On a recent road trip to see family and friends, my husband and I happened upon an alley full of art with wit and whimsy, humor and charm. Located in downtown Hattiesburg, MS, Mart’s hometown and college town, this alley had picnic tables, touchable art, and hidden treasures for little people to discover. The anchor attraction was a tiny pocket museum.
“I’ve read about this,” Mart said, “but I wasn’t sure where it was exactly.” The pocket museum and the art around it were created during the shutdown—a gift of creativity and fun to the city and its visitors, young and old alike.
The museum is actually a window of a building that opens onto the alley. The window houses a rotating monthly exhibit, and when we were there, it displayed wooden nesting dolls and other tiny treasures offered in tribute to Ukraine.
Along with a handful of other people and some kids, we walked down the alley, pointing out the art and appreciating its quirky humor.
Under an artist’s brush, industrial-looking meters and gauges and other doo-hickeys took on new life.
A duck in a puddle of water took on an almost 3-D quality. (In fact, if I had been taller, this picture would look 3-D-er.)
The iconic purple door, yellow frame, and welcome mat from Friends made an appearance.
But the piece de resistance? A five-story parking deck showcasing a flock of dragonflies flying up into the sky—the mural created by Kelsey Montague Art. You may have seen her giant wings murals on social media.
Why all this effort, and why hide it away in an alley?
—Maybe to surprise and reward those of us who find it.
—To inspire kids to engage with art.
—To give us a break from the seriousness of life.
—To draw us in and make us laugh.
And if so, it worked. The kids weren’t the only ones who were delighted.
When is the last time you were delighted by art? When did you enjoy something unexpected? Let me know in the comments below.
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