Introducing OOMA Online

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Introducing OOMA Online, Member Mondays, OOMA at Home, and OOMA Live! OOMA Online will be the permanent online section of the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art’s programming. We will be building this out now and for the foreseeable future as a new way to connect with our OOMA family.

OOMA Member Mondays will feature content exclusive to members, early access member items, special member sales/discounts, and more. Starting with a preview today through Wednesday, with our 15% off sale on Charles Smith’s ceramics! Being a member of The Mad Potter Society now means more than ever with a chance to be some of the first to experience our improved online content and offers. If you’re already a member, and you used your email that is on file with our front desk to sign up on our website, you should see your member benefits on our website with your current log-in info. Contact us via community@georgeohr.org if you have any issues accessing your account.

OOMA at Home will be our home for educational content like walkthroughs, tutorials, classes, and follow-along activities. You can already catch content built for OOMA at Home via our Ceramics Director Charlie Mabry with his series on sculpting animals and through our Education Director Pamela Cevallos’ recent video on creating coffee filter flowers. OOMA Live will feature live versions of these events that will eventually have recorded versions on OOMA at home.

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Support From the Ohr: Artful Resources From Our Community

SUPPORT FROM THE OHR

Artful Resources From Our Community

Museums everywhere are helping people maintain social distancing by digitizing collections, sharing lesson plans for art projects, and creating online-accessible events for their members. Our doors may be closed but you can still enjoy the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art through our online programming – including virtual collections and exhibits, art activities, lectures, and other educational materials in line with our mission. Check back regularly to see what’s new. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to keep up with updates.

All of this content will be made available here and through our homepage at georgeohr.org. We will continue to keep you informed of alternative ways to engage with OOMA.  We hope these digital experiences can bring you peace, enjoyment, and inspiration at this challenging time.

Resources from OOMA

  • OOMA Digital Collections
  • OOMA Online Store
  • OOMA Digital Events (Coming Soon) – Check back with us soon for events based on current exhibits, virtual tours, talks, and more!
  • OOMA Digital Classes (Coming Soon) – Sign up for classes online and participate via live stream or a number of other remote options.

Local Education Resources

  • Dusti Bongé Art Foundation – promotes the artistic legacy of Dusti Bongé, Mississippi’s first Abstract Expressionist painter through exhibitions, conservation, scholarship, and education.
  • Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum – preserves and interprets the maritime history and heritage of Biloxi and the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
  • Gallery 782 Co-Art – a co-operative art gallery that provides a connection to artists in Biloxi and along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
  • Coastal Mississippi Mardi Gras Museum – connect with the Mississippi Gulf Coast’s Mardi Gras roots.
  • Walter Anderson Museum of Art – a museum dedicated to the preservation and celebration of Ocean Springs-native artist-philosopher Walter Anderson (1903-1965).
  • Shearwater Pottery – was founded in 1928 by Peter Anderson (brother to Walter Anderson) with the support of his parents, George Walter Anderson and Annette McConnell Anderson.
  • Lynn Meadows Discovery Center – a center dedicated to inspiring children, families, and communities through the arts, interactive educational experiences, and exploration.
  • Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center – a center dedicated to instilling a love of learning, encouraging creative expression, and enriching lives by providing educational, artistic, historical, and cultural experiences.

Other Online Resources

Ways to Support

You can help support the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art’s efforts to aid in providing online educational resources in a number of ways:

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New Executive Director Selected for Ohr O’Keefe Museum of Art

The Board of Trustees for the Ohr O’Keefe Museum of Art has hired David Houston to take the reins at the museum starting this month. The board announced its decision after a four-month nationwide search.

Houston was named Chief Curator of the Ogden Museum of Southern Art in New Orleans in 2001. At the Ogden, he organized a wide range of exhibitions and programs that focused on the American South. He broke down barriers between art, music, popular culture, and the general public, expanding the vision of what an art museum could be.

He next led the curatorial team at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, at the time of its opening in 2011.

In 2013, he became Executive Director and Chief Curator of the Bo Bartlett Center at Columbus State University in Georgia, overseeing the transformation of a cotton warehouse into a contemporary art center. The flexible space hosts exhibitions, public programs and houses art, sketchbooks and the archives of contemporary realist painter Bo Bartlett.

Houston led the Bartlett Center until 2019. Since then, he has worked independently as an art historian and curator based in Brooklyn.

He has taught at The University of New Orleans and The Brandenburg Technical University, Germany, and has authored more than 40 books, exhibition catalogs and articles on architecture, art, and photography.

Bruno Milanese, board president, stated “We have a legendary artist showcased in a museum designed by a world-famous architect. David Houston is the ideal candidate to ensure George Ohr, the museum and Frank Gehry are deservedly honored and celebrated.”

The Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art is a non-profit art museum located in Biloxi, MS. The Ohr O’Keefe Museum of Art’s mission is to promote and preserve the unique legacy of Biloxi potter George E. Ohr and the diverse cultural heritage of the Mississippi Gulf Coast; and to exhibit works which exemplify the independent, innovative, and creative spirit of George Ohr, emancipated craftsman Pleasant Reed, and Ohr O’Keefe Museum architect Frank Gehry.

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Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art COVID-19(Coronavirus) Updates

[UPDATE 01/26/2021]:

We are open regular hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 10a.m – 5p.m. No advanced tickets necessary.

Makin’ Groceries is open Tuesday – Friday, 11a.m. – 5p.m.; lunch service stops at 2p.m. and Saturday 10a.m. – 2p.m.

All of our galleries are open with exciting new exhibits:

  • Seen & Told: Alternative Narratives by Najee Dorsey (Beau Rivage Gallery of African American Art)
  • I Can See All Obstacles in My Way by Sally Heller (IP Casino Resort Spa Exhibitions Gallery)
  • City within a City (Pleasant Reed Interpretative Center)
  • Antigenic Rift by Randy Polumbo (John S. and James L. Knight Pod Pavillion)
  • Maybe This Time it Won’t Matter? by Craig Damrauer and Sally Heller
  • Completorium by Paul Bright

The City of Biloxi’s safety guidelines will be in place including social distancing, hand sanitizing stations, and requiring that all visitors wear masks:

  • Please do not enter OOMA if you have been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19, are experiencing a cough, shortness of breath, or sore throat right now, or have experienced symptoms like a fever, a new loss of taste or smell, vomiting or diarrhea or fever in the last 48 hours.
  • Large gatherings, especially indoors, are discouraged. Group activities are limited to 10 people indoors and 50 people outdoors when individuals from different households are involved.
  • Please maintain a safe distance of at least six feet between your group, employees and other visitors while on campus.
  • You will see hand-sanitizing stations throughout the museum. Please use those frequently.
  • Restrooms and high touch areas are cleaned throughout the day.

[UPDATE 07/23/2020]:

OOMA Reopens with limited hours:
Thursdays: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Fridays & Saturdays: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

On the 18th, regular museum hours will run from noon to 5 p.m. with OOMA After Hours happening from 5 to 7 p.m.

We’re pleased to announce our reopening on Thursday, June 18th, 2020. Thursday’s opening will mark the return of our OOMA After Hours event and the introduction of noon to 7 p.m. operating hours on all Thursdays thereafter. Friday and Saturday hours will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the foreseeable future as a part of the museum’s first phase of reopening.

On the 17th from 2 to 5 p.m., the museum will host members-only hours. Members can call the museum to RSVP. Museum members will also receive a 2-month extension of their annual membership to make up for time lost during the closure.

The City of Biloxi’s safety guidelines will be in place including social distancing, hand sanitizing stations, and requiring that all visitors wear masks.

The Museum is also pleased to announce a new partnership with restaurateur Lauren Turner’s Biloxi-based restaurant “Makin Groceries”. Ms. Turner will host a small plate sampling in the museum’s Mississippi Sound Welcome Center on June 18th as a preview of what’s to come.

OOMA will be featuring two new exhibitions: Spaces and People by Dean Mitchell and Symbiotic by Cathy Hegman. We look forward to welcoming our members and guests back to campus to experience the power of art firsthand.

General Guidelines:

  • Please do not enter OOMA if you have been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19, are experiencing a cough, shortness of breath, or sore throat right now, or have experienced symptoms like a fever, a new loss of taste or smell, vomiting or diarrhea or fever in the last 48 hours.
  • Guests are encouraged to wear masks.
  • Only debit or credit is accepted at this time.
  • Please maintain a safe distance of at least six feet between your group and employees and other visitors near you while at OOMA.
  • You will see hand-sanitizing stations throughout the museum and campus.
    Please use those frequently.
  • Be sure to wash hands more frequently, avoid touching your face, practice good respiratory etiquette like sneezing into your elbow rather than into the air.
  • We’re limiting the number of guests allowed in at one time for our galleries.
    Restrooms and high touch areas are cleaned throughout the day.

[UPDATE 03/17/2020]:

Due to the growing concern over the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and its potential to spread in large groups, the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art is closed to the public effective Tuesday, March 17, 2020. All Programs, events, and classes will be rescheduled at a later date.

In an effort to support our communities in this time of non-gathering, the museum will continue to create online programming including art activities, lectures, and other educational materials in line with our mission. All of this content will be made available through our website and social media channels as it is developed.

[UPDATE 03/16/2020]

Good Morning,

In these uncertain times, we wished to reach out to you. The OOMA Board of Trustees and staff are closely monitoring the evolving developments in connection with the current health crisis. The well-being and safety of our patrons, staff, volunteers, families, and community remain a high priority to us.

All our galleries are currently open. Any changes to our schedule or programming will be posted on this page. and through social media channels. Please note that all hands-on materials have been removed from the galleries to create a touch-free environment. Any questions regarding hours of operation and programming should call 228.374.5547.

Visitors, as well as staff and volunteers, are asked to take the proper precautions as recommended by the CDC, which can be found here. Anyone who is symptomatic or has recently cared for someone affected should stay home.

During these challenging times, we at OOMA wish to offer the same educational and inspirational art experience to all of you. We remain hopeful that this current challenge will soon be in our collective rearview. Until then, be safe.

Updates to our policy regarding COVID-19 will be posted to this page.

Sincerely,
All of us at the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art

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The Third Annual Bubbles & Bonbons: What is Galentine’s Day?

What is Galentine’s Day?
 
According to the founder of Galentine’s Day, Leslie Knope of Parks and Recreation, “Oh, it’s only the best day of the year. Every February 13th, my lady friends and I leave our husbands and our boyfriends at home, and we just come and kick it, breakfast-style. Ladies celebrating ladies. It’s like Lilith Fair, minus the angst. Plus frittatas.”
Well, we’re kicking it a little early at our Third Annual Bubbles & Bonbons: A Galentine’s Day Affair on Friday, February 7th, 2020. Get your gal pals together and get your tickets now, because this is one event that WILL sell out! Presented by the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art and Gulf Coast Woman Magazine, Tickets are $25 and include Champagne sponsored by Fort Bayou Wine & Spirits, culinary delicacies from the best chefs on the Coast – such as Chef Austin Sumrall of White Pillars Restaurant and Lounge, entertainment by Symone French, red carpet photos with photographer William Colgin, and a Best Fun Dress Contest.
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Coastal Fashion Week and OOMA After Hours Event Spotlight

Coastal Fashion Week

Exalte’ Magazine has one mission, to bring together Fashion + Philanthropy.

Join us on January 20th as we continue to break the barriers of the typical fashion weeks with Coastal Fashion Week 2020, the only multi-state fashion week in the world. CFW’s 2020 will bring together the styles of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida in one week of fashion.

Coastal Fashion Week will showcase the most cutting-edge designers and high-style boutiques across the coast so get ready for a show you won’t forget!

Doors will open to the public at 6:00 PM, and the show will begin at 7:00 PM in the Mississippi Sound Welcome Center on the campus of the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art. Coastal Fashion Week will bring to you multiple runway shows and closing with a charity presentation Coats for a Cause, in which each model will walk the runway in a fashionable coat he/she will donate to a local organization. Tickets can be purchased via Facebook or Eventbrite.

 

OOMA After Hours

Charles Smith Ceramics

OOMA After Hours is The Ohr O’Keefe Museum of Art‘s evening centered around opening receptions and artist talks. It’s your chance to enjoy a glass of wine with our current exhibiting artists and see their art for free! Our current exhibiting artists are ceramicist Charles Smith, whose work is on display in the Beau Rivage Casino Gallery of African American Art, and mixed media visual artist Carmen Lugo, whose work is on view in the IP Casino Resort Spa Exhibitions Gallery. Also on view is the Mississippi Art Colony‘s annual group show on the second floor of our City of Biloxi Center for Ceramics. More info here.

OOMA After Hours will also host the opening of the second run of our World Through My Eyes program‘s exhibition featuring local students who worked with Carmen Lugo to create the works that will be on view in the Mississippi Sound Welcome Center. This will also be the first look at our second “pod” gallery. The Great Families of the Gulf Coast Gallery is part of the John S. and James L. Knight Pod Pavillion and will host the museum’s collection of Toshiko Takaezu ceramics. Funding for this gallery was provided by our Great Families of the Gulf Coast Campaign.

Carmen Lugo will also be giving an artist talk relating to her exhibition entitled “Animal.”

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Thank You for Your #GivingTuesday Support!

In the weeks leading up to last week’s Giving Tuesday on December 3rd, we asked friends of the museum to choose us as their non-profit of choice. Many of you answered the call! Thank you to all of our donors who helped us to reach over $1100 in donations. Your contributions will fund scholarships for children of low-income families to be a part of our Mud Daubers Summer Camp. The amount donated will help us sponsor six of our 6 to 9-year-old campers or four of our 10 to 14-year-old campers. Again, a heartfelt thanks to all of our Giving Tuesday Supporters.

Our Mud Daubers Summer Camp schedule this year starts on June 8th and runs for four weeks:

Week 1: June 8 – 12, Ages 6 – 9, $175 per camper

Week 2: June 15 – 19, Ages 10 – 14, $250 per camper

Week 3: June 22 – 26, Ages 6 – 9, $175 per camper

Week 4: July 6 – 10, Ages 10 – 14, $250 per camper

More info on this year’s summer camp theme coming soon so stay tuned to our web blog here, our Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter for updates.

Did you miss the chance to give on Giving Tuesday? Don’t worry because we’ve just kicked off our Year-end Giving Campaign! This campaign goes to our annual fund, which helps support everything from day-to-day museum operations, exhibition planning, educational programs for kids and adults, and much more. You can make a donation below or click here for more information.


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Members Get 20% off in the Museum Store During Martinis & Mistletoe Holiday Party

The Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art is celebrating our members this holiday season. Members receive a 20% discount on all transactions in our museum store on December 12th from 5 pm to 7:30 pm during our annual member holiday party. Members are encouraged to bring a friend and enjoy art, drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and music. Non-members are welcome with a $10 donation to the museum. Get a membership now and skip the donation!

OOMA’s museum store represents artists from all over the Southeastern US with a focus on ceramicists in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama. This holiday season, give the gift of art and enrich the lives of your family, friends, and neighbors all while supporting local artists. Happy Holidays from the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art family!

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Today is the Day to Make OOMA Your #GivingTuesday Choice and Support Summer Camp Scholarships

Giving Tuesday starts now! We’ve started our donor campaign on Facebook and all donations there will be matched by Facebook starting at 7 am today until they reach a $7M cap. You can also call us at 228-374-5547 or come visit us from 10 am to 5 pm today or click here to donate via our website.

Whether you give $5 or $500, every dollar you give will help fund need-based scholarships for young artists who will attend OOMA’s Summer Art Camp. Mud Dauber’s Summer Art Camp has been a Mississippi Gulf Coast institution for over 20 years and with your help, a few students may qualify for assistance to be a part of a wonderfully creative camp experience. Our art camp provides an opportunity for kids to think creatively, develop new skills, create narratives and experience new challenges. Campers will have adventurous experiences looking at, talking about, and making art. Activities include ceramics, painting, ecology, mixed media projects, and movement.

Summer campers discuss the art of John Barnes in the galleries at OOMA Summer campers discuss art in the galleries at OOMA  Summer campers enjoy an ice cream break A Mud Daubers Summer Camper shows off their artwork  A Mud Daubers Summer Camper shows off their artwork with Education Director Pamela Cevallos A Mud Daubers Summer Camper shows off their artwork A Mud Daubers Summer Camper shows off their artwork

OOMA Education Director Pamela Cevallos and Assistant Director accept the museum's 2019 PRISM Award for Excellence in Art Education.

OOMA Education Director Pamela Cevallos and Assistant Director Heather Rumfelt accepting the 2019 PRISM Award for Excellence in Art Education by the Mississippi Art Education Association on Friday, November 8th.

HOW TO OPTIMIZE YOUR GIVING:

  • CREATE your own fundraiser in support of OOMA. See below for a suggested narrative for your fundraiser.
  • SHARE our Facebook fundraiser with your friends.
  • TAG friends in the Facebook comment section that you think would be interested in supporting the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art.
  • POST a note or picture on your social media page and tag our Facebook, Instagram, and/or Twitter accounts telling friends why you support us.
  • FORWARD this page to those that may be interested in supporting our educational mission.
If you’d like to start your own fundraiser but don’t know what to say, copy and paste from below:
Hey friends! I’ve chosen to support The Ohr O’Keefe Museum of Art for my #GivingTuesday fundraiser this year. OOMA has supported art education on the Mississippi Gulf Coast for years and I’d love it if you would choose to support them with me. Any amount helps and donations made after 7 am CST on December 3rd will be matched by Facebook! Thank you for anything you can give!
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Martinis & Mistletoe is our Exclusive Party for OOMA Museum Members and Friends

You’re invited to share in the holiday spirit with the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art! Enjoy drinks, music, dancing, decor, and dine on cuisine from Chef Monti with us. This event is free to members and a plus-one with a suggested $10 donation for non-members. Give us a call to RSVP or for more info at 228-374-5547, or head on over to our Facebook page to let us know that you’re in for a fun holiday gathering.

If you’re not already a member, you can click here to view our membership page for full information and to purchase an annual membership. It’s the giving season, and what better gift than that of a connection to the world of architecture, art, culture, and community? Member benefits differ by level and apply to both individuals and businesses. With your membership, you will become a part of the legacy of George Ohr, the Mad Potter of Biloxi, as well as being among the first to find out about new and special exhibits,  entertaining events, interesting and enriching classes in our ceramics studio, and other art museum news!

The party is on December 12th, 2019, from 5 pm – 7:30 pm at the Mississippi Sound Welcome Center on the campus of the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art at 386 Beach Blvd, Biloxi, MS.

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