Mardi Gras

                                              Mardi Gras in New Orleans
                                                 Walter Inglis Anderson

photograph by the author at the Walter Anderson Museum of Art in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.

Eco art?

Nature is the only subject of the exhibition taking place at the Ogden Museum of Southern Arts titled "One World, Two Artists: John Alexander and Walter Anderson". Two figurative artists with their own twist, painting the Gulf Coast as we like to think about it. The two artists do not have much in common. John Alexander uses oil on canvass, heavily applied with reds, blacks, dark and bright colors, bringing drama and a flavor of expressionism in his best compositions like the two represented here.

In contrast, Walter Inglis Anderson's pastel watercolors tell the story of a lost paradise. The painter lived in Ocean Springs, MS, and the local museum, called after his name displays Anderson's work around the year. The painter, sculptor, ceramist, potter, writer lived with nature and represents the soul of the Gulf Coast with his unique style. His travels are reflected in some of his water colors, referring to Egyptian friezes. The exhibition brings a personal touch with pages from his diary and ink drawings.
Of course, I am biased...I love the work from Walter Anderson. Are we predisposed to prefer what we recognize? On these week-ends, when I am passing-by the museum of art in Ocean Springs, I walk through to take a peak at the display of Anderson's paintings and marvel.

photographs by the author
entrance of the exhibition

"There is a Bluebird on My Shoulder", 1985 John Alexander

"Herons in Heat", 1987, John Alexander

"Redwings, Crabs, Frogs", 1945, Walter Anderson

"Father Mississippi", 1953, Walter Anderson

"Horizontal Pelican", 1945, Walter Anderson

Local artist

Illustration for :"Puss in Boots."

Ocean Springs, Mississippi, is the home of a well known painter, at least in the South:

Walter Iglis Anderson (1903-1965).

The artist was prolific and produced watercolors, oil paintings, sculptures, potteries. He also wrote books and illustrated a few.

The latest exhibit at the WAMA's (Walter Anderson Museum of Art) is particularly touching. Titled:" Lost Murals: the Art of Reading", it is a collection of mainly watercolors created to illustrate children's books. Most of these works were damaged by the flood in 2005 and were restored at the Mississippi State University.

Walter Anderson works are abundant.

Walter Anderson's life, his struggles are well known locally. His mental disease would isolate him and he would spend weeks alone on Horn Island where he would find material for his paintings. His representation of the local fauna and local flora is unique.

At each visit, I walk in the Community Center, decorated by murals on all walls. Over the years, the colors are fading. Restoration is in progress.

photographs by the author