The Ohr-O’Keefe Museum’s “Katrina +10” exhibit, which has been seen by nearly 2,000 people since opening 10 days ago, will kick off its array of special events Thursday evening with a fast-paced presentation on April 2 that will examine the way things have changed since Hurricane Katrina.
On Thursday, from 6 to 8:30 p.m., the museum will host “How Katrina Changed Our Look,” a presentation that originally was to focus on local architecture but has now taken on more of a pre- vs. post-Katrina look at architecture, business, schools and other segments of Gulf Coast life.
“While we’ve broadened and improved the array of topics for this presentation, we’re still using an innovative way of presenting the information,” said Ohr-O’Keefe director Kevin O’Brien. “Our panelists will each use 20 slides and have only 20 seconds to talk about that slide. This format, which the American Institute of Architects refers to as a ‘PechaKucha,’ guarantees that will have a fast-paced and informative presentation.”
The session is free, but the museum suggests a $10 donation.
The presenters will be architects John Anderson, Allison Anderson and David Perks; Kevin O’Brien, Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art; Sonja Gillis, Lynn Meadows Discovery Center; Steve Phillips, WLOX; Corey Christy, Walter Anderson Museum of Art; Dr. Janice Johnson, Biloxi Public Schools; Brandon Boudreaux, Swetman Security; Christene Brice, Harrison County Election Commission District 4, and Romy Simpson, Negrotto’s Gallery.
The session is one of nearly 50 special events that the Ohr-O’Keefe has lined up as part of its six-month retrospective leading up to the Aug. 29 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.
The museum has a lineup of two dozen Friday luncheons – called “Hancock Bank Katrina Cafe” – where well-known community leaders will discuss the challenges of Katrina in their respective fields and how they overcame those challenges. This Friday, April 3, in a session titled “Historically Speaking,” Lolly Barnes, executive director of the Mississippi Heritage Trust, will speak to the tremendous number of historic properties that perished in Katrina and why there’s still reason to celebrate. Reservations: (228) 374-5547 or online at katrinaplus10.com/katrina-cafe.
Future Katrina cafes will include such speakers as Geroge Schloegel of Hancock Bank, former Bay St. Louis Mayor Eddie Favre, former Congressman Gene Taylor, former Biloxi Mayor Gerald Blessey, Biloxi Police Chief John Miller, Biloxi Fire Chief Joe Boney, tourism authority Linda Hornsby, and D’Iberville City Manager Bobby Eleuterius.
In “An Evening With,” the museum will present former U.S. Senator Trent Lott (April 8 at the Biloxi Civic Center), journalist Kathleen Koch (May 27 at the Ohr-O’Keefe), and former Gov. Haley Barbour (July 8 at the Biloxi Civic Center).
“We also have a number of outreach events planned, such as a bridge walk, an afternoon with the Hurricane Hunters, a Marlin Miller sculpture project, and discussions of the many issues facing the community,” O’Brien said. “Katrina +10 is not just about the emotional, multi-media exhibits we have everyday at the museum. It’s about engaging the community on a variety of relevant topics. Yes, we want people to see the exhibit, but we also want them involved in the conversation.”
See the Katrina +10 website
Make your Hancock Bank Katrina Café reservations
News and notes
Fabulous Thunderbirds: Keesler says more than 155,000 people attended the Keesler Air Show and Open house over the weekend. The event, headlined by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, also featured 16 other aerial acts each day and 27 static displays.
City Council: The City Council will have a special-called meeting Tuesday at 10 a.m. to discuss the recent amendment the MGM Park lease. The meeting will be at City Hall and is open to the public. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Biloxi City Council is Tuesday, April 7 at 6 p.m.
