Andrews said that the employee at her desk was also from Mississippi. Andrews, a Starkville native and a former Oxford resident, moved to New Orleans in 2012 in order to continue his work in celebrating Southern art. The Ogden, which is located in the vibrant Warehouse Arts District of the city, was 13 years old when it opened. It had been in New Orleans’ Stephen Goldring Hall at Camp Street for only nine years. Andrews explained to Mississippi Today that the museum’s current staff and former staff are all from Mississippi. Andrews said that a lot of this is because the museum is close to the Mississippi State University, which was Andrews’ childhood home. Andrews was captivated by the college lifestyle as a child because his parents were both professors at Mississippi State University. Andrews said, “If you are interested in arts or culture, this is the closest art center of incredible magnitude of incredible history and of incredible consequence and an enormous amount of magnetism.” “I knew I wanted to attend the school of arts, and I was very fortunate to receive a scholarship. Although I looked at other schools, I felt a strong connection to the university and its department of art. Andrews spent time there and earned a degree. Andrews vowed to return the same feeling of community that Starkville gave him. Andrews recognized the need for places to bring people and art together. After graduating from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor in Fine Arts, he established Main Street Gallery in his hometown. He said, “I was passionate about the place art and people meet.” Andrews also received his Master’s in Fine Arts from the university. He went on to be the director of MSU McComas Art Gallery. In 2009, Andrews moved to Oxford and assumed the directorship of the University Museum and Historic Houses. Andrews took over his current role at the Ogden two years later. According to the Ogden’s website, it is a museum whose mission it is “to increase the knowledge, understanding and interpretation of the visual arts, culture and history of the American South through its events and permanent collections, changing exhibits, educational programs and publications. Andrews used to joke about New Orleans being the capital of Mississippi when he was growing up. Andrews spent a lot of time exploring and visiting the sunken city. It is a popular destination for creatives from the south, particularly those who are originally from Mississippi. Andrews, a Mississippi native, would often make trips to New Orleans Museum of Art or the Contemporary Arts Center. Andrews seemed to be able to seamlessly merge the cultures of both Louisiana and Mississippi, no matter where he was located. He said, “An interesting event occurred.” “After I graduated, Roger Ogden, a collector, was lending his collection to the [MSU] university galleries. I worked on that project. This is what brought me to art of the American South. It was a unique classification that allowed us to talk about our past and present. Andrews believes that the museum shines a spotlight on artists, particularly those from the South, but it is important to include work from other countries, especially if it is relevant to its mission. He said, “Socially and politically, you hope people invest in the right thing. In Mississippi, that is other people.” Basquiat was born and raised in Brooklyn. Although he had visited New Orleans, he had never lived in the American South. The entire work was about the history and culture of the South. Andrews notes that Mississippi is more spread out than Louisiana and may not have the same world-renowned city that serves artists as the Big Easy. However, the Mississippi River has seen many forms of art from the state and they have contributed greatly to New Orleans’ culture. Andrews stated that New Orleans is a place where culture just kind of coagulates at its end and accumulates, and this tradition has been in existence for decades and even centuries. You’ll find a lot of the same things you see in New Orleans as in the Mississippi Delta. Many of the things you will see in Piney Woods you’ll also see in New Orleans. Many of the things you see in North Mississippi Hills will still be seen in New Orleans.” Andrews says that there aren’t many things that can completely separate his Mississippi home from his home in New Orleans. Andrews shared one thing between the two places: a strong sense community. Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today. Report For America. Andrews has worked hard to maintain that sense community, but he also accepts the challenge of helping others to feel the same. He stated that everyone wants to live in a place of prosperity, even if it’s not for all their places. It’s something that is very important. You hope that people invest in the right things, both politically and socially. In Mississippi, this is people. Andrews says that you want communities that are good and healthy for everyone. Communication is key. Communication is essential. It takes genuine interest in the community to be able to communicate. To have an authentic interest and connection in the community, one must be open to possibilities and opportunities.” This story is exclusive to The ExPat, part Mississippi Today’s Mississippi ExPats Project. To receive this newsletter, click the button below.