The artists in Hancock County, Mississippi are resilient to say the least. First, Hurricane Katrina knocked them flat and now a sleet and ice storm has delayed their kick off event for a series of national shows. “Hearts for Art,” a one-night event at the William J. Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock Ark., was called off due to an unexpected winter storm. The event, which was scheduled for Feb. 18, has been re-scheduled for March 11.
The “Hearts for Arts” event was planned as a “Night for Arkansas to support to Mississippi’s Katrina Artists” by Claire Haun. Haun, who is vice-president of The Arts, Hancock County, had evacuated to Little Rock with her husband and mother after the hurricane. Even though they are permanently settled in Arkansas now, Haun has not relinquished her ties to the arts community on the Gulf Coast. Although she and her family lost everything in the hurricane, she decided to focus on the plight of the 200 artists in Hancock County, most of whom she knew personally.
She realized that most artists had lost not only homes, studios, inventory, supplies and equipment in Hurricane Katrina; they lost the opportunity to show and sell their work. Bay St. Louis, named as one of the “best small art towns in America” by USA Today, was decimated -- losing all but one gallery. She knew that if the artists could not begin to get back to work, if they could not sell their work, then an exodus would begin.
One problem was solved when a shipment of art supplies arrived in Bay St. Louis. Artist Carole Pigott, originally from Mississippi and now living in Santa Fe, N.M., solicited donations of art supplies to bring to the Gulf Coast. Artisans, a well know supplier in New Mexico, donated a wide variety of art supplies worth approximately $40,000. This provided artists with the tools to get back to work.
The idea for a series of traveling art shows was born and Haun began planning the kick-off event. Even though the Clinton Presidential Library had never hosted an art show, even though everyone told her it would be impossible, she knew that if it could happen it would bring national attention to the artists and their needs.
In a matter of weeks, she did the impossible: procuring the presidential library, enlisting the support of the Arkansas Arts Council, the Arkansas Art Center, the Hot Springs Documentary Film Institute, the Mississippi Arts Commission, the North Little Rock mayor’s office, the THEA Foundation and more. A date was set and she secured grants and donations for everything from printing to catering, from airfare for the artists to shipment of the artwork. She arranged host families for the artists, a luncheon and special tours.
20 artists selected
Meanwhile, on the coast, invitations went out to local artists who either had work from before the storm or who had produced new work since the storm. A juror selected the best work to represent the arts in Hancock County. Twenty artists were chosen, among which were nine painters, four sculptors, a photographer, a printmaker, a mosaic artist, two mixed media artists, a pen and ink artist and an assemblage artist.
The one thing that Haun could not arrange to perfection, however, was the weather. The artwork arrived on Thursday and the artists arrived on Friday. The show was set up, everything was going according to plan when an ice and sleet storm blew in late that night. Early Saturday morning it was announced that the Clinton Library, as most of Little Rock itself, would be closed due to the ice storm.
Not to be outdone after all the effort involved, Haun quickly consulted everyone involved and came up with a new plan. The show would be rescheduled, the artists would return and the event would receive even more attention. Additional art by the 20 artists would be featured at the Arkansas Art Gallery and the Oval Art Gallery on Friday, March 10, which coincides with the local Art Walk. Then on Saturday, March 11, the “Hearts for Art” champagne reception and art show is scheduled to take place as originally planned. Tickets purchased for the original date will be honored and additional tickets are available for the March 11 event can be purchased through the Hot Springs Documentary Institute, ( 501) 321-4747.
Thanks to countless volunteers, sponsors and one very tenacious redhead, the show goes on!
For more information, contact Claire Haun at 501-812-4781 or HAUN1@aol.com.
Half past apocalypse
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Artists have learned through thick and thin to be advocates for themselves, their work and the work of others. What an amazing story of someone who is the "Mother of all Arts Advocates"! Congratulations and break a leg on the 11th!
Cassandra, Simsbury, CT (Sent Feb 20, 2006 8:23:28 PM)
i'm not an artist...but ice storms suc*...we had this same storm...not neerly as bad as A.K.or T.N. our bad ones came in 94 and 96....i feel for those folks...cause i do know what thats like...but i don't know what it would be like to lose everything to a hurricane....bless ya'll
andy,booneville ms. (Sent Feb 20, 2006 10:04:26 PM)
Gwen, how do we take advantage of the art supplies that were donated?
DeNeice Guest, Waveland, MS (Sent Feb 21, 2006 9:44:08 PM)
Is there a way to showcase any of the artwork online - perhaps through this site? I can't travel to Little Rock, but I'd love to see the work and possibly support the artists.
Jana, Racine, WI (Sent Feb 24, 2006 9:10:37 PM)
last summer, we visited a train, here in cleveland, ohio. It was a traveling Indian's art train. You guys need a Katrina train to go around to the major city's and have it filled up with your art.
connie mccabe (Sent Feb 27, 2006 6:07:10 PM)
Hi,
Claire Haun is my best friend and an x teacher from many years of Moore Career College in Meridian, MS. She is an inspiration not only to the Arts but to every student that she taught in years past. She is one marvelous person.
Lynn Frazier
Leesburg, Florida
Anderson, Indiana
Lynn Frazier (Sent Mar 1, 2006 10:24:56 PM)
As I sit here and read your story about the storm's and knowing of the devestation that Katrina caused tears rolled down my face as I said a prayer for you and the wonderfull thing you are doing for the artist. I live in Arkansas and wish you all the best. Glad to have you for a neighbor.
Sheila Williams, London, Ar. (Sent Mar 2, 2006 6:47:56 PM)
hey Gwen, i live in northern M.S. and i think spring has sprung!!!...good luck in Arkansas...i HOPE bad weather has passed...travel should be safe by now
andy,ms (Sent Mar 3, 2006 10:50:20 PM)
I hope you made to Little Rock....have a good time ....for a change....let us know when ya get back
andy,ms (Sent Mar 11, 2006 2:26:45 AM)
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