FAIRHOPE, Ala. — The Eastern Shore Art Center announces the opening of Gulf Coast Gumbo at First Friday ArtWalk, with an opening reception to be held Oct. 2, from 6-8 p.m.

This exhibit of over 40 original paintings by members of the Ocean Springs Art Association marks the first showing by its group at the Art Center and exemplifies its testimony of “Surviving and Thriving.”

Artwork includes members from all three Mississippi coastal counties — Jackson, Hancock and Harrison.

The current OSAA president, Carol-Marie Stewart, stated, “It is an honor to be invited to show in this marvelous facility (ESAC). We have a common bond of keeping our heads above water.”

Both communities (Fairhope and Ocean Springs) suffered personally and artistically from the ravages of Hurricane Katrina. Now that the water has receded and many lives have been restored, the Eastern Shore Art Center is proud to showcase the enormous and diverse talent of our neighbors along the Gulf Coast.

In the fall of 1971, a small group of local artists met and formed the Ocean Springs Art Association to promote friendship and good fellowship among those persons engaged in the visual arts.

Although the initial purpose of the association was to assist those persons interested in pursuing the creative arts, basically as a hobby, the small organization quickly grew by leaps and bounds as the neighboring communities discovered this highly charged group.

Ocean Springs Art Association has been a strong force in the local arts community over the years. The members of the association have continuously contributed their time and their art, giving the public an opportunity to view and acquire original works of art.

Local artists seeking to improve their community by adding art to local landmarks have spent countless volunteer hours. One of OSAA’s largest art shows is held annually in conjunction with one of the most celebrated arts and crafts event in the state of Mississippi, the Peter Anderson Arts Festival in Ocean Springs; this venue is an opportunity for artists to showcase and sell their art.

OSAA today includes approximately 325 members, and is one of the oldest and largest organizations on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Although in tatters after Hurricane Katrina, OSAA’s members mustered to do their part for relief efforts on behalf of each other. It was with each other’s help and lots of help from many outside sources, that the arts community regained what was lost.

Many venues were closed and still to this day remain closed for local artists as they strive to revive the downtown communities from the devastated businesses.

Many artists had to relocate to other welcoming communities who were better able to address their trauma, feed their souls and support their efforts to maintain a semblance of sanity.

Most of the artists have put this trauma behind them, but even to this day, they still get chills just thinking about what our arts community has lived through.

Recalling the disbelief and devastation that awaited all the OSAA members, Barbara Allen, a local artist entering the Eastern Shore Art Center-sponsored show, said, “Some say I was lucky. My house did not blow away, nor did it fill with salty water. Indeed, I was blessed with a stable home in the wake of the worst natural disaster ever to hit the United States. Truth be told, though, our place of business was blown to bits and flooded. Over a million dollars worth of damage incurred. Still I counted my blessings because we did have insurance and though they still have not paid us for all of the damage, we were able to rebuild.  

“Yes, all in all we were some of the lucky ones even though there was a large toll taken. And hey, we have each other and that is the greatest blessing of all.”

Other Mississippi artists exhibiting in the show were affected as well.

Gilda Seymour said, “We lost our home in Gulf Hills on the bayou. Our house was engulfed by a 26- to 30-foot surge. We couldn’t get into Gulf Hills because the water was still up, so we had to walk around the golf course. When I saw a picture of my grandson on the golf course and also the plywood that we had boarded up the windows, then we knew it was serious. We had to row in a boat we found, to go close enough to see it because the front was still there. When we tied the boat with an old sheet to the bottom of the stairs and started climbing up we realized only the front of the house was there. Nothing was left to the back. The furniture looked like it had been blown up. Nothing was intact. I could not believe it and still can't. I can’t even visualize it.”

Also exhibited at ESAC in October:

•Falling Water, Juried exhibition of the Committee on Public Art (COPA).

Both exhibits close Oct. 31.

Fifteen Fairhope artists first conceived the idea for a local arts association in 1951. By 1958, they had incorporated and were operating in temporary quarters.

In 1961, the current site, which was the location of the Pinewood Pottery Studio, was purchased and construction of the Eastern Shore Art Center began. The facility was enlarged in 1972.

The classrooms were added in 1982, and the Courtyard Gallery was completed in 2007, increasing the square footage to a total of 20,000.

Today ESAC comprises five galleries for viewing local, regional and national art, four studios for Academy of Fine Arts students and administrative offices.

The Pinewood Pottery wood-burning kiln from the early 20th century is behind the building and is listed on the Historic Register for the state of Alabama.

ESAC is open Tuesday–Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free.

For more information, call (251) 928-2228.