Visiting art museums can offer many benefits, positively impacting your mental well-being, fostering creativity, and enhancing your understanding of culture and history. It’s also a fantastic way to support local economies and escape the summer heat while enjoying indoor entertainment. When you take your whole family, young kids included, to an art museum or gallery, you may inspire a next-generation artist.
Wren Moore, now six years old, first visited Mississippi’s Art Museum and fell in love with drawing when she was only three years old. Now, Moore is using her love of art to create art galleries of her work at home, helping others.
“My mommy and daddy taught me how to draw,” shared Moore. “I enjoy drawing my family, unicorns, rainbows, and cactuses.”
While Moore has never been to an art show, she has spent time at art museums with her family. But when asked what an art show is, Moore understood the purpose.
“An art show is where people look at your art and then give you money,” shared Moore. “And you can keep some or send it to someone else.”
When Moore came to her mom, Emily Moore, and wanted to host an art show at home, she encouraged her to consider donating the proceeds to a worthy cause.
“I wanted to give money to the babies in Haiti,” shared Moore.
Moore and her family have close ties to Potter and Clay Ministries. Her mother, Emily Moore, worked with the organization on video projects and visited Haiti to film, gaining firsthand experience of the work founders Rebecca and Jordan were doing.
Potter & Clay is a community-based ministry in Mare Rouge, Haiti, founded in Brandon, Mississippi.
Potter & Clay works with malnourished children and their families to find practical solutions that help prevent malnutrition in children and alleviate the burdens of everyday life. Their programs include water projects, an education initiative to keep children in school, and a formula program for babies who have no other nourishment.
Moore and her younger brother, Banks Moore, worked hard drawing and painting for several weeks. With the help of their mom, they transformed their living room into an art show, showcasing thirty-seven original Wren and Banks Moore pieces.
“My family, friends, neighbors, grandparents, and cousins all came to my art show,” shared Moore.
Moore used a “pay what you’re inspired to pay” method and ultimately raised $440 for Potter and Clay Ministries.
Moore has her sights set on another art show in the future and has no plans of slowly down drawing.
“I’m going to art camp this summer,” shared Moore.
Her mother, Emily Moore, shared, “All things considered, this was an easy task compared to some things kids want to do. And we are blessed with a lot of supportive family and friends and felt like people would enjoy coming to it.”
While you might have to wait to come to another of Wren Moore’s art shows, you don’t have to miss out on seeing fabulous art this summer. Mississippi offers a diverse range of art museums and galleries catering to art enthusiasts of all ages.
Mississippi Museum of Art: Located in Jackson, it is the state’s largest art museum, featuring a diverse collection that includes works by Mississippi artists and internationally acclaimed artists. It also includes an outdoor sculpture garden. Admission to the permanent collection is free.
Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art: Situated in Biloxi, this museum is dedicated to the ceramics of George E. Ohr, known as the “Mad Potter of Biloxi,” and also features other local and regional artists. The campus features unique buildings designed by Frank Gehry.
Lauren Rogers Museum of Art: Found in Laurel, it is Mississippi’s first art museum, established in 1923. It offers free admission and houses a variety of exhibits, including Native American baskets and American art.
Walter Anderson Museum of Art (WAMA): Located in Ocean Springs, the WAMA preserves the art of Walter Anderson, including pottery, sculpture, drawings, and other works. It also emphasizes the importance of lifelong curiosity and a connection to the natural world through art.
*Photos courtesy of the Moore family
