5 Sep 2023

Acadiana Fibershed Meeting

2023-09-22T16:26:12-05:00

Acadiana Fibershed and Acadian Brown Cotton invite growers, artisans, and textile lovers of all kinds to meet on Saturday, October 7 from 1pm–5pm at the St. Landry Parish Visitor Center located just outside of Opelousas at 1-49, Exit 23.

This nonprofit group is comprised of farmers, fashion activists, and makers developing regional regenerative fiber systems that rebuild the soil and are paving the way for a new textile economy.

This event is open for the public to attend and see demonstrations and exhibits featuring cotton, wool, angora, hemp, roselle, and natural dye plants.

DEMONSTRATIONS

Weaving       Suzanne Chaillot Breaux

Spinning      Darcy Fabre

Mending      Meagan Phipps

Botanical     Eliza Wapner

Dying            Rebecca Baker

Crochet        Emma Guidry

VENDORS

Jan Williams                                   Homegrown/made soap          

Ultima’s Nest                                  Botanical dyed clothing, vintage jewelry

Eliza Wapner                                  Botanical dyed clothing

Suzanne Chaillot Breaux              Fiber art, handwoven scarves and runners

Jennie Lallande                             Roselle Hibiscus products

Joan Musemeche                         Acadian Brown Cotton towels, napkins

Acadian Brown Cotton               Posters, pins, yarn, roving, DVD ABC documentary film

PRESENTERS

Sharon Gordon                              Donnan Acadiana Fibershed

Devin Wright                                 Farm Bill Sproutnola

Jennie Lallande                             Regenerative Agriculture

Jordon Masters                             Micro mill video

Samii Kennedy-Benson               USDA Grant for feminine hygiene products

Ph.d Southern University

Darcy Fabre                                    Weaving ABC video clip

Meagan Phipps                              Mending

Eliza Wapner                                 Using  natural dyes

Rebecca Baker                               Growing and using natural dyes

Clementine Cooper                      New programs at Sacred Heart Academy

Randon Dufrene                           Small farmers recruitment

Suzanne Chaillot Breaux           Fundraiser and Auction

Acadiana Fibershed Meeting2023-09-22T16:26:12-05:00
3 Mar 2023

“Still Rising: Free People of Color” Exhibit Presentations

2023-04-19T13:48:47-05:00

In celebration of the Opelousas Museum & Interpretive Center‘s newest exhibit, Still Rising: Free People of Color in St. Landry Parish, a series of presentations will be held at the museum on Saturday, April 1 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The presenters will provide in-depth information on the exhibit.

The presentations include:

  • The Life and Times of Martin Donato, Etha Simien Amling
  • History of St Ann Catholic Church in Mallet: 1856 to the present, Vivian Broussard Guillory
  • Origins of Free People of Color, Alex Lee
“Still Rising: Free People of Color” Exhibit Presentations2023-04-19T13:48:47-05:00
3 Mar 2023

“Still Rising: Free People of Color” Exhibit Unveiling

2023-03-23T11:52:10-05:00

On Thursday, March 30, the Opelousas Museum and Interpretive Center will host a reception to unveil their new permanent exhibit, Still Rising: Free People of Color in St. Landry Parish. The scholars who created the exhibit will give brief presentations as visitors enjoy the display. The event takes place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

St. Landry Parish had the second largest population of Free People of Color in Louisiana, outside of New Orleans. This community shaped culture, economy and other aspects of the region in the pre-Civil War era. Through images, text, maps and a timeline, the display will describe lifestyle, trades and culture of Free People of Color from the 1700s to the present. The exhibit also explores how despite a precarious situation—free but with social restrictions—they thrived, leaving a legacy that echoes in our lives today.

In addition to the unveiling, on Saturday, April 1 there will be a series of presentations by the scholars who helped create the exhibit. Learn more about that event here.

“Still Rising: Free People of Color” Exhibit Unveiling2023-03-23T11:52:10-05:00
1 Mar 2023

Creole discussion led by Charles Larroque

2023-03-23T11:34:24-05:00

This Créole, dans tous ses états or Creole discussion will be held at Saint-Luc French Immersion Campus in Arnaudville and led by Charles Larroque, a bilingual freelance writer and educator specializing in foreign languages and social studies.

The public is invited to pick the brains of a distinguished panel of guest speakers including John Lafleur, Oliver Mayeux, Paul Cluse, and others at this free event.

Sponsored by Rotary Opelousas Sunrise and Saint-Luc Satellite Club.

Creole discussion led by Charles Larroque2023-03-23T11:34:24-05:00
10 Feb 2023

Student Arts Expo

2023-07-21T12:10:06-05:00

Acadiana Center for the Arts announces its latest expansion of programming with an all-new St. Landry Parish Student Arts and STEAM festival on Saturday, March 4, 2023 from 10am-3pm, at the Courthouse Square in Downtown Opelousas.

The free festival is a celebration of student-artists in all artistic disciplines from every corner of St. Landry Parish. The event features outdoor performances from school bands, choirs, and performance classes, art exhibitions in businesses and outdoors, hands-on art activities for families, and a student artist market where you can purchase original artwork and crafts directly from the artist.

A live spoken word competition Poetry Out Loud will take place at the Delta Grand Theatre, featuring a juried panel and competing student poets from across the state. The winner of the competition will go on to participate in the National Poetry Out Loud competition in Washington, DC in May.

“AcA fills an important gap in St. Landry Parish schools by ensuring that every student has access to elevating and eye-opening experiences in the arts throughout their time in school,” said AcA Executive Director Samuel Oliver. “This event is a celebration of AcA’s partnership with the St. Landry Parish School Board, which has flourished over the past 5 years and benefitted every student and school in the parish.”

“It is well documented that key factors in education are significantly impacted by arts programs like ours: social and emotional development, building important skills like creativity and communication, and simple reductions in truancy because young people are much more eager to engage in positive
learning experiences in the arts,” said St. Landry Parish Superintendent Patrick Jenkins.

Student Arts Expo in Opelousas is a partnership between Acadiana Center for the Arts and St Landry Parish School Board with support from Opelousas Main Street, Opelousas Downtown Development District and St. Landry Parish Tourism.

Find more information and a detailed schedule and map of the activities at AcA’s website.

About AcA

As the community leader in arts and culture, the Acadiana Center for the Arts (AcA) serves to bring elevating arts experiences to the people of Acadiana through many approaches including holding public concerts, presenting art exhibitions, providing grants to artists and cultural organizations, and bringing artists into schools across the region. AcA brings equitable access to the arts through year-round education and outreach activities and aims to build a more sustainable cultural ecosystem for future generations in Acadiana.

Student Arts Expo2023-07-21T12:10:06-05:00
1 Feb 2023

Meander Mindset Reception & Book Release

2023-02-01T11:58:38-06:00

In partnership with The Acadiana Center for the Arts, the St. Landry Parish Visitor Center located just outside Opelousas opens its doors for ArtSpark grant recipients to display their work in dynamic exhibits.

On display throughout the month of February is Kristie Cornell and Marla Kristicevich’s project Meander Mindset: Bayou Teche. The project is the culmination of these two artists’ efforts to create a conversation between people and the environment through the exploration of waterways. Together they meandered the Teche collecting organic samples, and making photographs, textural rubbings, audio recordings, and eco sculptures along the waterway. These collected materials and works create a visual narrative of the artists’ findings and encourage the viewer to reevaluate their connection to the natural world and to take the time to observe and appreciate their surroundings.

February 25th at 1 pm, is your chance to meet Kristie Cornell and Marla Kristicevich right here at the center. The reception will also serve as their book release party for the publication printed in conjunction with their exhibit.

Meander Mindset Reception & Book Release2023-02-01T11:58:38-06:00
5 Jan 2023

Life Drawing at NUNU

2023-10-03T14:06:58-05:00

NUNU’s Arts & Culture Collective in Arnaudville is the go-to destination for creatives in the area. They have plenty of workshops and cultural tables throughout the month. Every Tuesday, they offer Life Drawing Sessions from 6pm-8:30pm where you can study the anatomy of the human form from live models, a subject that has inspired artists for millennia.

NUNU members get to use the space for free, but non-members are required to pay a $10 facility usage fee. Members and Non-members must pay a $10 fee directly to the model.

Life Drawing at NUNU2023-10-03T14:06:58-05:00
29 Dec 2022

Cyanotype Workshop

2022-12-29T16:15:10-06:00

NUNU’s Art & Culture Collective in Arnaudville is hosting a Cyanotype Workshop on January 7 from 10am-3pm.

Cyanotypes are one of the earliest photographic processes dating back to the 1840s. In this workshop on Saturday, you’ll create an 11″ x 14″ print using 3D objects, namely plant material, placed upon a chemically treated photo-sensitive substrate. This is your chance to bring botanicals, book pages, jewelry, or any other 3-D object to create amazing deep blue images.

The completed frame pieced will be included in a group show that will hang in Le Coin Coin Gallery throughout the month of January with an artist reception on January 14th, 11 AM-4 PM, during the monthly Deuxime Samedi Open House.

The workshop is $160. You can find ticket information and more event details here.

Cyanotype Workshop2022-12-29T16:15:10-06:00
29 Dec 2022

Martinique Mask-Making Workshop

2023-01-25T16:24:00-06:00

From February 10-13 at NUNU Arts and Culture Collective in Arnaudville, Louisiana, you can attend a Martinique-style mask-making workshop. Jean-Luc Toussaint and Vanessa Guy are your guides as they compare and contrast practices found around the world including styles from Martinique and Acadiana.

Students will learn the beginning skills of modeling, constructing, and painting and will be encouraged to create masks that celebrate their true identity so that participants can say, “this, is who I am.”

Students will have access to sewing machines, a laser cutter, a 3D printer, and more. Finally, the workshop will be peppered with French and Creole languages.

NUNU Members will pay $150 + tax and processing fees while non-members will be billed an additional $300 on the day of arrival or provided with an opportunity to become a NUNU member.

You can find more event and ticket information here.

Martinique Mask-Making Workshop2023-01-25T16:24:00-06:00
1 Nov 2022

Drawn to Grow Exhibit Reception

2022-11-01T10:36:23-05:00

Join us at the St. Landry Parish Visitor Center at Exit 23 right off of I-49 to view Kelli Foret Richard’s most recent work, Drawn to Grow. This exhibit of 57 illustrations is a statement on the 57 years left of farming the region has until it reaches desertification. The exhibit is both emphasizes the importance of agriculture to Louisiana and a call to action for better farming practices. Hear from the artist herself at the reception on Saturday, November 5 from 1pm-4pm at the visitor center right outside of Opelousas.

Drawn to Grow Exhibit Reception2022-11-01T10:36:23-05:00
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