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The event was generously underwritten by Deborah Dunlevy Todd and featured a performance on the Rodrigue Steinway Piano by Harold Mims, a student in the LSU School of Music.
Todd Queen, Dean of the LSU College of Music & Dramatic Arts, joins Jacques Rodrigue, Executive Director of GRFA, at the unveiling of "Take Five."
Harold Mims, a student in the LSU School of Music, performs on the Rodrigue Steinway Piano.
The Blue Dog print, which the Estate of George Rodrigue issued in an edition of 950, is available at the price of $500 and all proceeds will be split between GRFA and LSU School of Music. With this edition selling quickly, both organizations dedicated to arts education are benefitting greatly. Thank you to everyone who has already purchased one of these silkscreen prints!
"Take Five" by George Rodrigue, silkscreen print, 26 x 31 inches
Purchase your print today!
Visit www.georgerodrigue.com to buy online, or visit a Rodrigue Studio location in New Orleans, Lafayette, or Carmel, CA.
About Rodrigue Estate Editions
The Estate of George Rodrigue created a proprietary ink stamp on editions released by the Estate. The one-of-a-kind formula includes several security measures that guarantee the authenticity of Rodrigue Estate editions. The stamp measure approximately 1.5 x 3 inches and is screened directly onto prints issued by the Rodrigue Estate. This signature reacts uniquely to differing wavelengths of light.
On Thursday, September 4th, the Estate of George Rodrigue will unveil a new posthumous print, Take Five, at a private reception at the Cook Hotel in Baton Rouge. The silkscreen was designed by George Rodrigue before his passing on December 14, 2013, and has been printed posthumously in a limited numbered edition of 950.
Starting today, the print will be available for purchase at www.GeorgeRodrigue.com and in Rodrigue Studio locations in New Orleans, Lafayette, and Carmel, California. The print is offered at a price of $500 with all proceeds supporting the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts (GRFA) and the LSU School of Music.
"Take Five" by George Rodrigue, silkscreen print, 26 x 31 inches
“We are so excited to unveil this print that Dad designed,” says Jacques Rodrigue, Executive Director of the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts. “Dad was a huge supporter of the arts and education, and we are so proud to partner with the LSU School of Music to continue his legacy.”
The reception will bring together fans of George Rodrigue’s art and supporters of the LSU School of Music for a first look at the exclusive print, Take Five. Guests will enjoy music by LSU School of Music PhD student Harold Mims who will perform on the Rodrigue Steinway piano.
The Blue Dog and GRFA are Coming to Houston
You are invited to an exclusive launch party to celebrate the announcement of Rodrigue: Houston (opening in spring 2015, location TBA). This exhibition will showcase a retrospective of 100 original works of art by George Rodrigue, including his iconic Cajun and Blue Dog paintings.
All proceeds from the launch party benefit the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts' educational outreach in the Houston community. During the run of the exhibition, GRFA will provide free field trips, community art making events, and art supply kits.
Click the painting above to learn more about the launch party and the special benefits available for attending the event!
Ruby Bridges Visits GRFA in New Orleans
Last week, we were honored to receive a visit from Ruby Bridges. Her historic role in the Civil Rights Movement was captured by Norman Rockwell in his painting "The Problem We All Live With." Ruby was the first student to enter a racially segregated school in New Orleans, and since then has become an ambassador for promoting tolerance, respect, and appreciation for all differences through the Ruby Bridges Foundation. We look forward to working with Ruby and her foundation on arts in education projects!
(Upper left) Norman Rockwell's "The Problem We All Live With" (Lower left) Ruby Bridges being escorted by U.S. Marshals (Right) Jacques Rodrigue and Ruby Bridges at the GRFA office in New Orleans
Since our 2014 Art Contest finalists and scholarship recipients were announced in April, we've been partnering with museums and venues across the state to exhibit this extraordinary student artwork. The twenty-one pieces in the exhibition represent unique interpretations of the theme "Louisiana's Natural Beauty."
Currently, GRFA's 2014 Art Contest Exhibition is on view at the R.W. Norton Art Gallery in Shreveport until August 31st. See where the exhibition has been and where it will travel in the coming months. We hope you have the opportunity to see this tremendous work in person!
June 16 - July 16, 2014
Baton Rouge, LA
August 1 - 31, 2014
Shreveport, LA
September 12 - October 6, 2014
Lake Charles, LA
October 17 - November 22, 2014
Alexandria, LA
January 15 - February 23, 2015
New Orleans, LA
The 2014 Art Contest Exhibition on display at the R.W. Norton Art Gallery.
On Saturday, August 2, 2014, the New Orleans Arts District
will once again host the annual Whitney White Linen Night centered on the 300
to 600 blocks of Julia Street.
From 6:00 – 9:00 PM, galleries open their doors to thousands of patrons
encouraged to wear outfits featuring white linen.
This year, we are happy to be participating again! The
George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts will be open at 747 Magazine Street,
just a block off of Julia Street.
Come by to see winning artwork from our annual high school
art contest, as well as original works of art by George Rodrigue. Additionally, we will have copies of
The Pot & The Palette Cookbook for sale. This publication, produced in partnership with the Louisiana
Restaurant Association, is illustrated by Louisiana students and features 100
recipes from the state’s greatest chefs.
For White Linen Night, we are offering the Cookbook at the special price of $20.00!
Grab your white linen suit and be sure to visit us at 747 Magazine Street. We look forward to seeing you at Whitney White Linen
Night!
400+ Teachers Receive Professional Development in Arts-Integration That Will Impact the Lives of Over 5,000 Louisiana Families
From July 20-25, 2014, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette was home to the Louisiana A+ Schools Summer Institute presented by Chevron, a transformative professional development opportunity for all teachers in the LAA+ network. This year GRFA worked with nine schools in the LAA+ program:
1. South Highlands Elementary Magnet in Shreveport
2. Grace Episcopal School in Monroe
3. Epiphany Day School in New Iberia
4. The Dufrocq School in Baton Rouge
5. Riverside Academy in Reserve
6. Martin Behrman Academy in New Orleans
7. Homer A. Plessy Community School in New Orleans*
8. St. Helena Arts & Technology Academy in Greensburg*
9. Homer Elementary School in Homer*
*Also a member school of the President's Committee on Arts and Humanities' Turnaround Arts: Louisiana.
Although these institutions are scattered across the state, they share a common mission to use arts integration to inspire students and transform their schools. Each day at the Summer Institute featured engaging workshops to provide teachers with the tools and resources necessary to implement the Eight A+ Essentials into their curriculum.
The three new schools added this year will also be part of the Turnaround Arts: Louisiana initiative, a program of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities. GRFA is honored to have been selected as the Louisiana program director and looks forward to using the A+ method to turnaround these schools using the arts.
We were fortunate to have Kathy Fletcher, National Director of Turnaround Arts, speak to attendees on our opening night. As our three new Turnaround A+ Schools prepare for the coming school year, her message of the importance of arts in the classroom was especially relevant. We were also excited to have a special presentation from Dr. James Catterall of UCLA, who along with his research team will be conducting a multi-year study of the LAA+ program.
Dr. James Catterall and Turnaround Arts Director Kathy Fletcher each addressed attendees on the opening night.
Our teachers hit the ground running the next day with multiple arts integration workshops. Whether using music to teach math or theater to teach the life cycle of a butterfly, the sessions explored techniques for engaging students.
Participants enjoyed dinner and music at Vermilionville Living History and Folk Like Park. That evening, GRFA was presented a donation of $15,000 from the principal of A+ affiliate South Highlands Elementary Magnet to support arts integration professional development.
Dinner at Vermilionville
GRFA Executive Director Jacques Rodrigue accepts a check from South Highlands Elementary Magnet.
We are so grateful to the fellows of the Oklahoma A+ Schools program for lending their assistance and expertise throughout the week. In addition, we extend our gratitude to Chevron for sponsoring with LAA+ Summer Institute. This professional development is crucial to our program, and we couldn't have done it without their support.
Be on the lookout for updates throughout the year from our nine Louisiana A+ Schools!
The Second Annual LAA+ Summer InstituteWe are delighted to share that our second annual Louisiana A+ Schools Summer Institute is underway! Educators from all nine of our A+ Schools have gathered at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette for an intensive professional development in arts integration. So what do you get when you bring together over 400 Louisiana teachers and the Eight Essentials of the LAA+ Schools program? You get an exciting professional development bursting with creative energy and workshops designed to integrate arts into all parts of curriculum. Through arts integration, our A+ teachers will help transform their schools into thriving institutions where students have the confidence and creativity to meet the challenges of the 21st century. We are inspired by their enthusiasm and passion for education and look forward to working with them more as they embark on a new academic year as part of the Louisiana A+ School network.
Be sure to watch the fun as it happens! Follow the LAA+ Summer Institute on Twitter at #aplusla and @APlusLA!
A Night to Support GRFA and LAA+
On July 17th, Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Savoie hosted a fundraiser at their home on the campus of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Thank you to the friends and supporters who gathered to raise funds for GRFA and the Louisiana A+ Schools program. We are especially grateful to Chevron for their official sponsorship of the event and the LAA+ Summer Institute! Because of their support, we are able to continue our mission to impact youth development through the arts. Thank you!
Representatives from Chevron present a check for $50,000 to GRFA Executive Director Jacques Rodrigue at July 17th fundraiser.
Three principals and eight teachers from GRFA's Louisiana A+ Schools joined Director Bethany France and Deputy Director Kim Leavitt for 5 days of intensive training at the Turnaround Arts Leadership Retreat outside of Alexandria, VA. Turnaround Arts, a national reform initiative under the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities, is designed to utilize the arts to "turn around" failing schools. The George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts, through the LAA+ program, was one of six new sites recently added to phase 2 of the initiative.
Educators from Louisiana's three Turnaround Arts schools attend the Leadership Retreat in Virginia.
Drumming, anyone?
Dance is one of many ways educators create arts-integrated curriculum.
Turnaround Arts is unique in that each school is assigned a celebrity artist who makes site visits throughout the school year, working in classrooms with students and providing professional development workshops. Nigel Lythgoe, creator of "American Idol" and a judge on "So You Think You Can Dance?", was the artist-in-residence at the retreat and took workshops alongside participants.
LAA+Deputy Director Kim Leavitt (left) and Director Bethany France (right) are joined by Turnaround Artist Nigel Lythgoe (center) during the workshops.
Principals and teachers gained invaluable insight into strategies such as managing classroom behavior through drama and integrating visual art into reading. Sessions were taught by nationally known teaching artists from the Kennedy Center. Turnaround Arts kicks off in three Louisiana schools this Fall: Homer Elementary in Homer, St. Helena Arts and Technology Academy in Greensburg, and Homer Plessy Charter School in New Orleans.
GRFA's The Pot & The Palette Cookbook, voted Best Illustrated Cookbook in America by Gourmand Magazine, is now available in a special sponsorship edition! Originally published in 2013 in partnership with the Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation (LRAEA), this one-of-a-kind publication is entering its 3rd printing with over 6,000 copies already sold.
Sponsoring a custom edition is a great opportunity to support arts in education while also giving your business a collection of customized books to use as corporate gifts. The Cookbook features 192 pages of delicious Louisiana recipes and the exceptional artwork of high school students from across the state.
(Click the image to learn more.)
Your customized edition of The Pot & The Palette Cookbook makes an excellent holiday gift for clients, colleagues, and other constituents! Sponsorships include a personalized introduction page for you to include a special message to your employees and customers. See the sample sponsorship insert below:
(Click the image to learn more.)
The deadline for sponsorships is August 1st. Please contact the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts at 504-324-9614 or info@georgerodriguefoundation.org to learn more about this exciting opportunity for your business!
A Video About The Pot & The Palette Cookbook
From June 16th - July 16th, be sure to stop by the Shaw Center for the Arts in Baton Rouge to see GRFA's 2014 Art Contest Exhibition. In partnership with Audubon Nature Institute and sponsored by Chevron, this show features the exceptional artwork of high schools students for the theme of "Louisiana's Natural Beauty."
The exhibition is located in the lobby of the Shaw Center.
The show features the artwork of 21 finalists -- all Louisiana high school students.
Also on view across from the exhibition is George Rodrigue's LSU Blue Dog Cow.
The artwork is a celebration of creativity, as well as the iconic landscapes, flora, and fauna of Louisiana. Over 700 students submitted pieces for the contest, and after two rounds of judging, 21 finalists were selected and awarded $50,000 in scholarships at a special luncheon held in April in New Orleans.
Executive Director Jacques Rodrigue with finalists at scholarship luncheon in New Orleans.
Each year, the 1st place artwork is turned into poster with sales benefitting GRFA and a partnering organization. This year's poster in partnership with Audubon Nature Institute features the art of Audrey Marsh, a senior at St. Joseph's Academy in Baton Rouge. It comes in pink, blue, and yellow and can be purchased for $19.99 at the LSU Museum of Art Gift Shop in the Shaw Center or online at Audubon Nature Institute's Marketplace.
This year's poster features the artwork of Audrey Marsh.
We invite you to join us for a closing reception on Tuesday, July 15th, from 5:00-7:00 pm at the Shaw Center for the Arts. The exhibition will also be traveling to other venues across Louisiana, including the R.W. Norton Art Gallery in August and the Alexandria Museum of Art in October. Be on the lookout for more information coming soon!
The George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts (GRFA) is pleased to announce that Dr. Joseph and Gail Savoie of Lafayette, LA, are kindly hosting a special fundraising event at their home on July 17, 2014. The event, which is generously sponsored by Chevron, will benefit GRFA's Louisiana A+ Schools (LAA+) Program.
$125 per person. Attendance is limited.
Click invitation below to enlarge and see more details.
GRFA and LAA+ are among the leaders in arts in education nationwide and we were just selected as one of six organizations in the country to work with the White House and the President's Committee on Arts and Humanities to turnaround failing schools through the arts.
LAA+ is a research-based program that transforms schools by infusing arts integration across all curriculum. A critical component of LAA+ is professional development for all faculty at participating schools.
Each year, teachers gather for the LAA+ Summer Institute, an intensive workshop where they learn the eight A+ Essentials and receive training in how to nurture creativity in the classroom and in every student. From July 20-25, the LAA+ Summer Institute will be held on the campus of University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
Over 300 teachers representing our 9 schools (click photo to enlarge) will be in Lafayette and your participation at this fundraiser will help make it all possible.
We invite you to join us for a festive evening of delicious food catered by Blue Dog Cafe, music by Sean Trcalek, and an exciting auction of silkscreen prints by George Rodrigue:
"Drew Brees" print signed by George Rodrigue and Drew Brees
"Mardi Gras 2014," estate proof print, sold out and only available through charity auctions
"Cajun Man" print signed by George Rodrigue and Mark Hudspeth, Head Coach of the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns
In addition to the funds raised through this party, we also have sponsorships available to support various aspects of the LAA+ Summer Institute.
To learn how you can become a supporter of GRFA's Louisiana A+ Schools program or to purchase tickets or RSVP to the Lafayette fundraiser, please call (337) 654-6300. Tickets will also be available at the door.
We hope to see you there on July 17!
On Tuesday, May 20th, the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts visited the White House for a special announcement by the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities. The PCAH, which is chaired by First Lady Michelle Obama, named GRFA as the official program partner for Turnaround Arts: Louisiana, an education initiative designed to turn around low-performing schools through arts-integration, as well as boost academic achievement, motivate student learning, and improve school culture. This year, six new Turnaround Arts districts have been named across the United States.
President and First Lady Obama spoke to the attendees, congratulating the students and educators on the past successful year and welcoming new partners like GRFA to the initiative.
First Lady Michelle Obama addresses attendees at the Turnaround Arts announcement at the White House.
Using the principles of its successful Louisiana A+ Schools Program, GRFA will serve three schools as part of Turnaround Arts: Louisiana including Homer Elementary School in Homer, St. Helena Arts and Technology Academy in Greensburg, and Homer A. Plessy Community School in New Orleans. The principals from each school joined us at the White House to celebrate their school's participation in Turnaround Arts.
Kim Leavitt (Deputy Director, Louisiana A+ Schools), Jane Brown and Janice Williams (Homer Elementary), Joan Riley (Homer Plessy Charter), Bethany France (Director, Louisiana A+ Schools), Kelli Williams (St. Helena Arts & Technology Academy), Jacques Rodrigue (Executive Director, George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts)
Presidentially-appointed Turnaround Artists will adopt each school for the length of the program, working with the schools and communities to highlight their successes. We are delighted to announce that actress Alfre Woodard and musician Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews have been selected to support our schools in Louisiana. Many other Turnaround Artists were there to celebrate the Turnaround Arts initiative.
Louisiana A+ Schools Director Bethany France with Turnaround Artist Alfre Woodard
Bethany France (Director, Louisiana A+ Schools), Jane Brown and Janice Williams (Homer Elementary), Turnaround Artist Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews, Kim Leavitt (Deputy Director, Louisiana A+ Schools), and Jacques Rodrigue (Executive Director, George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts)
Jacques Rodrigue with Turnaround Artist Chuck Close
GRFA and Louisiana A+ Schools are honored to inspire and engage students as part of the PCAH's Turnaround Arts program. Throughout the year, we look forward to sharing exciting news and successes of our three Turnaround Arts A+ Schools!
For more information and a complete list of Turnaround Arts schools in the U.S., please visit http://turnaroundarts.pcah.gov/
About the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities
Created in 1982 under President Reagan, the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH) is an advisory committee to the White House on cultural issues. The PCAH works directly with the three primary cultural agencies-National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Institute of Museum and Library Services-as well as other federal partners and the private sector, to address policy questions in the arts and humanities, to initiate and support key programs in those disciplines and to recognize excellence in the field. Its core areas of focus are education, cultural exchange, and creative economy. Under the leadership of the First Lady and Honorary Chairman, and through the efforts of its federal and private members, the President's Committee has compiled an impressive legacy over its tenure, conducting major research and policy analysis, and catalyzing important federal cultural programs, both domestic and international. For more information, please visit http://www.pcah.gov/
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