Second Saturday Artwalk - September 2018

9/1/2018

September 8, 2018

During the Second Saturday Artwalk each month in Old Town Bay St. Louis, you'll find cool deals, fresh meals and lots of art and live music!

Be sure to check out "Hot Spots" Alice Moseley Folk Art & Antique Museum (1928 Depot Way) and Bay-Tique (125 Main Street). And be sure to stop in at Gallery 220 to see Spencer Gray's new work. You can read all about the happenings below!

- Hot Spot stories by Grace Wilson

Over the past twenty years, the monthly artwalk has become one of the most popular events in the region. Old Town stays lively all day, with many merchants and restaurants offering specials.

The pace picks up from 4pm – 8pm, when gallery openings and live music keep the streets humming with activity.

Second Saturday Artwalk
column is sponsored by

Bay Creative Arts Center

Alice Moseley Folk Art & Antique Museum
1928 Depot Way
Bay St Louis
(228) 467-9223

“There should never be a price to look at art.” Alice Moseley

Bay St. Louis has long been known as a place that attracts and inspires artists.

In 1988, Alice Moseley found Bay St. Louis while attending the Beach Front Festival. She was 79 at the time, having begun her art career at 65.

According to the Alice Moseley Folk Art & Antique Museum, it was while driving over the Bay Bridge that Miss Alice said to herself, “This is it. This is where I’ll spend the rest of my life.”

Tim Moseley at the pavilion named after his mother.

Indeed, she spent the rest of her years in Bay St. Louis, capturing the city in her painting and the hearts of its residents and visitors. Many folks have fond memories of visiting her at her Blue House near the Depot District where Miss Alice would invite anyone who passed by to “visit a spell.”

“She was a character,” said Lonnie Falgout, a personal friend of Miss Alice who has lots of fond memories of spending time with her and is a champion of her legacy and the Alice Moseley Folk Art & Antique Museum.

Today the museum resides in the train depot, near a big oak tree that hosted Miss Alice’s memorial in July 2004.

Visitors are welcome to come learn about Miss Alice, other local folk artists and see her family’s collection of antiques Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.

The newly renovated museum lends itself to up close and personal self-tours of art and antiques, and also offers daily guided tours. Tour groups and school groups are encouraged to call in advance to schedule an appointment.

“The original layout of the museum was more a replica of her house,” said marketing director Shannon Wooten. “The new renovation has made this a museum that everyone is proud of.”

In addition to Miss Alice’s 47 original works, the museum features art by Bob McGraw and Henry Stiller. Art coordinator Lilliana Gandour hopes to work with more local artists to host special exhibits. There’s still a corner of the museum dedicated to showing Miss Alice’s life as it was in her house, complete with her vest, hat and a nod to her trusty little dog, Herman.

The Moseley Museum is also becoming more involved in the community. Over 1,000 art and music lovers attended the inaugural Alice Moseley Fun Festival. The museum will also bring Miss Alice into the classrooms and continue to invite classes to tour the museum.

Tim Moseley, Alice’s son, has been a driving force of the museum and has created a foundation to contribute to its growth, including providing the Alice Moseley Pavilion on the lawn of the train depot. It’s also Mr. Moseley’s personal antique collection that is a highlight of the museum tour.

One of Moseley's original paintings, "Labor Vs. Management"

“We are curating Mr. Moseley’s collection to show art history through glass and pottery,” said Wooten.

Alice Moseley found solace from a tough time in her life through the power of creating artwork. The museum hopes to inspire others to find therapy through art.

“We are the only art museum in Bay St. Louis - and perhaps in Hancock County,” Wooten said. “We celebrate Miss Alice, but also other artists, and our mission is to inspire all artists, no matter your age.”

Bay-Tique
125 Main St
Bay St Louis
(228) 344-3043

"Slightly edgy, always fun."

Jane Stricker Kulpeksa used to overhear her guests at the Carroll House Bed & Breakfast say that while they founds lots of antiques and treasures in Bay St. Louis, they had trouble finding shirts, hats and other Bay-branded items to bring home as souvenirs.

She got to designing and Bay-Tique was born on July 4, 2013, carrying mostly her now iconic Bay St. Louis and Bay Rat apparel for men and women.

“The staple of our business is the Bay St. Louis tees, hats, gifts and souvenirs,” she said. “That’s something I’ll never let go of.”

Since then, Bay-Tique - and Bay St. Louis as a whole - has gained a reputation for carrying some of the best women’s apparel on the coast.

“Old Town Bay St. Louis has a wonderful reputation for having wonderful women’s boutiques,” said Kulpeksa. “We work together to sell different types of clothing in each shop and not duplicate each other, which is very unique and says a lot about Bay St. Louis.”

She travels the country to go to markets trying very hard to find U.S. made, locally made and socially responsible products. Some of the proceeds of goods, like postcards made by local artists, go to benefit local organizations like the Friends of the Animal Shelter.

“I do lots of research before I go to market,” Kulpeksa said. “It’s important to me to understand vendors’ fair trade practices.”

In addition to local artists and makers, Bay-Tique carries popular brands like Sanuk footwear, Hobo Bags + wallets, Quay sunglasses and more. Other popular items include the recycled canvas bags and Dune Jewelry made with sand from Bay St. Louis.

“It’s not easy,” said Kulpeksa. “Finding fair trade goods is a lot harder than I thought it would be, but I’ve set the bar really high for myself and my shop to have a large percentage of socially responsible goods.”

Kulpeksa credits her right-hand, Karen Grumbine, for the prosperity of the shop. “Finding Karen was part of the key to the success of Bay-Tique,” she said. “She’s so passionate, organized, and enthusiastic, and she loves the shop like her own.”

The Bay-Tique tagline is slightly edgy, always fun.

From baby boomers to millennials, the shop carries something for every taste. In fact, many times it’s the same taste across both ages.

“I’ll see a retired woman come in and buy a kimono and a 17-year-old comes in and falls in love with the same kimono,” said Kulpeksa.

No matter the age or aesthetic, another thing Bay-tique clients have in common is their love of the atmosphere and comfort they feel while shopping.

“My favorite thing is being in the store and seeing people come in and having fun,” said Kulpeksa. “Oftentimes they are running around trying on hats, shoes and clothes, prancing around in our vintage-inspired swimwear and having a blast.”

Gallery 220 - New Work by Spencer Gray
220 Main Street
BSL

One of Spencer Gray's new fanciful characters

Gallery 220, one of the oldest artist cooperative galleries in the state, is excited to announce that house artist, Spencer Gray, Jr. will be showcased for the month of September.

Join Spencer and other Gallery 220 artists during the Second Saturday Art Walk on September 8, 2018, from 4-8 pm. Spencer will reveal his most recent 3-D cartoon characters that are uniquely created from found objects such as household pots and pans.

Spencer’s animated storytelling is sure to be “Bear-y” delightful. The annual event at Gallery 220 showcases his imagination as he shares an original story each September. Accompanying Spencer during the evening will be musical guest, Cooper Elliot Lemons. Cooper is the talented ten-year-old grandson of Spencer.

Call 228-466-6347 for additional information.