The Museum Saved the Little Room

March 27-31, 2025                                                     Most Recent Posts:
Davis Bayou Campground                       Gulf Islands National Seashore
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Ocean Springs, Mississippi

The Walter Anderson Museum of Art was, founded in 1991, and is “dedicated to the preservation and celebration of artist-philosopher Walter Anderson (1903-1965).  Anderson’s paintings, drawings, murals, block prints, writings, sculpture, and carvings of coastal plants, animals, landscapes, and people make  him one of the most amazing and unique artists of the 20th century.  His works are astounding. 

The Museum also honors Anderson's brothers, Peter Anderson (1901-1984), master potter and founder of Shearwater Pottery; and James McConnell Anderson (1907-1998), noted painter and ceramist."

As those of you who have read my previous posts about Ocean Springs and Walter Anderson (links above) will know I find him nearly unbelievable.  Not only for the beauty of his art in so many mediums but for his writings.  The museum does not mention him in their description as an author but he certainly was with many of his journals and his philosophy contained in them still in print.  It is the philosopher artist that I love and that shines through in all his works.

The museum is a wonderful tribute to his work and I could spend hours there.  Here is a small sample of pottery, carvings, furniture, ceramics and paintings done by Walter Anderson.

Walter Anderson carved "The Swimmer" out of oak blown down by a 1947 hurricane. It once graced the porch of his cottage, which was heavily damaged by Katrina

Walter Anderson made much of the furniture in his home including this dining table.  Thankfully this and other of his art was in the museum during Hurricane

Look carefully at this painting(s).  I wish I had asked about its composition.
Next time.

Walter Anderson was considered an eccentric by the people of Ocean Springs.  His wife’s book Approaching The Magic Hour makes clear why.  He reminds me of Vincent Van Gogh.   Some people of Ocean Springs would commission  artworks from Anderson to support the family especially during the depression.  A close family friend commissioned him to do a painting of Sunset.  This painting of Horn Island was what he created.  She is reported to have said that Anderson’s color pallet was too other worldly.

Hanging from the ceiling in a hallway outside The Little Room is the skiff that he rowed 12 miles out to Horn Island where he stayed sometimes for weeks sketching and sleeping under the over turned boat.  He did this more than 100 times.

The Little Room was added as an extension to his cottage in 1939.  It was kept locked and only opened after he died.  I can’t even imagine what his wife felt when she first took off the lock and saw the floor to ceiling murals painted on the wooden walls and floors.  They show the transition from dawn to dusk on Horn Island through vibrant colors and natural imagery, plants and animals.  Perhaps he could transport himself back to what he seemed to feel was his Eden on the island  when he was not there.

How lucky that it had been moved to the museum before Hurricane Katrina or it would certainly have been lost.

It is a very little room, perhaps 10x10’ and difficult to show as a room.  It is simply amazing to stand inside and look.

Like the walls of the community center an exhausting space by comparison, it is one of the most beautiful works of art I have ever been inside of.  It brings me to tears looking at the detail and color.  What a genius he was and how troubled.  How grateful I am to his family for sharing his works and bringing so many of them to the museum before they could be lost to the hurricane.

There are a few places in my travels I could visit again and again and this is one of them.