Page 64 - South Mississippi Living - October, 2026

Official
Festival
T-Shirt
Featuring the Art of Adam Plitt
story by Lynn Lofton photo by Kelsey Sunderman-Foster
Each year a specially-designed t-shirt
commemorates the Peter Anderson Festival.
This year for the first time a contest was held to
select the artwork. Ocean Springs Chamber-Main
Street and the Shearwater Pottery team opened
the t-shirt design process to a public art contest.
Adam Plitt, Gulfport artist, was selected as the
winner. His design was unveiled at a special
event celebrating the tradition of the festival
and the legacy of Peter Anderson and his family.
“Ocean Springs has such a rich artistic history,
and that was a big part of my inspiration. Peter
Anderson’s legacy is obviously at the heart
of the festival, but I’ve also been inspired by
Walter Anderson and his use of color, movement
and the natural world,” Plitt said. “I wanted
the design to capture some of that creative
energy while still feeling contemporary and
connected to the festival and the community
that has grown around it. I also wanted it to
be something people would genuinely enjoy
wearing—not just a design that identified the
festival, but something that felt like a piece of
Gulf Coast art.”
Cynthia Sutton, the chamber’s president and
CEO, says the festival t-shirt has become an
icon of the event over the years—a symbol of
celebrating the festival and being part of its
64 | October 2026 history.
“It is one of the
most sought-after
pieces of festival
memorabilia, and
people collect them.
Each year’s shirt is
OFFICIAL DESIGN
Adam Plitt
unique and limited
to that festival
season,” she said. “Once the festival is over, the
design is never reproduced, making each shirt
a little piece of Peter Anderson history. What
makes the shirt special is that the artwork is
created specifically for the festival. It is a one-
of-a-kind piece of art that is not reproduced on
other merchandise, so each year’s shirt tells its
own story.”
Plitt, who mostly creates with wood, said,
“Knowing that people will be walking around
Ocean Springs wearing something I created is
pretty special. I think the best compliment an
artist can receive is when someone likes your
work enough to want to wear it, display it or
make it part of their life.”
Plitt’s design features Anderson family potter
Peter Wade on the front, honoring the family’s
deep connection to the arts and the pottery
tradition that helped shape Ocean Springs.
Enjoying the
Festival
Safely
Come ready to shop, eat,
explore, and enjoy all that the
Peter Anderson Festival has to
offer! To help everyone have a
safe and enjoyable weekend,
festivalgoers are encouraged to
bring essentials like sunscreen,
water, and comfortable shoes.
Strollers and service animals
are welcome, though pets are
not recommended and bicycles
are not allowed. Be mindful
of crowds, keep an eye on
little ones, and give yourself
plenty of time to explore. Most
importantly, come with a smile
and a spirit of adventure—the
best part of this family-friendly
festival is enjoying it together!
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