Walter Anderson Artist Views
The Walter Anderson Museum of Art ( W.A.M.A), opened in 1991 in historic downtown Ocean Springs, is onc of the most beautiful and unique museums in the country. It is dedicated to the celebration of the interdisciplinary works of Walter Inglis Anderson (1903 - 1965), American master artist, whose depictions of the plants, animals, and people of the Gulf Coast have placed him among the forefront of American painters of the 20th century. Anderson's watercolors, drawings, oils, block prints, ceramics, and carvings are all represented in the museum's permanent collection, while diverse changing exhibitions, many featuring the work of other significant artist, occur throughout the year.
Walter Inglis Anderson was born on September 29, 1903, in New Orleans to George Walter Anderson and Annette McConnell Anderson. His father was a grain merchant and his mother was an artist. (Logs11-12) He was the second of three brothers, the eldest being Peter and the youngest, Mac. He went to St. John's School in Manilus, New York, from the ages of eight to fourteen when his schooling was interrupted by World War 1. After that he went to Manual Training School in New Orleans. (Logs 12) He then went on to the Parson's Institute in New York. He finished his education at Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. (WAMA) While he was at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, he won the Packard Award for winning an animal drawing contest against the entire student body. (Logs 2) He later won a scholarship to study abroad and went to France. While he was in France, he was particularly impressed with the cave paintings, which noticeably influenced his drawing style.
When Walter Anderson traveled the world, the occupation listed on his passport read decorator. It's a title that embraces the many facets of a colorful American artist who is being honored on the centennial of his birth by a major exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution's Arts p Industries building in Washington, D.C.
Walter Anderson Artist Images
