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 In honor of our launch of the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts Art Contest, Wendy Rodrigue gives us some history on George and art competitions in her blog. And, she gives contestants some great advice on how to win the contest:
What will he look for in judging these works? The foundation's website lists several categories, all of which I’m sure he’ll take into consideration. But if you’re reading this, and you’ve decided to go for it, remember these tidbits: -George Rodrigue was confused and offended when he was disqualified from an art contest simply because his work did not look like everyone else’s. -He claims that the only artist to ever inspire him is Salvadore Dali, because he had fantastic, original ideas. -The best piece of advice he ever received is to “treat your painting as though it is a jewel, because if it is precious to you, it will be precious to others as well.”
-Never, ever paint giant magnolia blossoms.
(Make sure you read the whole blog entry if you plan on entering!)
 From the New York charity Women in Need press release:
DESIGNER “HOUSES” TO BE AUCTIONED FOR WOMEN IN NEED
New York, NY—renowned designers, sports stars, Broadway performers and other VIPs have come together to decorate papier mache houses for Women In Need, one of New York City’s largest providers of shelter and services for homeless families. Working with the theme “Home is Where the Heart Is,” the participating designers have created one-of-a-kind gems--the perfect feel-good gift or decorative item for the holidays.
Over the past 25 years, Women In Need has provided housing, help and hope to homeless families. Contrary to popular conceptions of homelessness in New York City, families constitute 80 percent of all New Yorkers in the shelter system. Every night, approximately 10,000 families sleep in NYC shelters, including more than 16,000 children. WIN helps a great many of those children, and the rest of their families, in six transitional shelters in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Brooklyn as well as permanent supportive housing throughout the city.
The auction will take place starting November 9th on charitybuzz.com and will end on Monday, November 30th. Houses have been designed by Sean Avery; Lidia Bastianich; Victoria & David Beckham; Halle Berry; Mary J. Blige; Chris “Ludacris” Bridges; Bobbi Brown; Cast of the Broadway Musical Hair; Sean “Diddy” Combs; Oscar de la Renta; Cheyenne Jackson; Donna Karan; Monica Rich Kosann; Dylan Lauren; Richard Leach for Park Avenue Autumn; Deborah Lloyd for Kate Spade; Jennifer Lopez; Isaac Mizrahi; Moby; Debra Messing; Josie Natori; George Rodrigue; Cameron Silver for Decades; Justin Timberlake & Trace Ayala; Today Show Anchors; Diane Von Furstenberg; Vera Wang. Additionally, Parsons The New School for Design collaborated on several of the house designs. Several of the houses have been embellished courtesy of CRYSTALLIZED™ – Swarovski Elements.
Saks Fifth Avenue will feature the houses in their Manhattan flagship windows from November 5th – 9th. The auction will launch at an event hosted by Park Avenue Autumn on November 9th in New York City. Event co-hosts include Myla Lerner & Larry Kramer; Deborah Roberts & Al Roker; and Karin & Steve Sadove.
For more information about the auction or Women In Need, please visit
www.Women-In-Need.org
 Announcing the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts 2010 Art Contest. We are offering $30,000 dollars in college scholarships to Louisiana High School seniors. Students are asked to create a piece of visual art based upon George Rodrigue's theme "Louisiana: The State We Love" Help us spread the word!
Learn more information here:
 From Wendy's Blog:
George presented his ideas for an hour to an art class of one hundred fourth graders at Memphis’s Presbyterian Day School. They are recreating his painting The Millennium (which makes George the only artist to actually visit, since their previous projects were The Mona Lisa, Starry Starry Night, and American Gothic). Once again, as with the NOMA tours, I was reminded of young children and their ability to see and ask great questions. Their overriding curiosity was in how George processes his thoughts. One child asked, “But explain to me how you figured that out?” And another, “But how did you think of doing it that way” And yet another, “How did you know that was a good idea?”
Read the rest of Wendy's account of their time in Memphis and their visit to the Le Bonheur's Children's Hospital and Graceland on her blog here.
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