Artwork from Lori K. Gordon’s ‘Maghreb: Images of Morocco’ was featured at Gallery 220 during the ‘Morocco in Mississippi’ event in Bay St. Louis from noon until 7 p.m. Courtesy Lori K. Gordon
Biloxi Sun Herald, by Cecily Cummings — Special to the Sun Herald (April 24, 2013) — A taste of the exotic was in Bay St. Louis from noon until 7 p.m. with “Morocco in Mississippi,” a gala in Old Town Bay St. Louis to benefit Six Degrees Consortium and Starfish Café.
Amidst the authentic North African music and food tastings, the gala marked the premiere showing of Lori K. Gordon’s new series, “Maghreb: Images of Morocco.”
In 2011, she began exhibiting “Six Degrees,” a body of work inspired by trips to Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Haiti. “Maghreb” is the latest in the series and features photography, digital imaging, paper-and-fabric collage and acrylic painting techniques.
“During my travels, I was reminded once again of the notion that all people are at most six steps away from any other person on earth,” she said, adding she was amazed by that interconnectedness and its profound effects on human societies.
Gordon founded Six Degrees Consortium with its mission of enabling “the creation and dissemination of socially relevant artwork.” The organization is a registered Mississippi corporation and is awaiting the confirmation of nonprofit status.
“Morocco in Mississippi” took place on the 200 block of Main Street in Bay St. Louis and involved the participation of three businesses.
Gallery 220 hosted Gordon’s exhibition of “Maghreb.” Moroccan-inspired cocktails were offered to accompany the music of North Africa, and a henna artist was on site. Raffle tickets for a silk Berber carpet valued at $300 were also on sale.
Across the street at 213 Main, French Potager hosted a day-long Berber Market.
Treasures from Africa and the Middle East were featured, as well as signed prints of Gordon’s work.
Next door at 211 Main Street, the Starfish Café served a Moroccan meal for $10 a plate.
Sardine crostini, chicken with preserved lemons, tahini pasta and mint green beans were accompanied by mint tea, and a dessert offering of a figgy or fudge sundae was available for an extra charge.
Meal proceeds will benefit the café, which is a project of Pneuma Winds of Hope.
The Bay St. Louis-based nonprofit offers a 16-week restaurant training program for young adults to explore culinary arts; gain life skills through life coaching, financial literacy and GED; and learn from Pneuma community volunteers.
