over the holidays, i visited the walter anderson museum of art in ocean springs, mississippi. walter anderson was an american painter whose depictions of wildlife & people of the gulf coast placed him amongst some of the most well regarded painters of the 20th century. the museum also displays and celebrates his brothers' work, peter anderson of shearwater pottery and james mcconnell anderson, who was a noted ceramicist and painter.
two of my favorite parts of the museum was the community center and the 'secret room', both of which were covered in murals by walter. i learned on my visit with my family that my aunt held her wedding reception in that very community center. as far as the secret room, walter would not ever allow anyone inside, not even his wife. it was only after his passing that she saw the magic that was inside.
words and photographs by kristin karch