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The towns along the
Mississippi Gulf Coast abound with a plethora of artists who are
as gifted as artists anywhere in the United States. In fact,
there seem to be more artists per capita here than in other
areas in the country, so one might consider the Gulf Coast
It isn’t uncommon for a local artist to belonging to several or all of the art organizations. Artists here either know one another or at least know other artists by name. They get to know each other through monthly meetings, art exhibits, festivals and attending art galas, which also abound. All of the coastal organizations are open to artists living in all of the three coastal counties: Jackson, Harrison and Hancock. Two art associations that are based in Jackson County are the Singing River Art Association in Pascagoula and the Ocean Springs Art Association in Ocean Springs. Harrison County has three art organizations spread throughout the county. Biloxi is home to the Biloxi Art Association, Gulfport supports the Gulf Coast Art Association, and the Pass Christian Art Association is in that city. The Arts of Hancock County is based in Bay St. Louis.
South Mississippi lays claim to a number of famous artists including Walter Anderson, Peter Anderson, George Ohr, Dusti Bongé, Alice Mosley, and Emmet Thames. We also have many excellent professional artists whose work is collected across the United States as well as amateur and semi-pro artists who exhibit and sell their work locally and regionally. Talent and creativity abound! Most artists, no matter what their medium, use coastal themes in a good part of their work; however, there are as many varieties and styles of art as there are artists. The decision to purchase art is based on individual taste, style of home décor, office or business ambiance and price range. People who love art will tell you that a decision to purchase a particular work of art often comes down to a piece that touches your heart and your soul. Artists want those who purchase their art to be able to relate to it, be moved by it, or at the very least be captured by it. Most artists who create feel a soul connection to their art and love to be able to produce a piece that “speaks” to an art collector.
The works of Walter (the painter) Anderson and his brothers Peter (the potter) and Mack(another painter) can be seen at the Walter Anderson Museum of Art located at 510 Washington Avenue in Ocean Springs. The museum, is open Monday - Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Sunday 12:30-4:30 p.m. There is an entrance fee. The temporary home
for the Ohr- O’Keefe Art Gallery, where George Ohr’s “no two are
alike” mud babies (as he called his pottery) can be seen is
located at 1596 Glenn Swetman Street in Biloxi. Hours are Monday
- Friday 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00
p.m. Under construction is a modern museum consisting of four
modern pods designed by Frank Gehry that will “dance with the
trees”. Entry at the temporary location is free until The Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center in Ocean Springs has an ongoing art exhibit of better known local artists that changes three times a year. Hours are Monday - Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 p.m. and the gallery is free to the public. It offers a fantastic selection of art classes in practically any medium imaginable. The “Mary C” is the home of the Ocean Springs Art Association. The Art House is an artist’s co-op gallery at 921 Cash Alley in Ocean Springs. Presently there are thirty-one artists represented there, with two and three-dimensional art as well as jewelry, pottery, wood turning and stained glass. Hours are Monday – Saturday 10:00 am to 4:30 p.m. Gulfport has a new co-op gallery at 2200 25th Avenue. The Galleria of Fine Art displays the art of 40 members and carries a variety of fine art and fine crafts. It is open from 10: a.m. – 4:p.m. Tuesday – Saturday. Over in Bay St. Louis, Maggie May’s at 126 Main Street shows original art in their art gallery seven days a week from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. A quick check in the yellow pages will list other smaller galleries and galleries located in frame shops along the coast where good local original art and art prints can be found.
Annual Art Shows
Art Festivals Regardless of your connection to art, whether you are an artist or collector, you won’t feel like you are in the desert. An oasis of art awaits you in South Mississippi. Visitors who spend time on the Gulf Coast will have plenty of opportunities to happen onto an art show or an arts and crafts festival. A visit to local galleries is a good way to pass an afternoon. Newcomer artists will not lack for networking opportunities with fellow artists. The Coast is indeed a Mecca for art. |
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Artists
moving into the area will be pleasantly surprised to find art
organizations in every town that they can join to help them get
acquainted with other artists. Belonging to local art
associations enables artists to network and learn about art
exhibits and shows where they can exhibit their art, and about
art galas, classes, teaching opportunities and art festivals,
all of which are alive and well on the Coast. 
Fifty
miles apart and separated by two bays, Ocean Springs and Bay St.
Louis both have reputations for being fantastic artist colonies.
Both are well known for their dedication to the arts, and both
are fortunate to have total community support for all venues of
the arts. Because of this, they have a wide variety of art
functions and activities and more than a few places to enjoy
art.
Every
coastal county has an art museum, an art gallery or framing
shops that display original work and prints of local artists. In
addition, South Mississippi has two museums dedicated to
nationally famous artists who are now deceased.
