Oysters in the Pass is a vibrant public art initiative spearheaded by Pass Christian Main Street to celebrate the city’s deep-rooted connection to the natural oyster reefs of the Mississippi Sound. This project has installed seventeen artistically painted oyster sculptures throughout downtown Pass Christian, enhancing the city’s cultural landscape and fostering community pride.
Each fiberglass oyster sculpture stands approximately 53 inches tall with a 36-inch base and weighs around 45 pounds.
Community members and businesses have sponsored these sculptures, playing a pivotal role in bringing this artistic vision to fruition.
By participating in Oysters in the Pass, both artists and sponsors contribute to a lasting legacy that honors Pass Christian’s historical ties to oyster harvesting while enriching the community’s public spaces with engaging and meaningful art.
Oysters in the Pass 2026
The Pass Christian Lighthouse 1831
Sponsor:
The Pass Christian Lighthouse Society
Artist: Amy Rose Bay St. Louis, MS
Description:
Land was purchased December 21, 1830, for $250 after the United States Congress authorized $5,000 for a lighthouse at or near Pass Christian. It was in completed in 1831 making the Pass Christian Lighthouse the first mainland lighthouse to be built along the Mississippi Sound (which extends into the waters off the coast of Alabama). The first lighthouse keeper was Robert A. Hiern, followed by Findley Hiern in 1839, then by Miss. C.A. Hiern in 1844. The light was only extinguished during the Civil War (1861-1866). Additional keepers (C.F. Johnson, 1865; Lawrence Hyland, 1871; Maria J. Reynolds, 1873; Sally A. Dear, 1874; Alice S. Butterworth, 1877) kept the light burning until 1882 when the decision was made to discontinue the lighthouse when trees and other structures obstructed the light. The light was officially extinguished in 1882.
A Day Well Spent
Sponsor:
The Seemann Family
Artist: Lee Wright, New Orleans, LA
Artist’s Statement:
Growing hearing stories of my grandmother’s and parent’s time spent on the Mississippi Sounds in cat boats, I wanted to capture those family memories in my design. The cat boat is special to the Gulf Coast because it was once the workhorse of the maritime industry and, later, a popular racing and recreational sailboat. It is fitting that it adorns the oyster shell because of the historic significance of both the oyster reefs and sailing in Pass Christian’s history.
Pelican Brief
Sponsor:
Shaggy’s Pass Harbor
Artist: Lucinda L’Enfant, Gulfport, MS
Description:
“Pelican Brief” adopts a surrealist perspective of life along the Gulf Coast. This oyster features a pelican seamlessly integrated into the sunset and water, accompanied by a shrimp boat, capturing the enchanted blend of nature and maritime culture.
Bird Is the Word
Sponsor:
Gulf Coast Prestresss Partners, Ltd.
Artist: Debora Morris, Gulfport, MS
Artist’s Statement:
What inspires me to paint the sea and beaches is the tranquility of the ever-changing ocean with endless possibilities. The beach scene depicted on this oyster was a natural study in dimensional perspective. As an artist, I have recently been drawn to perspective scenes.
Sandyman
Sponsor:
Da Elves of Pass Christian
Artist: Michelle Gibbs, Pass Christian, MS
Description:
From his humble beginnings in 2015 as a knee-high beach “snowman” brought to life by the ladies of Second Street, “Sandyman” has become the beloved ambassador of the Holidays in Pass Christian.
In the ten years since his debut, he has grown in both size and popularity. Now over twenty feet tall, “Sandyman” is much loved by all of the people who visit and take photos with him from all around the world every holiday season.
The Pass
Sponsor:
Traintastic
Artist: Shannon Lavinghouse, Long Beach, MS
Artist’s Statement:
The Pass will always be home to me! Growing up in Pass Christian was huge blessing in my life. My mother was an inspiration for this piece. She loved “The Pass” and “The Pass” loved her. She was an artist, a teacher, and an advocate for Pass Christian. The front of the oyster pays homage to her style as an artist. From hand-drawn fliers for local events to designing floats for The Pass Parade, she created with a style all her own! So, here’s to you Thelma Yockey – always my mom!
Oyster Reef Benefits
Sponsor:
PCYC Ladies’ Auxiliary
Artist: Dianne Rody, Pass Christian, MS
Description:
Oysters are crucial to the health of our Mississippi Sound and to oceans around the world.
Oysters provide crucial habitat for crabs, juvenile finfish, and many other marine creatures that hide and feed within the oyster reef.
When oysters spawn, their tiny swimming larvae provide a first food for marine larval finfish.
Oyster reefs provide a barrier to storm and tides and prevent erosion in nearshore habitats.
An oyster can filter up to fifty gallons of seawater a day, clarifying water and enabling sunlight to penetrate to sea grasses.
Pass Christian oyster reefs once paved our Mississippi Sound water bottoms all the way to Biloxi.
Oysters were a popular food for coastal native people who created large oyster middens (shell mounds) which can still be found along our coastline along with pieces of their pottery.
A Place You’d Want to Visit
Sponsor:
MS Dental Arts
Artist: Denise Hopkins, Pass Christian, MS
Artist’s Statement:
Lately I’ve been thinking about the lives we cultivate—not just through the endless tasks of daily living, but through the quieter work of tending our interior worlds. In this piece, the sunflowers growing from the figure’s mind symbolize that inner landscape. They represent the small, unseen seeds of hope, comfort, and imagination that, over time, have pushed through the shadows and finally bloomed. These flowers are the outward expression of an inner life well-nourished—so radiant and welcoming that even hummingbirds are drawn to them.
This sculpture invites me to consider what I’m cultivating within myself. It reminds me to prune away hatred, shame, and disconnection so that I can become someone in whom others feel safe, seen, and even joyful. I see this same spirit alive in Pass Christian—people quietly and consistently creating spaces of warmth, acceptance, and delight. Together, we are shaping a community that feels like a place you’d want to visit, maybe even stay awhile.
Nest in Peace
Sponsor:
Pass Christian Garden Club
Artist: Amanda Douglas, Audubon Delta – Mississippi Coastal Bird Stewardship Program
Description:
This design celebrates the interconnectedness of Mississippi’s coastal ecosystems through beach-nesting birds (Black Skimmers, Least Terns, and Wilson’s Plovers) seen along the mainland beaches and barrier islands in the spring and summer. Flowing elements of sand, sea, and sky weave the composition together, symbolizing the delicate balance that sustains both wildlife and community life along the Gulf Coast. A fishing vessel nods to the economic value of healthy coastal habitats, while a painted Pass Christian banner pays tribute to the town’s heritage and maritime charm. Native beach sunflowers (Helianthus debilis), inspired by a nearby dune restoration project, highlight the region’s resilient coastal flora. Through color, movement, and storytelling, the artwork honors the harmony between nature and people, reminding viewers of our shared responsibility to protect the Gulf’s natural and cultural treasures.
The Collector
Sponsor:
Pass Christian Olive Oils and Vinegars
Artist: Rachel Schwemin, Mobile, AL
Description:
“The Collector” captures the curious and playful spirit of the octopus, surrounded by treasures gathered from the sea. Cradling a glowing pearl on one side and raising a lantern on a curling tentacle on the other, this colorful character seems always on the lookout for the next fascinating find. the vibrant coastal imagery celebrates curiosity, discovery, and the unexpected treasures found along the way.
Resilience
Sponsor:
The Roberts Family
Artist: Jennifer Kayes, Pass Christian, MS
Artist’s Statement:
“Resilience” features a majestic live oak tree symbolizing strength, endurance, and the deep roots that hold us steady through life’s winds and storms. The back of the oyster features a colorful coastal marsh landscape, full of movement and reflection, celebrating the natural beauty and ecosystems tied to the Gulf Coast. Together, the images honor both the strength and beauty of our locale and the people who live in Pass Christian.
Legarde Hold and Protect
Sponsor:
The Joshua Schmitt Family
Artist: Kathleen Johnson, Long Beach, MS
Artist’s Statement:
This oyster is named for Chris Lagarde, a local environmental activist who died in 2024. Chris was an extraordinary man who cared deeply for the natural world around him. His oyster playground was out of that Pass Harbor.
The crab on this oyster represents Chris. It is holding and protecting the oyster just as Chris held and protected the natural environment of the Gulf Coast.
Music of the Sea
Sponsor:
Art in the Pass
Artist: Alina Axiom, Gulfport, MS
Artist’s Statement:
This artwork celebrates the beauty, spirit, and heritage of our coastal home. The front features a young woman playing the violin—her flowing hair and graceful form symbolizing harmony, diversity, and the interconnectedness of all people. The music she creates blends seamlessly into the world around her, capturing the light and energy of the Gulf Coast.
As the composition moves across the shell, this vibrant spirit transforms into a lively cornucopia of sea life—fish, crabs, starfish, and swirling currents—honoring the creatures and natural wonders that define our shoreline. These elements come together to meet a lighthouse, a beloved local landmark and guiding symbol of hope, safety, and resilience.
Like a wave traveling from one side of the shell to the other, “Music of the Sea” unites human expression with the magic of our coastal world.
Heron and Magnolia
Sponsor:
Joy and Jan van Meerveld
Artist: Helen Frazer, Pass Christian, MS
Artist’s Statement:
Growing up, I was taught to appreciate the beauty in nature that God has given us. I love the birds we have on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and the egret is my favorite to paint.
Catching the Big Fish
Sponsor:
Pass Christian Books/Cat Island Coffeehouse
Artist: Lucinda L’Enfant, Gulfport, MS
Artist’s Statement:
“Catching the Big Fish” draws inspiration from David Lynch’s (film maker and artist) unique approach to capturing and developing ideas, reflecting his innovative methods and creative process through meditation and self-reflection. The oyster features a woman with fish swimming out of her head, symbolizing a vivid flow of thoughts and creativity.
Wings of the Marsh
Sponsor:
Davis Drugs, Whiskey Prime, Parker’s, Inc, Pass Day and Froyo, SaraKate Boutique, Van Kirk Investments, Martin Hardware, Watters Architecture, Amy Wood Realty, Denise Hopkins Fine Art, Asian Paradise, Pass Ice Cream Parlor, MS Coast Realty
Artist: Jennifer Caspolich, Bay St. Louis, MS
Artist’s Statement:
I create textured acrylic paintings inspired by the natural beauty of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, especially the waters, skies, and wild marshes around Bay St. Louis, where I live. My work is all about capturing the laid-back, weather-worn charm of the coast – the feeling of salty air, shifting tides, and sun-bleached driftwood. I use thick layers of paint to bring in texture, echoing the grit and rhythm of the landscape, and I lean into vibrant colors to reflect the energy and spirit of this place.
This coast has a soul, and through my art, I try to reflect that – the peaceful, powerful presence of nature and the simple magic found in our everyday coastal surroundings.
Guardians of the Bayou
Sponsor:
AVAILABLE for SPONSORSHIP
Artist: Rebecca Pons, New Orleans, LA
Description:
“Guardians of the Bayou” celebrates the wildlife and mysterious beauty of the Gulf Coast wetlands. A graceful heron stands watch among towering cypress trees and shadowy waters as a great blue heron flys overhead and alligators glide quietly below. Rich colors and dramatic contrasts capture the wild, timeless character of the coastal bayou.
Contact Us
Have questions or want to get involved? We’d love to hear from you! Whether you’re interested in volunteering, sponsoring an event, or learning more about our programs, reach out and let’s connect.