The Mind Boggling Murals Of Walter Anderson

Monday May 13, 2013
Site 19, Davis Bayou Campground
Ocean Springs, Mississippi

 

 

When I walk through the wide doorway into the community center which adjoins the museum, the site is so overwhelming tears come to my eyes.

 

 

This room is one of the most magnificent works of art I have ever experienced in my life.  I hope you can take your time and look at the amazing details in these murals.   But before I get into the photographs, some background

The town of Ocean Springs built a new community Center in 1950.  It was made of cinder block and the three thousand square feet of wall were unpainted.  Walter Anderson had strong opinions about the artist’s obligation to society and society’s to the artist.  In 1951, He offered to create a mural for the fee of one dollar plus expenses.   That just makes my jaw drop; the town received this precious gift for $1.   The walls are now valued at over $30M.

As you can see the windows are big and the light is bright so my camera distance pictures cannot possibly give a true picture of how overwhelming this place is.  The close ups are much sharper and stunning.  But they don’t give the feel of standing here looking around at this incredible mural.

This picture shows my view when I walk through the opening into the room.  For a long time, I just stand there.  I am awe struck.  I have never seen anything like this. 

 

 

These pillars are in front of the doorway between the community center and the museum.  The dark opening to the left of the far mural is the stage.  The railing tops a plexiglas shield to protect the art from damage.  I’ve started the pictorial tour at that far end mural and on clockwise around the room.

 

 

 

Anderson used oil paint applied directly to the stucco surface to achieve a fresco-like effect. 

The mural celebrates the area’s natural environment, its flora and fauna as well as the history of Ocean Springs .  It depicts the Native American culture of the Biloxi Indians and the landing in 1699 of French Explorer Pierre Le Moyne, Sieur d’Iberville.  Look for the man standing in a boat with the landing party.  Anderson painted himself into the scene wearing the grey felt hat he always wore.. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This opening from the museum is just to the right of the Biloxi Indian in the photo above. 

 

Can you imagine being served food at a community gathering within this multi million dollar piece of art.  WOW!

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

Sieur d’Iberville, the French explorer, is just to the left of the window, his party, just to the right.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are the details around the far entry wall window the edge of which is shown above.

 

 

 

 

This end wall opposite the stage is filled with pelicans, Anderson’s favorite bird.

 

 

 

 

 

This second half of the room beginning at the far wall and going back around to the stage is filled with local flora and fauna.

 

The above sections are to the left of this door.  The sections following this picture are to the right.

 

 

 

 

Do you see the flying squirrel  and the owl??

 

 

 

Cats were also a favorite of Anderson’s and he made several ceramic molds of cats which are still produced today and sell for between $500 and $700.   We saw some lovely ones at the pottery and one was purchased while we were there. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These details are below and to the right of the window shown in the picture above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This section is said to have been inspired by Walt Whitman’s poem “The Dalliance of Eagles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This tree climbing black bear has bees buzzing around his nose. 

 

  

 

 

 

 

Is this a great alligator or what? 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the final corner approaching the last section and the stage.

All of the door decorations are similar but different.  The creativity is astounding.

 

 

Is this my rufous sided towhee or a red winged blackbird hanging out with the cute bunny?  We found all of them abundant at our campsite in Davis Bayou only a few miles from the museum.

 

 

 

The final wall next to the stage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are actually here in this glorious place!  What a day!!  I am SO happy to have had this experience.  But my pictures do not begin to do it justice.  If you are in the area you must see it for yourselves. 

 

 

 

 

 

I have one more room to show you.  It’s Walter Anderson’s personal space from his cottage.  No one saw it until it was discovered after his death in 1965.   But that’s yet another post on this one day at the Walter Anderson Museum.

 

*the previous post on the other works of Walter Anderson displayed in the museum can be read by clicking WALTER.  The post on the Anderson family and their Shearwater Pottery is here if you have not read it and would like to.