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Celebrating HANCOCK COUNTY Arts community offers residents a rich cultural life
BY NAN PATTON EHRBRIGHT
THE SUN HERALD
Bay St. Louis is known as an arts and antiques community, but artists are
scattered throughout the county.
They’re like those metal hangers tucked away in storage, although much more interesting: They seem to multiply
almost overnight.
It’s impossible to come up with an accurate number of artists here, although Serenity Gallery owner Jerry Dixon says, at a minimum, it’s over 100.
“There are over 75 in Bay St. Louis alone,” Dixon said.
Many people credit Dixon, whose gallery opened in 1986, as having started an influx of other gallery owners and artists.
Many of the artists exhibit at Bay St. Louis galleries. Some have their own studios where they display and sell their creations, whether it be sculptures, paintings, drawings, photographs or jewelry.
A group of merchants pays homage to our artists every year, spring through fall, with a monthly Second Saturday Artwalk.
An annual “Place of Art” celebration brings artists
This view of the hallway leading to Serenity Qallery on Main Street shows the diversity of Coast artists. The “yellow brick road” and doorway at the end of the hall were designed by artist Pat Qeorge, now deceased. Serenity owner Jerry Dixon moved here in 1985 after living in the New Orleans’ French Quarter for 25 years.
from across the Coast and from neighboring states to downtown Bay St. Louis.
Fifteen years ago, theatre-lovers had their choice of participating in or attending community theatre productions sponsored by three groups: Bay St. Louis Little Theatre, Waveland Players or Diamondhead Little Theater.
Waveland Players has since folded, but the Diamondhead Players and the Diamondhead Performing Arts Society continue to produce several shows a year.
Bay St. Louis Little Theatre celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1996.
In mid-September, it will produce a dinner show of three one-act comedies at the Bay-Waveland Yacht Club.
BSLLT’s 1999-2000 season includes productions of “A Streetcar Named Desire,” “Long Day’s Journey into Night,” “The Odd Couple” and “Annie.”
The Hancock County Library System, which operates libraries in Bay St. Louis, Kiln and Pearlington and a literacy center in Waveland, is one of the busiest in the state, ranking in the top 10.
Last year, the system handled some 200,000 transactions.