JACKSON, MISS. – Sept. 20, 2017 – As part of Mississippi’s bicentennial celebration, the Mississippi Arts Commission, in partnership with the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center, will present the photography exhibit “Customs on the Mississippi Coast” from Sept. 28 to Nov. 30, 2018, at the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center in Ocean Springs, Miss.

This exhibit is a curated showcase of photographs that highlights the variety of customary traditions practiced in the coastal region of the state. The four traditions featured in the exhibit include spoken word poetry at Da Wall Lounge in Gulfport, the Biloxi Second Liners Mardi Gras Club, the Blessing of the Fleet ritual as well as the customs of decorating graves and participating in mass on All Saint’s Day and All Soul’s Day in Bay St. Louis. Photographs featured in the exhibit are courtesy of L. Kasimu Harris and Debora Magee.

“The Mississippi Arts Commission is pleased to partner with the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center to present these photos that depict the unique cultural traditions of the people of Mississippi, traditions unique to our state that serve to enliven and unify our communities,” said Malcolm White, executive director of MAC. “An important part of our work at MAC is to document these traditions and make resources available to ensure their survival.”

The opening reception for the exhibit will take place on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2017, at the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center in Ocean Springs, MS. During the reception, representatives from each tradition will be present to share stories and educate the public about their traditional practices in a facilitated discussion.

This exhibit is sponsored by the Mississippi Arts Commission and funded through the support of the National Endowment for the Arts. This event is free and open to the public.

Contact:  Maria Zeringue | Folk and Traditional Arts Director | mzeringue@arts.ms.gov | (601) 359-6034