Fun Facts Friday!

Many of you might recognize Arnaudville from George's gorgeously abstract landscapes....but you might now know that Arnaudville is a thriving arts center and cultural district - full of studios, tax-free art shopping, and so many exciting projects on the horizon. We think it's safe to say George paints what he loves, and loves what he paints - so today we're featuring a few fascinating facts (and an accidental tongue twister!) about what else George is up to in Arnaudville!

Did you know that Arnaudville has one of only 63 Louisiana Cultural Districts? Arnaudville is part of the the Deux Bayous Cultural District, which is the only one in the state encompassing an entire town and two parishes, connecting governments, and creating an amazing tax-free shopping district for one-of-a-kind art purchases! 

Did you know that the NUNU-Arnaudville experiment, along with the Deux Bayous Cultural District, was recently awarded a Cultural Connection Award by the Lt. Governor's Office? The partnership model was featured in the Mayor's Institute on City Design Creative Placemaking study, a resource for mayors, arts organizations, the philanthropic sector, and many others for leveraging the arts to help revitalize the physical, social, and economic characters of cities and towns around the nation!

(From left: Larry Bourque, Rex Berard, Belinda Berard, Mavis Fruge, Erilda Arnaud, Loretta Borque, Girlie Olivier, Jill Hackney, Rita Marks, George Marks, and Lt Gov Jay Dardenne)

Did you know that NUNU Arts and Culture Collective, in partnership with the New Orleans French Consulate and Les Articulteurs, is planning all these exciting new programs for 2013?

·       La Semaine  Française, a French Cultural Economy Summit, Arnaudville and surrounding communities

·       Déchets to Design, a 3 year public art project that extends into schools and municipalities through-out St. Landry Parish in partnership with St. Landry Parish Solid Waste Disposal District and St Landry Parish Tourist Commission as well as Charier Enterprises in Brittany, France

·       Exhibit Photo du Teche, a competitive biennial photo exhibit down Bayou Teche in both St. Landry and St. Martin parishes, in partnership with the Yves Rocher Foundation and La Passerelle, both in La Gacilly, France

·       Music and musician exchange in partnership with Yves de France and Universite' Rennes 2

·       Literary exchange between the Baton Rouge Foreign Language Academic Immesion Magnet School, Arnaudville Elementary, and Lycee Beaumont in Redon, France.

Did you know you can get involved? Email Jill Hackney at jillhackneyartist@gmail.com

The sun down here...

During the summers in south Louisiana, the sun can feel like a ball of fire, huge and with a scorching heat. George has captured this perfectly with his sunset paintings - all the fiery goodness is right there on his panels. 

Rainy Days

It's been a bit rainy here in New Orleans (it is spring after all!), and if there's one thing rainy days make us appreciate, it's the effect beautiful lighting can have indoors when it's gloomy outdoors!

Dreary grey skies...

Clean, warm, well-lit indoors!

It's amazing how much brighter the lights seem to become when the skies darken.

The colors in Fifi's glass blown lamps change ever so slightly, becoming warmer - it's a cozy little gallery when the skies open up! 

So happy together...

We just love how amazing Fifi's lamps and vases look on Kathy's wooden St. Charles tables. A match made in heaven! 

The slight sheen on the finish creates the prettiest reflection!

In the mail!

We wanted to share some lovely event postcards that we've received in the mail lately - it's always fun to know what's happening along Magazine Street with our fellow gallery neighbors! 

First up is a joint exhibition at Sibley Gallery. Titled Dimensional, the show features artists Brent Houzenga and David Rex Joyner, and runs through June 12th. We took a sneak peek on the gallery's website, and the lines and technique of the works look so intriguing! 

Cole Pratt's latest show opened on June 2nd (runs through June 30th), and features artist Katie Rafferty in an exhibit titled About a Line. Her work is described as "richly variegated" with "familiar glimpses of local scenery"- we're anxious to get a glimpse in person after browsing the web!