. Admission is free. The Northwest Mississippi Community College Fine Arts Division offers classes in the fundamentals of Drawing; Painting; Ceramics; Art History; and Computer Graphics for individuals seeking opportunities for a career in the arts or for personal enrichment. For more information, contact House at 662-562-3399 or e-mail lhouse@northwestms.edu.