Jeremy Hildreth
Driving from New Orleans to Mobile, I passed this work in progress on the Biloxi waterfront. Directly across from the broad white sand beach and down the main drag from a coming-soon Margaritaville hotel and casino, the construction site really stood out.
No surprise why: it’s an art museum designed by Frank Gehry which was 11 months away from opening when Katrina came along. Hurricane winds broke loose a barge and drove it into the nearly finished building. They’re putting it back together now.
I happen to like Gehry and I like his work. I also found myself agreeing with him — or was he unknowingly agreeing with me? — when he said last summer that the ‘Bilbao effect’ is “bullshit”.
Still, I like that the museum will house local art (mostly from a mad potter named Ohr), and I think the people of Biloxi should be proud to have an exciting building in their midst. Maybe Jimmy Buffet will wander over from Margaritaville and play at the grand opening.
