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WEDNESDAY, June 16,2004
O?Keene Documents
Alice Moseley
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Chris Snyder, Janie O?Keene and Alice Mosely
By Perry Berens
How do you pay tribute to one of the grand dames of Bay St. Louis? Ask Janie O?Keene. Saturday, May 29th O?Keene previewed a documentary based on the life of Alice Moseley. Moseley, a former eighth grade school teacher, claims teaching was her true contribution to this life. Only later, by sitting with her mother who had Alzheimer's, did she find her other talent, painting. She went on to achieve national acclaim for her exceptional tal-
ent in idyllic folk art.
Moseley will now have the opportunity to go back to school, but not as a teacher standing in front of a classroom; instead she will be part of an educational video that Janie 0;Keene produced.
O?Keene?s video documentary on Alice Moseley will be used in libraries and schools. The goal is to teach students and others the value of Southern heritage folk art and retain the art of storytelling.
The stories and testimonies on this video are filled with
local characters and former students telling their Alice stories. Beth Carriere of Hancock County Tourism, a champion of the good fight for bringing public awareness across the nation of the great talents and diverse culture Hancock County has to offer said, ? Alice Moseley is her own best work of art.? This documentary is filled with character building messages for the youth of today and shall serve as an inspiration to senior citizens, faculty, students and all who take the time to view this gem.
Jerry Dixon, owner of Serenity Gallery in Bay St. Louis, calls Moseley ?a very talented, hard working self promoter with a drive and stamina unmatched by most people.? O?Keene is of the same cloth. I met her shortly after The Focus was published with our first issue featuring Moseley on the front cover.
O?Keene came by our office and asked if we' could help pro-
mote her video on Moseley. We said we would be pleased to do as much as possible. O?Keene said she would mention us in the credits, and guess what, she was true to her word. It is interesting that in the video Moseley quotes a line from Shakespeare, ?To thine own self be true.? Moseley has accomplished this in her life and O?Keene has done an excellent job of bringing this wonderful personality to light We at the Focus are proud that real or imaginary, we were in our small way able to help O?Keene with her project, and we are equally proud we opened with such a gift in spirit as Alice Moseley. Moseley turned 94 on December 21st and as she says she was born ?just four day?s before Santa.?
You may purchase the video at Moseley?s studio, or www.DestinationVideo.org. Teachers study material can be downloaded at same web address.


Moseley, Alice OKeene-Documents-Alice-Moseley-Wednesday-June-16-2004
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