Recently, Greg and I spent a weekend in Biloxi, MS with our friend Tim, and prior to arriving, as I always do when trip planning, I researched things to see and do (oh my gosh, so much! More on that later). What immediately captured my interest were the sculptures made from the remains of Live Oaks.

Hurrcane Katerina hit the Gulf Coast in August of 2005 and caused over 1800 fatalities, billions in dollars of damage, and is considered to be one of the five deadliest hurricanes to have hit the United States. The Gulf Coast’s natural spaces and places were also impacted, including dozens of Live Oaks, victims of the saltwater storm surge.

Biloxi’s Katrina sculpture project began in January 2007 when Mayor A.J. Holloway and Public Affairs Manager Vincent Creel spoke with Mississippi “chainsaw artist” Dayton Scoggins about sculpting marine-related figures from the dozens of standing dead trees in the median of Beach Boulevard in Biloxi.

“Scoggins’s initial five sculputres — a $7,000 investment for the city — inspired Fort Walton Beach, Fla, sculptor and frequent Biloxi visitor Marlin Miller to approach the city about donating his time and talent to sculpting more standing dead trees in the center medians in Biloxi”.

There are approximately 50 tree-sculptures along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, including the world’s largest eagle sculpture, standing at 17-feet-tall, located on Highway 90 in Pass Christian.

My friend Tim was kind (and patient) enough to drive along Highway 90 / Beach Boulevard, dropping me off at various places, and then coming back to get me. Imagine this: me dodging cars to cross the road and then standing amongst biting ants to capture these images. It was high noon so the photographic timing wasn’t the best, but I was in awe none the less. I captured some of the images up close, but others from afar so you’d be able to see the remains of the base of the trees.

These artists created egrets, seagulls, pelicans and dolphins, and seahorses, eagles, and herons.

I can only imagine the comfort these donated works of art offered to a devastated Gulf Coast.

If you are ever in Biloxi, know that these inspiring sculptures, created by generous artists, await to be viewed.