20. May 2013 · Comments Off on Mississippi Discoveries 2: The Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags: , , , , , ,
These buildings looked like bongo drums to me.

These buildings looked like bongo drums to me. This particular part of the museum wasn’t quite open yet.

During our week in Biloxi this past March, Dave and I took a drive to Ocean Springs, which has done a fantastic job of rebuilding after Katrina’s devastation.

On the drive, we passed the most unusual-looking buildings near the Isle and Palace Casinos. There were three buildings in a row up against U.S. 90, each of which had very distinctive architecture.

The sign along the highway read “Ohr-O’Keefe Museum“…about which I immediately assumed was a museum featuring America’s most famous O’Keeffe.  But I was wrong.

While Dave was recovering from his eye surgery, I took a couple hours and paid a visit to the museum. Despite its unusual appearance, inside those buildings was some beautiful art!

The artist featured here is George E. Ohr, a Biloxi native who operated a very eccentric pottery shop. His standard pottery pieces began to take on some very wild appearances over the years. A large Ohr pottery collection is a permanent exhibit at the museum.

George Ohr was known for his wild mustache, and the sticker you receive with paid admission (to show that you’re a paid visitor) is of a giant mustache.

The “campus” to the Ohr-O’Keefe actually consists of five buildings total. You can read more about the architecture here, but I was intrigued by the modernist version of an antebellum “Shoo-Fly” to which one of the buildings was supposed to pay homage.

The roof of this building was supposed to be a "shoo fly" porch. If you read about the history of a shoo fly, you'll shake your head too.

The roof of this building was supposed to be a “shoo fly” porch. If you read about the history of a shoo fly, you’ll shake your head too.

The five buildings provide numerous gallery spaces of assorted sizes. I had the opportunity to see four different artists’ exhibits. All of the exhibits had local connections, whether it was the artists’ hailing from Biloxi, or in one case, the medium was wood scavenged from Hurricane Katrina debris.

In addition to the exhibits, one of the buildings is the City of Biloxi Center for Ceramics. A fully operational ceramics workshop was in use when I was there, with artists actively throwing on the pottery wheels.

A very non-moderist building stands on the campus. It’s the Pleasant Reed Interpretive Center, which features local African-American historical artifacts. The original building was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, but has been rebuilt completely, thanks to numerous archives and photographs.

The Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art is about a 60-90 minute visit, admission is $8-10 per person and is on U.S. 90 just west of the bridge between Biloxi and Ocean Springs.

Enjoy more pictures from my visit to the museum here.

06. April 2012 · Comments Off on Another Test Post · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags: , ,

Here’s ANOTHER test post, testing some publishing-related plug-ins.

Thank you for your patience.

In the meantime, I’ve included a random picture for you to enjoy.  This is a “stained glass” project that Timmy did in art class.  Sharpies on a piece of transparency film :-).  This was shown in a Santa Rosa County Public Schools art show 2 weekends ago.

08. February 2012 · Comments Off on Our Disney Cruise, Part 5: Disney Art Throughout The Ship · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags: , , , ,
Disney artwork graces the passageways and staterooms of the Disney Dream. There’s even a full-sized art gallery on board, where guests can purchase original and prints of Disney art. Photo by Flickr user Casajump, used with permission.

I couldn’t get over the beautiful Disney storyboard and concept art throughout the Disney Dream. If you sail on a Disney Cruise Line ship, make sure you take the time to stroll around the enjoy the art.

And if you want to take some of the art home with you, pay a visit to the Vista Gallery. This is where guests can browse original Disney art and pieces related to the Disney Dream and Castaway Cay. Many of the pieces are for sale, and several are featured in a silent auction. In addition, popular prints are sold for a nominal cost and make very elegant cruise souvenirs.

In the staterooms, there were two prints hanging on the walls.  It appears that the same prints are in most rooms on the Disney Dream, and Dave and I were disappointed that we couldn’t buy a print of the art deco design of the four Disney Cruise Line ships.

We have nautical art prints and photography in our bedroom at home. This print, which is featured in most Disney Dream staterooms, would be the perfect compliment to our design, but alas it wasn’t for sale. Note the names of the four ships below each hull.  Photo by Flickr user Insidethemagic.

I really loved looking at the storyboard art and rough sketches along the stairwells and passageways — designs that we knew would later become the films and cartoons that make Walt Disney famous. They had prints of basic Steamboat Willie ideas, Pixar storyboards and celluoid prints. And now I share some of my favorites with you!

The long passageway leading towards the Animator’s Palete restaurant is lined with rough sketches of over 20 Disney heroines, from Snow White to Rapunzel and everyone in between. I found my favorite among them!
This is one of the “Enchanted Art” pieces, the poster converts into a Silly Symphony with a Russian theme. 

These next three pictures are probably my favorites on the entire ship. They were tucked away on either Deck 1 or 2 towards the back of the ship (the “aft” stairwell). Three 4-panel pieces in a row showing a scene from a Pixar movie from storyboard to completed CGI! This is from The Incredibles. 
From Finding Nemo. 
From Cars.