Davis Bayou, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Ocean Springs, MS
February 15, Wednesday, Day 132
The Walter Anderson Museum of Art is a gem. Not many art museums are dedicated to one artist, but this is one of them. His brother, Mac, has a small but worthy presence, as well. Including Peter, the three brothers started Shearwater Pottery in the early 1930’s; they featured utilitarian dish ware through the depression. All three created exquisite art; Peter as the main potter. Walter was prolific, producing art in many media: sculpture, pencil, water color, oil, block printing, pottery, furniture, and others. Mac’s paintings were magically stylized.
He often rowed his boat 15 miles out to the remote Horn Island. There he could commune with nature and paint what he saw in the landscape and animal kingdom. He would spend weeks at a time on the island sketching on 8 1/2” x 11” notebook paper. He also had a room in his house which he kept locked. No one knew what was inside until after his death. The walls were colorfully painted to portray the passing of one day including animals such as deer and butterflies as well as the plant life of Horn Island. He was happy on the island and may have used that room as a surrogate while working at the Shearwater compound.
Please enjoy this sampling of their work:
