OLLI Exhibit at Southern Miss Showcases Member鈥檚 Wood and Fabric Art
Tue, 10/13/2026 - 12:19am | By: David Tisdale
New Orleans schoolteacher Maryann McClain hadn鈥檛 planned on switching careers until
a friend encouraged her to take a summer cabinetmaking course at a local trade school.
That decision decades ago changed the trajectory of McClain鈥檚 professional life, as
she left teaching for a newfound love of woodworking. Today, you can see the products
of that passion in an exhibit of her creative work in both wood and fabric, titled
My Creative Journey: Woodwork and Fabric Art, now through December at The University
of Southern Mississippi鈥檚 Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI).
鈥淚 fell in love with it (woodworking), even though I had no intention of becoming
a woodworker,鈥� McClain said of her career detour to art. 鈥淚 just love putting things
together, creating things.鈥�
McClain completed the two-year cabinetmaking course and eventually set up a woodworking
shop in her home鈥檚 basement, where she repaired and built furniture. In the years
that followed, she expanded her artistic repertoire to include sculpting and fabric-based
art, bringing the same creative energy to those genres.
After Hurricane Katrina devastated the New Orleans area, McClain and her husband moved
to Hattiesburg. They joined OLLI not long afterward, attracted to its educational
and recreational programming and opportunity to make new friends in the area.
鈥淥LLI is a special place,鈥� McClain said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a real sense of community here.
I would not have adjusted as well to the move to Hattiesburg without OLLI.鈥�
McClain鈥檚 art has been included in multiple exhibits over the years, but the OLLI
display is the first to feature her work exclusively.
鈥淚鈥檝e had my work exhibited before, but not for my own show,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a real
honor.鈥�
OLLI Director Paula Mathis said McClain鈥檚 exhibit is 鈥渁 beautiful testament to the
incredible talent we have at OLLI.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 wonderful to showcase Maryann鈥檚 artistic versatility, bringing together completely
different mediums like detailed textile work and beautifully crafted wood,鈥� Mathis
further noted. 鈥淲e鈥檙e both honored and delighted to share her work with the greater
Hattiesburg area.鈥�
OLLI is headquartered in the Peck House at 321 Dr. Eddie Holloway Drive on the university鈥檚
Hattiesburg campus. Learn more about OLLI at Southern Miss.