Empty School Building in Oak Ridge, LA
I just had a conversation with a friend who is an artist about the portrayal of the people who are participating in my project. I am determined to make the work for the LPP exhibits reflect the complex culture and personalities of the people from the 64 Parishes in Louisiana.
It will be difficult to do this in a way that reflects the experiences I am having driving around and talking to people, listening to their stories, observing people's interactions in their communities.
I am excited about being able to observe and absorb a small portion of America and how the history, events, politics, economics, languages and cultures have combined to create who we are today.
All of the trips that I have made are fascinating in multiple ways. One recent trip stands out a little because the experiences cover thousands of years of history and development in this region of the world.
On a freezing day in January I set out early in the morning when it was 33 degrees and there was ice on top of my car. I drove through Monroe going east, through Schwartz and Wham, stopping at Wham Brake and talking briefly with a ranger about the recently donated 4000 acres that is a wildlife preserve specifically for waterfowl.
I drove from their to Oakridge where I visited with a group of people preparing for a funeral at a historic African American church established in the 1880's. One could reasonably assume that most of the members of this church come from families of freed slaves who lived and worked on plantations in this area. The few people that I spoke to have varied stories, some have lived there all of their lives, some have lived and worked in places all over the US and moved back to retire on their family land. I will definitely visit this community again. I know that this community of 142 people has amazing stories.
New Bethany Missionary Baptist Church in Oak Ridge, LA
From Oakridge I drove to Epps where I stopped at a convenience store and admired the owners two cases of Native American artifacts found in the area.
Just beyond Epps I visited and went on a walking tour around Poverty Point (so named for the plantation that had been built a top a vast archaeological site). From the head archaeologist I learned about the peoples that lived in the area and constructed earthworks about 3100 to 3700 years ago.
From Oakridge I drove north to Pioneer where I met a group of crop dusters who work for Pioneer Flying Service. The owner and founder of the PFS was on site and spoke to me for a few minutes. I drove up to Oak Grove where I found an operating movie theatre in old downtown, Fiske Theatre, showing current movies. Image below by cinematreasures.org.
Oak Grove, LA
From Oak Grove to Mer Rouge which is a small town that was attacked at the end of the Civil War. Mer Rouge is also the home of a famous hunter, Ben Lilly. From Mer Rouge to Bastrop which is named for Baron de Bastrop a Dutch businessman who also founded Bastrop, TX. Bastrop was also a confederate holdout in the Civil War and has recently been affected by two industrial shut downs, the International Paper mill and the Pilgrim's Pride poultry processing plant.
From there I returned to Monroe. A day full of information about original tribes, European settlers, plantations, the Civil War, post Civil War and freed African American communities, 20th and 21st century politics and economics. Amazing history. Creating artwork that is a reflection of this complex background that the people of Louisiana live in will be difficult but exciting.
The day started cold and frosty with beautiful morning light and ended warm at dusk golden light driving by fields and country homes.
Near Mer Rouge, LA
