Baton Rouge and Hanukkah

I spent two wonderful Hannukah evenings in Baton Rouge with artist Jacqueline Dee Parker and her husband cellist/sculptor Dennis Parker.  Along with the two delicious meals cooked by both of them and the family, each evening included a tour of Dennis' studio/workshop where he makes sculptures from old cellos, violas, violins and found objects and Jacquie's art studio where she creates collages, paintings and poetry. Both artists used old and cast off items as the basis of their work and both create visually striking objects from them. It is interesting to see the contrast of their two studios, one cluttered and one very organized and orderly.  

Both Dennis and Jacquie are quite prolific and always working on multiple projects.  It is wonderful to see the artwork in their studios each time I visit.  

The artwork in Dennis' studio was quite different than what I had seen before. Large dramatic sculptures of birds in motion have joined the quirky music boxes and elegant tables and lamps.  Jacquie had new works in progress in her studio as well but they were not quite ready to be unveiled. Below are some recent works from a series with more detail and softer neutral colors.  Her new works are bold and vibrant with small elements and details running through the blocks of flat bright color. 

Rites of Passage

Open Gates Tender Hours

More examples of Jacquie's work can be found at http://www.jacquelinedeeparker.com/. 

Dennis made a stunning custom menorah for Matt and me.  We have two of Jacquie's collages hanging in our house.

Dennis Parker in his workshop.

Sculptures and materials on every surface.

One of Dennis' purses made out of violin parts and ephemera.

June, July, August, September, October, November, December

I realized today that I started this blog about 6 months ago.  After multiple trips to and through Louisiana, I am getting a clearer idea of what the final work for this project will be like.

I have been struggling with the parameters of different aspects of the project such as how many portraits do I need to create a feel of the state and properly represent the people here?  Should I count a couple or family as one portrait or multiples if I use 2 portraits per Parish as my structure for collecting images and recordings?  Do I title the portraits with first and last name and city or just first name and Parish, very specific vs slightly more anonymous? Should portraits of architecture, land and animals be included in the idea of portraits?  How do I create a realistic image and impression of this large area of land and variety of personalities from parish to parish? Answers to the questions that I have are slowly developing as I meet more people and travel around the different regions of Louisiana.

I had some wonderful days in N. Louisiana collecting recordings of people and ambient sounds from the lakes. I encountered the very friendly brahman cattle below and the wonderful creativity of the anonymous artist who created the Christmas car above. I started to collect photographs and recordings of residents in this area impromptu. Previously I had made appointments with people and had at least briefly met or corresponded with them.  

I am constantly amazed by the friendliness and generosity of the people of Louisiana.  Some people are too shy to let me take their photo or they will let me take their photo and not record them or vice versa.  I will accept what they are comfortable sharing and do my best to represent them with honesty and respect.

Going South Along the Levee and Papa Noel

From Baton Rouge south to Houma taking two different roads and at different times of the day.  

On the first trip, my friend Karen Marrero and I drove south on highway 44 to see the building of the bonfires along the levee for Papa Noel.   We started the day with breakfast at the Cajun Village - open faced beignet and cafe au lait. We drove along the Mississippi along highway 44.  We drove past Hymel's Restaurant. We have plans to go back to Hymel's next time. 

We visited a few churches along the way.  Unfortunately, it was raining so we were not able to talk to any of the builders of the bonfires but were able to take a few photos.  On the return trip we drove back towards Baton Rouge on 18 past some of the big plantation houses, stopping only at Laura Plantation because of the rain. 

On the levee, St. James Parish

St. Mary's Chapel on 44

Stained glass inside of St. Michael's at Vacherie

Chapel at St. Michael's

The Sunshine Bridge being painted and partially covered in December 2014

A little background from Wikipedia about the Sunshine Bridge: 

During the "Bridge to Nowhere" controversy over the Alaskan Gravina Island Bridge which emerged in the 2008 United States Presidential Election, the Sunshine Bridge again entered parlance as having been itself a Bridge to Nowhere, recalling the fact that it had been named by Governor Jimmie Davis.^[2] At time of construction it was the only bridge across the Mississippi between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, but for some time after its construction while awaiting funds to connect it to LA 70 and other roads, the south end of the bridge emptied into a swamp. During that time the term Sunshine Bridge entered satirical usage. The bridge had been "built under the administration of" Governor Davis, who had twice picked and sung his way into the Governor's Mansion with hits like "You Are My Sunshine" and whose horse, which he rode into the Governor's office at his second inaugural, was named Sunshine.

There is now another bridge over the Mississippi between the Sunshine Bridge and New Orleans, the Gramercy or Veterans Memorial Bridge. 

Going Through Ruston, Vienna, Dubach, Lisbon, Weldon, Summerfield and Homer on a Winter Afternoon

Yesterday I spent the afternoon driving through parts of Lincoln and Claiborne Parishes.  Below are a few places that I was able to photograph before the light disappeared in the late afternoon.  I would like to go back to this area to photograph.  There was an interesting mixture of old churches, bars and liquor stores along these roads as well as beautiful homes and fields. In Summerfield, I spoke to two people who were painting and helping to renovate Palmer's store which was built in 1916.  It looks like an interesting project.  I hope to be able to find out more about the store and the family later.

In Weldon.

Moon's and the two churches above in the Summerfield area.

Maritzky's Clothing Store, now home to the Chamber of Commerce and the Ford Museum in Homer.

National Wildlife Refuges and Parks in Louisiana

The state of Louisiana has:

19 State Parks • 2 State Forests • 2 State Historic Sites
22 State Wildlife Management Areas • 3 State Wildlife Refuges • 1 National Forest
2 National Historic Parks • 2 National Wildlife Areas • 9 National Wildlife Refuges

For a complete list go to the state parks website. So far, I have driven through part of Kisatchie National Forest and the Black Bayou Lake Wildlife Refuge. There is so much to see here in Louisiana.  Broad, gorgeous expanses of land.  

Today I plan to go to the Upper Oauchita National Wildlife Refuge and the Lake D'Arbonne State Park. Both of these areas are home to migrating ducks and geese and a myriad of other animals as well as contributing to the reforestation projects in Louisiana.

Photo above of the Upper Oauchita National Wildlife Refuge by Steve Haase.

Winter is the Season for Camellias

Camellias are blooming everywhere in Louisiana.  The Camellia Preserve on Avery Island is a great place to see them, approximately 450 varieties of them. 

See this article from the 2011 New York Times by Kate Murphy.   Photography by Sara Essex Bradley for the New York Times.

Bonfires in South Louisiana

I am making plans to drive along the River Road in South Louisiana next week. Destination Lutcher and other places between Gonzales and Houma that build bonfires for Christmas eve to guide Papa Noël  to their communities. 

Would love to be there Christmas eve when the bonfires that look like boats, trees, trains and New Orleans Saints helmets will be set ablaze.  Maybe next year.

Bonfire photo by Hugh Lambert who has written a wonderful description of Cajun Christmas traditions. 

Hattiesburg and The Arts Council

I took a detour from my trips in Louisiana to Hattiesburg, MS where the first exhibit of the Louisiana Portrait Project will be in the spring of 2016.  The Hattiesburg Arts Council is housed in the Hattiesburg Cultural Center, an old library with beautiful gallery spaces on the second and third floors.  

Hattiesburg is a wonderful city and among other interesting things the home of the Fay B. Kaigler Children's Book Festival.  The city of Hattiesburg is a wonderful supporter of the arts.  HAC director Rebekah Stark Johnson and her staff Alehandro Wooten and Abigail Lenz Allen run multiple gallery spaces and teach classes. 

I had the pleasure of walking around downtown Hattiesburg and visiting different art spaces, restaurants and shops.  I recommend Southbound Bagel and Coffee for bagel sandwiches and giant cups of espresso.

Southbound Bagel and Coffee

Rebekah Stark Johnson in a classroom in a rehabbed building in downtown Hattiesburg.

The work of a beginning drawing student in Alehandro Wooten's class.

Back home to Monroe, LA to be greeted by Christmas lights all over town.  Tree and fountain at the Monroe Convention Center.

Lafayette and Garrie Landry

I had a wonderful visit with botanist Garrie Landry who is the curator of the UL Lafayette Herbarium. The Herbarium at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette is one of multiple Herbariums in the state of Louisiana.  

Garrie showed me two interesting cases of plant specimens and told me stories about his participation in a couple of Wildlife and Fisheries and parish police cases.  Both times he was able to help the authorities with their cases by identifying and dating plant specimens.  

Garrie is one of the participants in the LPP.  I am working on a drawing of him holding one of his bird skins.  I love it that his office looks as messy as my studio.  Every possible surface covered with objects, books, notes and aquariums of plants.  

Cabinet with folders of plant specimens.

Plant specimen.

Background Reading

Among the books that I am reading to help me understand how Louisiana developed as a state is 

Rising Tide: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and How It Changed America  by John M. Barry.  I have met a couple of people whose families where influenced by this flood.  It displaced people in different ways, sometimes creating a situation for couples to meet and people to move across the state.

http://www.amazon.com/Rising-Tide-Mississippi-Changed-America-ebook/dp/B000S1LVUE/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=&qid=

Another book that I am reading is No Other World, a fictional book about the beginning of the Metoyer family and plantation near Natchitoches, LA.

http://www.amazon.com/No-Other-World-Norman-German/dp/1463569688/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_1

Both books are about land, politics and culture and fascinating insights into the world of Louisiana.

LPP on Etsy

With much consideration I have decided to open a shop on Etsy to help fund my travel expenses for the Louisiana Portrait Project. The items in the shop will only be offered on Etsy and the proceeds will fund basic expenses for traveling across Louisiana for the next year to collect images and recordings for my project. 

I will continue to add to the image library with each trip and to send photo postcards from different post offices in Louisiana starting with Transylvania, Tallulah, Grand Coteau, Vivian, Plain Dealing, Shongaloo, Lisbon, Farmerville, Vienna, Lisbon and Grambling in December. 

Check it out!

LPP on Etsy

On the Road Again - Next Trip Through Northern Louisiana

Each of my next four trips to Louisiana will take me to a different region of the state. My next trip will take me across northern Louisiana from Ida and Rodessa in the northeast corner to the Delhi and Tallulah in the northwest.  I am looking forward to meeting new and wonderful people in this area and hoping for great weather!  

I will be sending photo postcards from 10 different post offices on these next four trips.  Look for information in my next post about the postcards and other artwork in my Etsy shop which will help fund my basic traveling expenses for these trips. 

The Herbarium at the University of Louisiana Lafayette

One of the focuses of my project is to create a paper room with drawings of native Louisiana plants. Viewers will be able to enter the room and sit inside of it surrounded by the drawings. The drawings will be on layers of architectural drafting/tracing paper.  

I have an appointment to meet with Garrie Landry of the University of Louisiana Lafayette Biology Department and curator of the herbarium at ULL.  I am looking forward to seeing the plant specimens.  The ULL herbarium specializes in specimens from the Acadian Region of Louisiana.

ULL is part of the Louisiana Native Plant Initiative.

Above: Andre Daugereaux, left, operations manager for University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Center for Cultural and Eco-Tourism, and Troy Primeaux, site manager for the Louisiana Native Plant Initiative

Harvesting Summer Crops and Getting Ready for Winter

A cotton field in North Louisiana and a sugar cane field in South Louisiana. Farmers are harvesting and preparing their fields for winter crops.  

I am looking forward to documenting the changing seasons in the fields and parks of Louisiana.

A Quick Drive from North to South Louisiana

This last drive from Monroe to Houston was too quick. I prefer to stop along the way and drive off of the main highways. While you can drive from North Louisiana to South Louisiana in about 3-4 hours on the interstate, it is much more fun to meander along the small roads and through small cities and towns like West Monroe, Monroe, Grand Coteau, Arnaudville, Welsh and Lacassine.  

Mary Lu Keele, above, owns Potpourri de Tante Marie in West Monroe, Antique Alley. Kayla's Kitchen is a great place to eat if you are in West Monroe shopping in the old downtown area. Grand Coteau has a variety of shops, cafes and eateries.  Many of them across the street from the Academy of the Sacred Heart  founded in 1821.  Arnaudville is the home of NUNU Arts and Culture Collective which has regular events each month and the upcoming Fire and Water Winter extravaganza. Music, French literature, art and food are the focus of the NUNU event calendar. Further in town there are regular music events at Little Big Cup cafe.  West of Lafayette off of I-10 at Lacassine you can find Lil' Cochon's which sells homemade sausages, cracklins and alligator filets.  Welsh is the home of Cajun Tales Seafood Restaurant.

These destinations are just a sampling of the rich cultural life and unique blend of cultures and history in Louisiana.  More focus on people and towns to come in future posts.

Louisiana Portrait Project on Instagram

You can follow the Louisiana Portrait Project on Instagram at http://instagram.com/lisa.quallsartist. 

The photographs will follow my trips to and around Louisiana and return trips to Houston for the next six months.  They will also document the progress of drawings and other artwork being created for the project.

At the corner of Manassas and Elysian Fields in Monroe, LA are two small cemeteries, one Christian and one Jewish.  Both cemeteries have graves from the 1850's and earlier. 

The cemeteries are separated by a street.  I wonder if they were separated the same way in 1850.  The Christian side is crumbling, a few graves well cared for but most of them are disintegrating.  Only two graves had flowers on them.  The Jewish side is well cared for and many graves have flowers and stones.  

I noticed a small  gravestone for an infant on the Christian side.  Little Robert lived approximately one month from June to July in 1886.  Across the street is the grave of a Jewish infant who also lived approximately one month from March to April in 1885.

It is tempting to record the names of the families in these cemeteries and learn about them.  Did they stay in the Monroe area?  What businesses did they start? Where did they live? If they left Monroe where did they move to and do the descendants ever come back to visit their graves?

Two graves caught my eye because they were covered with stones and flowers. These graves of Sol and Tola Rosenberg have been visited often.  I have that Sol started Sol's Pipe and Steel in Monroe and that his family still runs the business.  

I have learned that the Congregation B'nai Israel hosts a concert/fundraiser every year to raise money for maintenance of the Jewish cemetary and that a small groups of citizens is working on funding to repair and maintain the Christian cemetery across the street.

Lake Charles, Louisiana

When I was young and driving from Baton Rouge to Houston and San Antonio with my mother and grandparents to visit family, we always stopped at Lake Charles to walk on the beach.  Sometimes we stayed by the lake long enough to eat lunch on the picnic tables by the beach. Our picnic lunches were usually sandwiches wrapped in waxed paper with a toothpick, carrots in Saran Wrap, water in a jar, Fritos and Moon Pies. 

I am continuing the tradition by stopping in Lake Charles to walk on the beach when I drive through.  Instead of picnicking on the beach I am making a list of restaurants to try in Lake Charles, La Truffe Sauvage is at the top of my list. If you have any recommendations let me know.
lisa@lisaqualls.com

I am teaching a paper and surface design workshop at the Masur Museum in Monroe, LA.  If you are in the area think about attending.  It will be fun!

Space is limited, so registration and payment are required in advance. The workshop will be held Saturday, November 8th from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (with an hour for lunch). $60 per student.

About the Class:

Students will make cards, envelopes and paper ornaments using papers that they have designed with mixed-media techniques.  To create surface designs on the papers students will use encaustic media, gelatin plates, silk screens and stencils.  Glitters and collage materials can be used to embellish the surface designs.

The workshop will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with one hour for lunch.  Students are welcome to work through lunch and bring their lunch with them, or leave for lunch. This class is for high school students and adults. Space is limited, so payment is required in advance.

All materials will be provided. However, Students are welcome to bring their own paper ephemera, favorite paints, brushes, markers, pencils, etc... to use in the workshop.

To Register:

Space is limited, so registration and payment are required in advance.

Contact Jenny Burnham at (318) 329-2237 or email info@masurmuseum.org to reserve your space in the class.

Pointe Coupee and Ernest J. Gaines

I have been thinking of Southern writing a lot lately.  Traveling through Pointe Coupee has inspired me to reread the work of Ernest J. Gaines.  One of my favorite novels The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman and the wonderful actress Cicely Tyson who starred in the film version of the book introduced me to Gaines' work.  Interesting that Gaines and Tyson were born in the same year, 1933, during the Great Depression. I look forward to reading more of Gaines' novels including Catherine Carmier his first novel.

Ernest J. Gaines was wonderfully inspired by the people of Louisiana. He and his wife live in Oscar, LA on HWY 1 on part of the old plantation where he grew up.  I must have driven by his house the other day and did not realize it.  

A short biography of Gaines here.  Below, Gaines in 1995 near River Lake Plantation where he was born and raised and where his ancestors lived as slaves and afterward as sharecroppers.

A Stormy October Day

On October 13th I drove to Baton Rouge from Monroe completely missing the storm and tornado that hit W. Monroe and Monroe.  I left Baton Rouge as a heavy thunderstorm was hitting there. Just north of Baton Rouge and up LA Hwy 1 I drove through miles and miles of vivid green landscapes and glowing stormy skies.  

I drove up along the False River, through New Roads, near the Mississippi and later by Old Raccouri River.  This bright little Piggly Wiggly store was in Mansura.  The drive along Hwy 1 is beautiful. Beautiful farms and stunning old houses including Parlange Plantation are visible from the highway.  There is such rich visual material and culture in the area that it will take days to explore. Since the drive I have discovered a book put out by the University of Louisiana Press, New Roads and Old Rivers about this area, Pointe Coupee Parish, one of the 64 parishes in Louisiana.

Note:  Parlange Plantation is privately owned by can be visited.  Parlange Plantation is located on 8211 False River Rd./Hwy. 1 at New Roads. It is privately owned, but open by appointment only; there is a fee charged. Please call 225-638-8410 for further information.

Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Black Bayou Lake

Visitors Center

The gravel trails and wooden walkways are well maintained and clear with the occasional  horse apple or maclura pomifera.

A visit to Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge will take you just out of the city to a wooded area around the lake, the lake itself and the visitors and education centers.  The Visitors Center is a residence built around 1885 by Lemuel and Ann "Mattie" McLain.  Modifications were made to the house in 1900 and in 1998 it was moved to its current site from 1/4 mile away from its origin. The house was part of the Richland Plantation owned by Mattie's family. The area and town had been known as Crosley, LA.  Lemuel oversaw the farming on Richland Plantation and he and Mattie lived in their "country house" and their house in the city of Monroe.  

Cotton was farmed on this land until 2001.  Since then the forests have been replanted with native hardwoods that would have been in the virgin bottomland near the lake.

The visitors center is run by a friendly and knowledgeable staff and group of volunteers.  The displays are well-done and very informative.  They have information about the hardwood forests, wildlife and plants.  There is a small display of archeological items, tools and potter shards dating 2000 years ago and older.  A display with recorded songs of local bird is done very nicely.  Another audio kiosk has information about different areas and animals.  The gift shop has some wonderful finds: cookbooks, t-shirts, finger puppets, jewelry, laminated guides to birds of Louisiana, fish, snakes, etc...

Next door a historic barn houses displays of live animals: snakes, small alligators, fish and turtles including a glass wall aquarium between the displays and the classroom.  

Gravel pathways and wooden walkways take visitors around through a prairie area, around the lake and out into the lake.  There are several trails and distances to choose from.  A separate parking lot has easy access to a boat dock.  

Information about the refuge can be found here:
http://www.fws.gov/northlouisiana/blackbayoulake/findus.html

More information about Louisiana wetlands:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wetlands_of_Louisiana