Arts Abound on the Mississippi Gulf Coast
“Like a trove of pirate treasure, art and history gems abound on the Mississippi coast.”
-Travel America, August 2005
MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST – The Mississippi Gulf Coast has long been recognized as a cultural center cultivating such notable artists as Walter Anderson, George Ohr, and Alice Moseley; today, the arts scene along the Coast continues to flourish.
The Mississippi Gulf Coast is a community which has always been a familiar scene to art lovers from around the globe with world-class exhibits, museums, and attractions. This unique heritage has recently been boosted by nearly $2 billion in destination development, which is simultaneously spurring growth in the arts.
A new Frank Gehry-designed Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, scheduled to open in July 2006, will continue this legacy, as well as serve as another arts incubator, similar to Shearwater Pottery in Ocean Springs. The new museum is a relatively small project for Gehry, whose legendary designs include the Guggenheim Museum in Bilboa, Spain and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. The beachside museum complex will include a George Ohr pottery gallery, an African-American Gallery, Contemporary Art Gallery, educational pavilion, and the Pleasant Reed house, one of the last remaining homes built and owned by a former slave, which is already on-site and open to the public.
The Mississippi Gulf Coast is continuously recognized as a destination filled with cultural surprises. In fact, Biloxi is included in the latest edition of travel writer John Villani’s The 100 Best Art Towns in America.
Below, find a sampling of major current and upcoming offerings that art lovers will definitely want to dip their brush into. For more information on these and other events, please visit www.gulfcoast.org/calendar.
Stony the Road – This traveling exhibit, which takes its name from James Weldon Johnson’s song “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” reviews the history of public school desegregation from before the 1954 Brown decision. On display at the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art museum through Aug. 12.
The Centennial Exhibition: On the Midway – This major exhibition based on George E. Ohr's journeys to various world's fairs during his lifetime (1857-1918). The highlight of this exhibition is the silver medal Ohr won at St. Louis Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904. Exhibition runs Summer 2004 to Summer 2006 at the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art.
To Climb a Blade of Grass: Water Colors of Walter Anderson and photography of Stephen Kirkpatrick. Runs Sept. 29 – Jan. 8, 2006 at the Walter Anderson Museum of Art.
Tabletop Arenas - Tabletop Arenas is an exhibition of still-life painting from Zeuxis, an association of still life painters. Zeuxis is a nation-wide group of professional artists who since 1994 have worked on over two dozen exhibitions around the United States. Tabletop Arenas highlights paintings of the often overlooked subject of the exquisite beauty of everyday objects. Exhibition runs at the Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Art July 22 – Sept. 10.
Everything I See is New and Strange – This exhibit, which premiered at the Smithsonian Institution’s Arts and Industries Building on Sept. 25, 2003, was on view to critical and public acclaim until Jan. 11, 2004 to over 250,000 people. After the excitement of the Smithsonian debut and the equally stunning success at the Dixon Galleries and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, it is a pleasure to showcase this beautiful body of work here, where it was conceived. This was the largest solo exhibit ever to feature a Mississippi artist at the Smithsonian Institution. Exhibition in its entirety runs at the Walter Anderson Museum of Art June 2 – Sept. 18.
True Colors: Meditations on the American Spirit - An exhibition of the response of 68 artists to the tragedy of 9/11 and the events that occurred during the following months. Artists include Robert Rauschenberg, Benny Andrews, Roy Lichtenstein, Nhat Tran, Faith Ringgold, Sally Mann, Vidal Blankenstein, and William Dunlap. Exhibit runs in the Lila Wallace Gallery, Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, June 24 – Aug. 14.
Ken Murphy Photography Exhibit - Exhibit includes beautiful photographs of the Mississippi Gulf Coast that conveys the uniqueness of the area, its exotic creatures, dreamy vegetation, awe-inspiring islands and spectacular events. Murphy’s popular book “My South Coast Home,” will be available for purchase. Exhibit runs at the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum, Aug. 8 – Sept. 30.
Second Saturday Art Walks – On every second Saturday of the month, live music, artists’ receptions at the galleries, refreshments and late evening shopping attract people to Old Town Bay St Louis. Shops are open all day, but from 5-8 p.m. there is music, fun, and food.
Art Walk 2005 - Artists demonstrate their talents inside and outside small business and galleries. Painters, sculptors, musicians, and chefs join in the fun. Sept. 3 in downtown Ocean Springs.
Art in the Pass - Fine arts festival with paintings, sculpture, jewelry, wood/metal art, music and gourmet lunches. Sept. 24-25 in Pass Christian.
Fine Live Entertainment to Wind Down Summer
August
Chris Botti - Trumpet instrumentalist’s albums include When I Fall In Love, A Thousand Deep Kisses, and Night Session. He has written many pieces including the ones used in Caught. Aug. 26, Beau Rivage Theatre.
September
Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra, Inc - Classical concert at the Biloxi Saenger Theatre. Date TBD.
Opera Bella Sera - An evening of fine dining, unparalleled ambiance, served in the company of some of the South’s finest operatic voices. Raises funds for the Gulf Coast Opera Theatre. Sept. 15 and Nov. 6 at Al Fresco’s Italian Bistro, Ocean Springs.
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