Mardi Gras photography exhibit coming to Pensacola Museum of Art

A collection of Thompson’s black-and-white photographs, the exhibit documents 10 seasons of Mardi Gras celebrations in Mobile, Alabama, the birthplace of Mardi Gras in the United States. The images reflect parade participants and spectators, as well as the energy, mystery and vastness of the carnival.

“The Moonpies exhibit is a tribute to the people of the Gulf Coast and the annual Mardi Gras celebrations that are such a vibrant part of our culture,” said Raven Holloway, executive director of the Pensacola Museum of Art. “Warren Thompson is a regional artist who is well known in our community, and we look forward to sharing his work with museum visitors during the Mardi Gras season.”

A Florida native, Thompson has been a student and teacher of photography for many years and is responsible for developing the photography department at Pensacola State College. Of his street photography showcased in the Moonpies exhibit, Thompson said, “I thrive on the chance encounters that occur during the carnival season. Photographing in the street allows me to interact with the subjects as they are interacting with each other and the carnival procession.

“Signs, banners, and cryptic symbols come into dialogue with the people who flood the streets,” he continued. “The camera allows me to create relationships between all of these things, stopping a fleeting moment and documenting the ritual. These images allow me to share some of the emotion and mystery of Mardi Gras.”

Located at 407 S. Jefferson St. in historic downtown Pensacola, the Pensacola Museum of Art is open Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $7 for adults, and $5 for military with ID, seniors, and children ages 4-17. Admission is free for museum members and children ages 3 and younger.

For more information about the Pensacola Museum of Art, call 850.432.6247 or visit pensacolamuseum.org.