Glenn Edward Miller at the 2011 Peter Anderson Art Festival in Ocean Springs,MS

 Over the weekend past we had the annual Peter Anderson art festival here in Ocean Springs, Mississippi,. I had the opportunity to go out and spend a bit of time looking around. I must admit that There seemed to be a little more arts and crafts this year than last year. I did not see as many factory made items and non arts and craft related merchandise this year.

 I spent a few moments talking with Glenn Edward Miller at his prominently located display. Mr. Miller is very well known and loved local artist that is best known for his vibrant depictions of local Gulf Coast sites. Glenn E. Miller is a life time resident of the Gulf Coast. He studied art and went to collage in New Orleans. For many years Mr. Miller was the man that raised and lowered the Back Bay drawbridge. When not operating the bridge he worked on many of his life sketches and studies.




Our shop South Coast Antiques & Gallery is located where the Old Henrietta's restaurant was located and was the subject for a number of Glenn Millers hand tinted etchings. One that I have had access to was titled "Henrietta's, the Hub of the Town".

Glenn Miller's art is the kind of thing that really appeals to anyone that has a love for the local area. Sadly, many of the buildings that Glenn has done etchings of have been destroyed by time, Katrina, and many by the desire to reshape Ocean Springs into a New Orleans type one stop party destination. A very sad thing in my opinion.

Ocean Springs has so many wonderful and quirky little buildings and between the whims of the storm Katrina and that of people that seem to want to rebuild the town from the ground up eventually only the prints of a visionary artist like Glen Edward Miller will allow the future to have a glimpse of what so many people loved about Ocean Springs. On that same note, I can only muse at the fate even of Henrietta's that is now South Coast Antiques & Gallery and used to be the Hub of the community!