Page 94 - South Mississippi Living - October, 2017

Young Art
Peter Anderson Festival not just for Adults
STORY BY SUSAN RUDDIMAN
PHOTOS COURTESY OF WALTER ANDERSON MUSEUM OF ART
For the third year, the Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce-Main Street-Tourism Bureau has partnered with the Walter Anderson Museum of Art to offer Young at Art.
“My vision was to create a place in the festival where kids have a chance to showcase and sell their art. This gives them an opportunity to experience what it's like to be an artist at the festival,” said Cynthia Dobbs Sutton, Chamber executive director.
Youths ages 8 through 18 are invited to set up on the front lawn of the Walter Anderson Museum of Art (WAMA) at 510 Washington Ave.
“We don't charge them for their space,” said Corey Christy, head of development at WAMA. In 2015, Young at Art youths took up six tables,
and last year the venue had grown to 23 tables, according to Heather Rumfelt, the former education director at WAMA.
“We definitely want the kids to participate. It's such a wonderful opportunity,” Rumfelt said. Young at Art is set up only on Saturday of the festival. The kids are responsible for their hand made goods and table displays. Those under 15 need to be accompanied by an adult.
WAMA and Chamber staff reach out to area public schools and private art teachers to get the word out that this opportunity is available for youths throughout the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
“I have had students who participated, and they make fairly good money. One made $270 last year,” said Carmen Lugo, an art instructor at the Mary C. O'Keefe Cultural Center.
She said she wants her students to give their work exposure and learn the business side of art. “I do encourage them to go to WAMA and be a part of Young at Art,” she said.
The art he sees at the student booths is creative, interesting and reasonably priced, Christy said. “This is a great fit. You want to share art with as many people as possible and get them into the museum in a way you might not have thought, and be part of the scene,” he said. “It makes art more accessible.”
94 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • October 2017
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