Opening Reception: Sept. 9 at Oddfellows Gallery
William Carey University will show work by the Walter Inglis Anderson family at Oddfellows Gallery in downtown Hattiesburg from Sept. 8 - Oct. 15. This exhibit will mark the first time the university's collection of works by three generations of the Anderson family will be exhibited together at an off-campus location.
Walter Inglis Anderson was among the most prolific and talented artists of the 20th century, and his name is often associated with art of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. A native of New Orleans and long-time resident of Ocean Springs, Anderson was educated in New York and was a graduate of the Pennsylvania Academy of Art. He spent his life capturing the essence of the Mississippi coastal heritage, particularly Horn Island.
William Carey University's Sarah Ellen Gillespie Collection includes works by Walter Anderson, his brother James McConnell Anderson, his daughters Lief Anderson and Mary Picard Anderson, and his grandson Christopher Inglis Stebly.
"The exhibit is truly a historic event," said Rick Wilemon, an adjunct art instructor at WCU and graduate assistant at the Sarah Ellen Gillespie Museum of Art. "The Sarah Gillespie Collection includes many works by the Anderson family, and they have never been out of the vault at one time and exhibited together. This coupled with the guest appearances by members of the Anderson family at the reception will make for an exciting event on Sept. 9."
An opening reception will be held on Friday, Sept. 9 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Artists Christopher Inglis Stebly and Mary Picard Anderson will attend the reception and will offer works for sale in the lobby. Jason Stebly, Anderson's grandson, will play an acoustic set of original songs during the reception.
On September 16, Kendall Dunkelbert will read from his book of poems, "Barrier Island Suite," based on the life and art of Walter Anderson. The reading will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Oddfellows Gallery.
"We appreciate Charles and Anita Price, owners of Oddfellows Gallery, providing the space for the university to exhibit the works of the Anderson family," said Wilemon. "The gallery is one of the few genuine white-box galleries in our region capable of presenting such an exhibit for the public to enjoy." This is the third in a series of exhibits Carey has mounted at the gallery.
Oddfellows Gallery is located at 119 East Front St. in Hattiesburg. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday - Saturday. For more information, please call (601) 544-5777.