The Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art enticed me to visit because of its architecture! Designed by Frank Gehry, the museum campus consists of multiple buildings woven into a canopy of Oak trees. There are three pod-shaped buildings that house the George E. Ohr collection.
I had read that Ohr was a potter, but I have not had the opportunity to learn much about pottery. The exhibition George Edgar Ohr: I am the Potter Who Was provides a history of Ohr’s life from the early beginnings of his career through the early 1900s. Known as the “Mad Potter of Biloxi”, Ohr was active from 1883 to 1910 creating ceramics that were pivotal to the artistic heritage of the Gulf South.
This special exhibit of the ceramics by Toshiko Takaezu was incredible!
Another special exhibition featured the works of Cathy Hegman, a contemporary figurative artist from Mississippi.
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| Pearls of Wisdom |
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| Insomniacs Counting Sheep |
The Dusti Bongé Art Foundation is housed in this historic house across the street from the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum.
The curator of this collection was very friendly and helpful in providing information about this Southern Abstract Expressionist artist.
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| Blue Mask or Turquoise Thoughts |
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| Below Looks Up |
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| The Egyptian Boy |
Another artist that I was unfamiliar with was Walter Anderson. The collection at the Walter Anderson Museum of Art includes drawings, watercolors, oil paintings, carvings, murals and decorative arts!
This first painting was created for the WPA. This scene is a cartoon of The Hunt. The forms are reminiscent of cave paintings that Anderson saw in France in the 1920s.
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| WPA Mural Sketch |
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| The Swimmer |
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| Chesty Horse with Flaming Mane and Tail |
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| Don Quixote |
The adjacent Community Center showcases Anderson’s 3,000 square foot murals depicting the discovery of the Mississippi Coast.
Anderson’s most private work was created in the Little Room which served as his sanctuary latter in his life. He painted this room from floor-to-ceiling with murals depicting plants and animals transitioning from night to day.
Nearby Horn Island was a favorite retreat of Walter Anderson. He especially loved painting the life on this island.
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| Radiant Duck |
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| Horn Island at Sunset |
We were lucky to see this special exhibition of painters that have created works to capture the beauty of Horn Island. My favorite works were painted by the artist Billy Solitario.
Written in the Sand: Plein Air Painter of Horn Island:
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| The Plow Wind |
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| Fall Moon Reflections |
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| Twin Scrub Oaks, Southside, Horn Island |
Next month we head to Mobile, Alabama!
