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Carmel is a unique seaside community in California where cottages and galleries line the streets. It was here in 1991 that George Rodrigue decided to establish a gallery in addition to his Louisiana locations, and the Rodrigue Studio has had a home there ever since. (Read more about the history of the Carmel gallery here.) To honor George Rodrigue's connection to the Carmel community, the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts was recently in the area to provide arts education outreach and gallery field trips to local schools, as well as a family art making event for the public. As director of Turnaround Arts: Louisiana, an arts integration initiative of the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, GRFA had the opportunity to visit Mary Chapa Literacy and Technology Academy, a Turnaround Arts: California school in Greenfield, CA. Fifth grade students at Mary Chapa attended a special presentation by Jacques Rodrigue, George's son, about the landscape, Cajun, and Blue Dog paintings of his father's career. They were then invited to create their own Blue Dog paintings using their imagination and a guided drawing activity. We are so grateful to the educators and students of Mary Chapa for welcoming us to their school and sharing their creativity!
GRFA staff and Executive Director Jacques Rodrigue get creative with fifth grade students at Mary Chapa Literacy and Technology Academy in Greenfield, CA.
The following afternoon, GRFA hosted " Blue Dog" in the Park Family Day in the green space adjacent to the Rodrigue Studio. Families from near and far were invited to create their own Blue Dog masks or ornaments, have their faces painted with Halloween characters, and take a tour of the original George Rodrigue paintings in the gallery.
There were art activities for the whole family at "Blue Dog" in the Park Family Day.
On Monday, fifth grade students from Mary Chapa Academy and fourth grade students from Carmel River School visited Rodrigue Studio for a special tour led by Jacques Rodrigue and participated in art making activities that explored chemistry, color theory, and nature. Students sculpted the life cycle of a butterfly and made their own "gak" material.
Students from Mary Chapa Academy and Carmel River School visit Rodrigue Studio and use the arts to learn about nature and science.
Advocating for youth development through the arts is at the heart of all we do, and we had a wonderful time in Carmel engaging students and the community through art! Thank you to everyone in Carmel who helped make our visit a memorable one and our events a success.
On Monday morning, the dance team and marching band lined the walkway outside of St. Helena Arts and Technology Academy in Greensburg, LA, to welcome a very special guest. Alfre Woodard, an actor and Turnaround Artist with the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities (PCAH), had arrived to serve as a creative mentor to the students and inspire them to pursue their goals and education through the arts. As part of the Turnaround Arts: Louisiana program, St. Helena was selected with two other schools to be transformed through arts integration.
GRFA Executive Director Jacques Rodrigue and Turnaround Artist Alfre Woodard visit with students at St. Helena Arts and Technology Academy in Greensburg, LA.
Students welcome Alfre Woodard as their Turnaround Artist.
After a special acting workshop with Alfre Woodard, students pose for a group photo with Jacques Rodrigue and Tunaround Arts Director Cathy Fletcher.
It was just this year that the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts was selected by the PCAH to implement the Turnaround Arts initiative at three schools in the state using the Louisiana A+ Schools method of arts integration. Already the teachers and students of our Turnaround A+ Schools are embracing the arts in curriculum -- creative projects line the halls, music can be heard in classrooms, and student engagement is reaching a new level.
A student at Homer A. Plessy Community School in New Orleans presents flowers to Alfre Woodard.
Turnaround Artist Trombone Shorty with student at Homer A. Plessy Community School.
As part of the national Turnaround Arts initiative, Turnaround Artists like Woodard adopt schools and work directly with students, teachers, and parents from the community to draw attention to the impact of the arts on a school's transformation. In addition to visiting the schools, the Turnaround Artists connect with students throughout the year via Skype. Alongside Woodard, Turnaround Artist Troy Andrews, better known as Trombone Shorty, visited Homer A. Plessy Community School in New Orleans on Tuesday to see the arts in action in the classrooms and communicate how arts in education can impact their academic and creative potential.
Students do a musical performance for special guests Alfre Woodard and Trombone Shorty.
Woodard reads to students at Homer A. Plessy Community School.
We are so excited to have these exceptional artists as part of Turnaround Arts: Louisiana and look forward to a successful, creative school year for our Turnaround A+ Schools.
The George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts will be heading to Carmel, California, this October to provide exciting arts education opportunities for local students and community members. Since 1991, the Rodrigue Studio has been part of the Carmel-by-the-Sea arts scene, introducing the West Coast to the artistic legacy of George Rodrigue. (Visit Musings of an Artist’s Wife to read about the history of the Rodrigue Studio in Carmel.)
Rodrigue Studio in Carmel, CA
While in Carmel in late October, GRFA will be visiting Mary Chapa Literacy and Technology Academy for a morning of creativity. Located in Greenfield, CA, Mary Chapa is part of the Turnaround Arts network of schools. This program, which GRFA administers in Louisiana, is an initiative of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. We are delighted to visit Mary Chapa to bring art into fifth grade classrooms and introduce students to the work of George Rodrigue.
Introducing students to the arts is a fundamental part of our mission. With this in mind, we will be providing buses to students from Mary Chapa Literacy and Technology Academy and Carmel River School to visit the Rodrigue Studio for special tours the George Rodrigue Memorial Retrospective Exhibition. Students will have the opportunity to explore examples from the entirety of George’s career, from oak trees and Cajuns to the Blue Dog. Additionally, both Mary Chapa and Carmel River School will be receiving art supply kits from George’s Art Closet.
On October 25, 2014, we invite you to join us for “Blue Dog” in the Park!
(See flyer above). From 1:00
– 3:00 PM, we will be in Piccadilly Courtyard next to Rodrigue Studio for a
community art-making event. This free, public event is full of
activities for the whole family including face painting and hands-on projects
that explore nature, science, and the creative process. Enjoy
light refreshments and visit the Rodrigue Studio to view the memorial
retrospective exhibition before it closes in January 2015.
We look forward
to welcoming you to “Blue Dog” in the Park on Saturday, October 25th,
and advocating for arts in education in the Carmel community!
Students and teachers at our nine Louisiana A+ Schools (LAA+) are well into the new academic year, creating dynamic classrooms where the arts enhance all subjects. George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts' Executive Director Jacques Rodrigue and LAA+ Director Bethany France traveled to northern Louisiana last week to visit three of our schools to talk with students and witness how the arts are transforming the way they learn.
South Highlands Elementary Magnet in Shreveport, LA
Rodrigue and France visited South Highlands Elementary Magnet in Shreveport, Grace Episcopal School in Monroe, and Homer Elementary School in Homer. At each school, they were greeted by enthusiastic educators and students - all eager to describe how their classrooms use dance, painting, theatre, and other art forms to teach all subjects. While in Shreveport, Rodrigue was a guest on Talk of the Town with Tom Pace to discuss arts integration and the impact of the LAA+ program across the state. Click here to listen to the interview.
Homer Elementary School in Homer, LA
Grace Episcopal School in Monroe, LA
"What a great experience to see arts integration in action at these schools and how engaged the students are. From the classrooms to the hallways, these schools are bursting with creative energy," says Jacques Rodrigue. He continues, "Having visited some of the best A+ schools in the country, I am so pleased with how our schools are meeting the challenges of whole-school transformation. It's inspiring to talk with the students and hear how excited they are to learn and come to class."
The nine schools in the Louisiana A+ Schools program are in various locations across the state. Learn more about them by clicking the map below.
We are happy to announce our Call for Entries to our 2015 Art Contest in partnership with the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation! Please encourage any Louisiana high school junior or senior that you know to submit an entry!
$45,000 in Scholarship Awards
Theme: Louisiana's Music
in partnership with:
Louisiana has generated multiple seminal musical styles and contributed the development of many others, influencing popular music beyond its borders. New Orleans' unique blend of cultures provided fertile ground for the creation of Jazz. The southwestern part of the state is home to Cajun music and Zydeco while northern Louisiana has played an important role in the histories of country music, rockabilly, and the blues.
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation celebrates and preserves this rich musical legacy. In addition to Jazz Fest presented by Shell, the Foundation produces free festivals throughout the year reflecting different strands of our inter-twined culture.
We invite this year's applicants to explore Louisiana's rich musical heritage. The artistic approach can be historical, contemporary, or imaginary in its conception, with interpretations ranging from a traditional portrait of an important Louisiana musician to an abstract exploration of sounds.
Eligibility
All juniors and seniors in Louisiana are eligible for entry in the GRFA Art Contest. No test score, grade point average or college major requirement is necessary for enter. The contest is open to all juniors and seniors attending public and private schools, home schooled students, and GED students.
Deadline
Online application and photo of art submissions must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 12, 2015. Visit our website to learn more about the Terms and Conditions.
Poster Artist
The winning artist will have the opportunity to collaborate with the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts team to design a special poster to be sold at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation's free festivals including the Crescent City Blues and BBQ Festival, the Louisiana Cajun Zydeco Festival, Congo Square Rhythms Festival, and Fiesta Latina.
Sales from these posters will benefit the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation.
Selecting Finalists
A blind, two-part judging process focuses on three categories: interpretation of theme, creativity and design. GRFA requires that submissions be between 11 x 14 and 18 x 24 inches. Winners will be announced at the 6th Annual Art Contest Awards Luncheon presented by Cox on April 18, 2015, at the Sheraton Hotel in New Orleans.
Attention Art Teachers
The school that submits the most entries will recieve a year's worth of art suppies through our George's Art Closet program. Art supply kits are valued at $2,000 and they can give students the tools needed in order to have a first-class art education! Please encourage all of your students to enter.
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
Newly Released TEDx Talk by Jacques Rodrigue
Recorded in 2013 in Shreveport, LA, this newly released TEDx Red River talk features a presentation by GRFA's Executive Director Jacques Rodrigue. In this talk, he explores the creative legacy of his father, George Rodrigue, the origin of the Blue Dog, and how the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts advocates for arts in education through its Louisiana A+ Schools program.
What is TEDx? The TEDx Program is designed to help communities, organizations, and individuals to spark conversation and connections through independently organized events with a combination of live presenters and TED Talk videos.
Jacques Rodrigue presents at TEDx Red River.
To provide a behind-the-scenes look, Jacques penned a guest blog post about the experience of preparing for his TEDx presentation on Musings of an Artist's Wife by Wendy Rodrigue. He explains, "To have the chance to be able to share our story and our vision for the potential for arts in Louisiana schools was exciting!" Click here to read the complete post. You can also watch Jacques' first TEDx presentation for TEDxLSU here. LELA Holiday Art Contest
Louisiana Education Loan Authority (LELA), a partner organization of the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts, has announced their 2014 Holiday Art Contest. The theme this year is "The Holidays - Louisiana Style!" with winners awarded up to $6,000 in scholarships. If you are a high school senior, we encourage you to learn more about this exciting opportunity! The deadline to enter is November 1st, so be sure to click the image below for more information.
As you walk through the front doors of Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Houston, a larger-than-life painting of a Blue Dog - complete with red cowboy boots and a black Stetson - greets all visitors. Here on September 10th, the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts welcomed over 100 guests to a Launch Party to raise funds for arts education outreach in the Houston community during Rodrigue: Houston, a retrospective exhibition of 100 original works by George Rodrigue opening Spring 2015.
Co-hosts Don Sanders and Susan Krohn join Mallory Page Rodrigue and Jacques Rodrigue at the Launch Party for Rodrigue: Houston.
Guests enjoyed live music and delicious food provided by Ruth's Chris Steakhouse.
Proceeds from ticket sales and auction items brought in over $75,000 for arts outreach in the Houston area! With these funds, GRFA will provide free field trips to students, art supply kits to local schools, and community art making events.
A live and silent auction featured one-of-a-kind works and sold out silkscreen prints by the late George Rodrigue.
Jacques Rodrigue, Executive Director of GRFA, welcomes attendees to the Launch Party.
Thank you to all of the friends and supporters who attended this event and made the night a smashing success! We also extend our gratitude to our co-hosts, Don Sanders and Susan Krohn, as well as to the amazing staff at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse for helping us create a memorable evening to advocate for arts in education.
Click the image below to learn more and see a photo gallery from the event!
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!
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