Alice Moseley Folk Art and Antique Museum facts for kids
| Established | 2004 |
|---|---|
| Location | 1928 Depot Way, 2nd Floor Bay St. Louis, Mississippi |
| Type | Art museum |
The Alice Moseley Folk Art and Antique Museum is a special place in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. It helps people learn about the amazing folk artist and painter Alice Moseley. A folk artist is someone who creates art inspired by everyday life and traditions.
The museum first opened in the "Blue House," which was Alice Moseley's last home. Her son, Tim, started it soon after she passed away. Later, in March 2013, the museum moved to the old Bay St. Louis Railroad Depot. This historic building is just across the street from the Blue House. You can visit the museum for free!
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Who Was Alice Moseley?
Alice Latimer Moseley (1909–2004) was often called Miss Alice. She was born in Birmingham, Alabama. She later moved to Memphis, Tennessee, during World War II. For 30 years, Miss Alice taught eighth-grade English.
How Alice Became an Artist
Alice started painting when she was taking care of her mother. Her mother had Alzheimer's, a memory illness. Alice painted her first 40 pictures using acrylic paints. She liked acrylics because they dried very fast. She said she was too impatient for slow-drying paints!
One day, Alice and her son went to a flea market in Nashville. She sold all 40 of her paintings in just 30 minutes! A man named Mr. Barr bought them to decorate his restaurants. That day, Alice Moseley became a professional folk artist.
Alice's Unique Art Style
Alice Moseley's paintings are special because they tell stories. They show what life was like in the Southern countryside a long time ago. Her art is also very funny! She had a great sense of humor and loved to show it in her work.
One art expert called her an "idyllic folk artist." This means her paintings showed not just what she saw, but what she wanted to see. Her art often made people feel happy and warm.
Some of her popular paintings include Life Is So Daily and The House Is Blue But the Old Lady Ain't. Another famous one is Labor Versus Management. This painting shows a farmer looking angry, while his mule sits down with a little smile. It's a funny picture that shows her playful side.
Later Life and Legacy
After her husband passed away, Alice moved to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, in 1989. She was 80 years old then. She said these years in Bay St. Louis were the happiest and most successful of her life.
Alice Moseley continued painting until she passed away in July 2004, at 94 years old. Her blue house in Bay St. Louis was very lucky. Even though it was only half a mile from the beach, Hurricane Katrina did not damage it in 2005.
Visiting the Museum
Alice's son, Tim Moseley, started the museum in 2006 after Hurricane Katrina. It was first in the blue house, but then moved to the historic train depot.
Visitors to Bay St. Louis love the museum. Guides, called docents, give fun and interesting tours. The museum is free to enter. It is open Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM. It's a great place to learn about a talented artist and see her amazing work!
