Ah, to be able to bring creatures to life on canvas, or to photograph them in such a way as to bring them to life to those viewing the picture.  Mississippi is filled with so many of these talented folks.  That's what MississippiWild hopes to do here - to show you some of their work so that you can enjoy it and either link to their website or maybe meet them in person when you come for a visit.

        We'll start with a lady who lives in the city of Oxford, Mississippi.  MississippiWild met her after Hurricane Katrina as we each searched for information about the destruction in Ocean Springs.  She was checking on friends she made while here on a trip, and we, having evacuated, were looking for any information about friends and the fate of our neighborhood.  We happened to hit the same forum at the same time, and after a case of mistaken identity on my part, began to correspond regularly.  Over time, we've become good friends.  Gara Gillentine, owner of SaraBlueSky Studios, has not only a heart for her follow man, as she has evidenced since Hurricane Katrina, she loves wildlife and nature, too.  Below are some of her "Katrina Oaks" created using photos of damaged live oaks on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Gara's website is:   www.sarabluesky.com

    

                                            




                                                

      
         Lori K. Gordon:


         Hurricane Katrina brought much despair to those living in the path of the storm. 

         You can choose to dwell on how difficult it made your life or you can choose to move on and make something positive come out of adversity.   The positive route is what Lori K. Gordon chose.  This talented artist lost her home and studio in Clermont Harbor, MS to a 35 foot wall of water and 150 mile per hour winds.  After a period of mourning for what was lost - not just her home and studio - but, most of the city and familiar surroundings, she went back to work.  By taking debris she found and by using her wonderful creative skills and talent, she brought to life, in art form, those things she'd held dear to her heart prior to August 29, 2005.  

         Lori's work has been featured on MSNBC's Rising From Ruin series and NPR's All Things Considered.  Below are examples of her work, as well as links to her blog and studio.  You will certainly enjoy the stories that Lori tells along with seeing her incredible work!

 
           

                        Heron Fe fe                                                       Cairo's Bayou


                   

                    Northeast Quadrant                                             Angel of the Storm


      Links to Lori's story and art:
                       
        http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2196437802153719097&pr=goog-sl

       http://thekatrinacollectionbylorikgordon.blogspot.com

       http://lorikgordon.blogspot.com/
                         
       http://gordonmixedmedia.blogspot.com

       http://www.theartofthestorm.com

       http://www.mississippison.com 





       Walter Anderson:


       It just isn't possible to talk about Mississippi artists without mentioning the late Walter Anderson.  Walter Anderson lived in Ocean Springs, MS and spent much of his time travelling out to Horn Island, studying the wildlife there and bringing them to life in his own unique style.  Anderson used repeating patterns in his art to create birds, crabs, trees, flowers and countless other things he saw in his environment.   Anderson's unique style is taught by many local art teachers at elementary and high schools giving the students an appreciation of their predecessor.  To view Anderson's collection,
click here , or better yet, travel to Ocean Springs and visit the Walter Anderson Museum to see his works in person.  Then, stop by the Walter Anderson Museum Store to pick up a print to take home with you.

        The Walter Anderson Museum of Art is located at 510 Washington Avenue in Ocean Springs, and the Museum Store, Realizations, is located at the intersection of Highway 90 and Washington Avenue next to the Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce.  Look for the old Train Depot which has been beautifully restored and houses both.