Hometown History: 100 years of Gulf Coast Art Association
GULFPORT, Miss. (WXXV) — For a century, artists along the Mississippi Gulf Coast have helped shape the region’s cultural identity through creativity, collaboration, and community.
in this month’s edition of Hometown History we explore the 100-year legacy of the Gulf Coast Art Association as the organization celebrates its centennial year.
From its founding by pioneering local artists, to its lasting influence on generations of painters, sculptors, and creators, the association’s story reflects the rich artistic heritage that continues to thrive across the Gulf Coast.
Founded in 1926 by American impressionist William Woodward, the Gulf Coast Art Association was formed to promote the appreciation of visual arts in South Mississippi, and is considered one of the oldest art associations in the state.
Woodward is well known for his role in starting the Tulane University School of Art and organizing the Department of Architecture, but when he retired from Tulane, he settled in Biloxi. His artwork consisted mostly of paintings depicting New Orleans, French Quarter architecture, and occasionally the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
“He got over here in the early 1920’s. The group was started in 1926, and both he and his wife were artists. He passed away in 1939, but the group was well founded and very active by that time,” said Cindy Easterling.
The Gulf Coast Art Association counted some of the region’s most influential artists among its members, including George Ohr, Peter Anderson, and Josephine Alfonso, underscoring the organization’s lasting impact on the coast’s artistic legacy.
In fact, Alfonso remained an active member of the association for nearly 50 years before her death in 1989.
“She painted water colors, oils, acrylics, she did engravings, and did charcoal and graphite sketches, and she did everything from portraits to landscapes,” said Easterling. “She had that tie with Woodward — appreciating the past, and seeing how it still has carried through and has influenced art, architecture, and people.”
Now celebrating its 100th year, the Gulf Coast Art Association is home to a diverse community of painters, sculptors, photographers, potters, weavers, jewelry makers, educators, and other artists. Together, they continue the organization’s mission of promoting the visual arts and enriching the Mississippi Gulf Coast’s cultural landscape.
“So, we had a lot of high-powered artists here on the coast, and they kept things going. Now, we’ve sort of reorganized since Covid and trying to get some projects going again,” Easterling said. “But the big thing is for the members, that you have a group of people that you have common interest with. It’s just nice to have other people that understand where you’re coming from.”
The Gulf Coast Art Association will celebrate its official 100th anniversary in November. Cindy Easterling says the organization hopes to continue sharing the arts with the community, introducing gulf coast residents to local artists, and fostering connections among creatives for generations to come.
