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The Art
House Co-Op, 921 Cash Alley, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this
month with a reception and special pricing. Their "Ten" featured
artist exhibit will be on display throughout the month of January, with
all art in the featured artist room for sale at 10% off.
The featured art will consist of paintings during January; however,
since the celebration will continue throughout the year, next month
hand-crafted original jewelry will be featured. The opening reception
is Friday, January 15 from 6:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M. Wine and refreshments
will be served, and guests will be entertained by Rita Meadows and the
Castaways. The public is invited.
Anniversary Press Release
The Art House Co-Op Art
Gallery is entering its second decade of the new millennium by celebrating
its tenth anniversary. An art exhibit featuring art by gallery members
offering their art at a 10% discount for the month of January will kick
off their big anniversary year. A reception with entertainment on the
15th of the month is just one of the special events planned for this
year to commemorate the gallery's birthday.
The co-op gallery opened on January 11 of 2000 and has had a successful
decade offering original art for sale by award-winning Gulf Coast artists.
The co-op began as a dream of Betty Magee, who was then president of
the Ocean Springs Art Association and who spearheaded the concept of
the gallery. In 1998, when then O.S. Alderman Larry Cosper heard of
the plan to try to start a gallery so the art association would have
a place to display their art, he offered an old building he owned on
Cash Alley for the artists to rent. Details such as rent, utilities,
insurance and running a business were worked out and the proposal to
the OSAA was presented and accepted. The co-op gallery operates under
the umbrella of the art association as a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization.
Actual work refurbishing the house, which was built by the railroad
in the 1800's as an overnight house for conductors and later served
as a livery stable, began in August of 1999. The gallery opened four
months later in January of 2000 and has a successful continuous run
in the charming building ever since.
Artists who wanted to be a part of the co-op contributed money for paint
and repairs, and they and their families went to work donating untold
hours of work to turn a run-down old house into a charming little art
cottage. Original founding members of the co-op were Magee, Corrine
Carter, Mary Allen, Nancy Wright, Dodie Dobson and Joan Armstrong. They
were joined by Pat Bernstein, Judy MacInnis, Patt Odom, Norma Seward,
Susie Ranager, Evelyn Ring and Cathy Campbell. It was some of these
artists who painted the wooden floors with original art that is still
enjoyed and admired by visitors today and are permanent art fixtures
in the gallery. The Pond Room with fish was painted by Wright, Bernstien,
and Allen; The Crab Room with fish and crabs was painted by Carter,
Dobson and Armstrong; the Pelican Room floor by Odom and the Pitcher
Plant Room by Magee.
The crab and fish floor was designed and painted by Bernstein, Allen
and Wright; the Pelican floor by Odom, Seward and Ranager and the. The
exterior of the grounds was adorned by whimsical and artistic sculptures
created by the members in order to have things outside to view around
picnic tables that visitors are welcome to use.
Over the years, artists have come and gone, but some of the original
core members have remained throughout the ten years. It is estimated
that around 93 plus artists have exhibited in the gallery to date. The
gallery runs well with a group of 31 artists who create paintings in
a variety of mediums including oils, acrylics, watercolors and mixed
media. In addition, the gallery offers photography, pottery, original
artistic jewelry, ornamental gourds, stained glass, metal relief and
occasionally wooden art. Artists have created note cards from their
paintings, and use their creativity to design purses and tote bags adorned
with their art. There is something for everyone there. The public is
invited to the "Ten" anniversary reception on Friday, January
15th from 6:00 P.M. - 9:00 p.m. Wine and refreshments will be served,
and the public will have an opportunity to meet the artists and purchase
the featured art at a 10% discount.
Entertainment for the reception will be provided by Rita Meadows and
the Castaways, including instrumentalists David Butkovich and Jim Trease.
Meadows is a professional vocalist who sang with bands all over Europe
and then in the states after she moved here in 1974.
Future events for the Art House's anniversary celebration this year
include a featured showing of hand-crafted jewelry in February and a
reconstruction by Vickie Niolet of one of the original sculptures created
for the sculpture garden when the gallery first opened. Other special
events are in the planning stages.
For more information, call the Art House during open hours (10:00 -
4:30 Monday through Saturday) at 228-875-9285.
The Castaways
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Rita Meadows and the Castaways
David Butkovich is the gitar
player, composer and tech.;
Rita Meadows, vocals and Jim Trease on Midi- wind Instrument.
Rita started singing as an amateur at age 14. By age 21 she was
a professional singer. She traveled all over Europe for yearsworking
with several big bands and small Jazz ensembles. After arriving
in the USA in 1974 she was the vocalist of the Stardusters, a
big dance band, and later sang with smaller groups.
Those who attend the reception
are in for a rare treat!
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