OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. (WLOX) — Color spills into every corner; creativity takes center stage, and the streets of downtown Ocean Springs become a canvas of their own.
For some festivalgoers, the Peter Anderson Festival is more than a weekend of art; it’s a tradition 48 years in the making.
Visitors return to Ocean Springs
Amy and Fred Stickney live in Daphne, Alabama, but have traveled across state lines to Ocean Springs for five years.
“We live in a very artistic community as well, but something is very special here about Ocean Springs, and so it’s always a never-miss for us to be able to come over this weekend and even just walk around,” Amy Stickney said.
From one booth to the next, the couple found plenty to admire, and one art form they both love.
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“Just to see how creative people are, and some of the things that are just so different about art in general, and, you know, to us, I think both of us really, really enjoy ceramics,” Fred Stickney said.
Ceramics vendor makes 45th trip
For 45 years, Brenda Stokes has made the trip from Navarre, Florida, to share her ceramic creations with festivalgoers in Ocean Springs.
“This town is an art town; people appreciate art, and it’s just different from any festival that we’ve ever done, and we’ve done a lot of them,” Stokes said.
For Stokes and Holley Hill Pottery, the festival isn’t just a chance to sell her ceramics; it’s a chance to welcome customers back year after year.
“What makes us proud is when they come back the next year with their ideas and order things for Christmas,” Stokes said.
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Kaleidoscope artist shares her work
Kathleen Hunt of Kaleidoart in Conway, South Carolina, makes at least 20 types of kaleidoscopes from stained glass and optical lenses.
“Kaleidoscopes were my road trip toy when I was a little girl, a very little girl, a long time ago. And I just gravitated toward kaleidoscopes because I just think they’re magical,” Hunt said.
For some, it brings back childhood memories, while its a first look for others.
“It’s just a wonderful thing to see people, and they say, ‘Oh, I haven’t seen these since I was a kid,’ and every once in a while, an adult comes through and says they’ve never seen one before, and that’s really cool when that happens,” Hunt said.
For her, each piece is more than something to sell; it’s a way to leave a lasting connection.
“I love making something that people look at, and hopefully they like me and they think of me when they look at the piece,” Hunt said.
The festival continues from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
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