Birds of Biloxi and Ocean Springs And the Most Famous American Artist You Have Never Heard of

We left the POW camp and made our way back to the coast to the birds of Biloxi and Ocean Springs and the most famous American artist that you have never heard of.  As you will quickly find out the theme of this post is birds.  The old port in Biloxi proved to be a great spot to watch Herons antics.

They were mostly just standing there,

Biloxi Birds

judging everyone

Biloxi Birds

especially this goofy guy

but we also saw some action moves

Biloxi Birds

and some careless dancing!

Biloxi birds

Next, the marina at Ocean’s Springs was the headquarters of the Pelicans

Ocean Springs Pelicans

and they quietly reigned the waterway

contemplated,

Ocean Springs Pelicans

and discussed current events very seriously

Ocean Spring's Pelicans

Some of the real gems were not live birds though.

WALTER ANDERSON MUSEUM OF ART in Ocean Springs was definitely one of the highlights of our trip.

Anderson had a way with birds.

In paintings

Walter Anderson Museum of Art

sculptures,

and functional art.

Walter Anderson story is a sad one wrought with mental illness and anguish, but his work and philosophy were brilliant.

Exquisite murals which he painted for $1, cover the entire interior of the community centre that is adjacent to the museum.  Do take a minute to click on the photo below to see them in a larger format to appreciate the volume of work.

Birds of Biloxi and Ocean Springs And the Most Famous American Artist You Have Never Heard of

 

Birds of Biloxi and Ocean Springs And the Most Famous American Artist You Have Never Heard of

 

Birds of Biloxi and Ocean Springs And the Most Famous American Artist You Have Never Heard of

 

Birds of Biloxi and Ocean Springs And the Most Famous American Artist You Have Never Heard of

 

Birds of Biloxi and Ocean Springs And the Most Famous American Artist You Have Never Heard of

Anderson believed that good art should be accessible

He worked through a variety of techniques

Birds of Biloxi and Ocean Springs And the Most Famous American Artist You Have Never Heard of

and material

Birds of Biloxi and Ocean Springs And the Most Famous American Artist You Have Never Heard of

but the natural world was his passion and inspiration and he spent weeks at a time on a deserted island studying the natural world.

Birds of Biloxi and Ocean Springs And the Most Famous American Artist You Have Never Heard of

He was in and out of mental hospital – out mostly by escaping.

After his death, his wife opened up the cottage where he was staying by himself in his last years to find a treasure trove of art pieces and an entire room painted as a day in Ocean Springs from sunrise to sunset.

The details of the natural world that he loved so much

and the colours and shapes  that haunted him are all there in that little room.

The entire room was transferred to the museum and it is awe inspiring!  If you are ever in the area drop in for a visit and make sure to watch the movie about Anderson for better context.  It’s not just art —it’s an experience.

This museum set the bar pretty high.  Will there be another one that will top it?

If you enjoyed this post, please follow us.  You can like our Facebook page, share on your favourite social media page, or drop us a line to tell us about your experiences.  When you shop via our links to Amazon.com in the United States, or in Canada at Amazon.ca we will get a portion of the sales.

6 thoughts on “Birds of Biloxi and Ocean Springs And the Most Famous American Artist You Have Never Heard of”

  1. crdahlberg says:
    Reply

    I migrated to the South in my 20’s, was married in Pascagoula, and lived several years in Gautier. I traveled to nearby Ocean Springs and Biloxi many times before later moving away. Never stopped by the Anderson Museum. Now I know what I missed! Thank you!

We would love to hear from you!