James Trawick Brings Rodeo Fest to Louisiana With a Mission
James Trawick, the Hondo Rodeo Fest CEO, has a passion for rodeo that began not where most people would imagine. It wasn’t out west, but rather far Southeast in Trawick’s…
Culture
Ruston Artist Nicole Duet and the Confluence of Art and Life
“Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach.” This snarky line from a 1905 play by George Bernard Shaw certainly doesn’t apply to artist Nicole Duet, an award-winning painter and long-time art professor at Louisiana…
Exploring Mansfield State Historic Site
On the surface, the land along the 3/4th mile Battlefield Trail at Mansfield State Historic Site appears familiar to anyone who has spent time in the Louisiana outdoors. Wind whispers through long needles of loblolly pines, and you turn at…
Generational Heritage: Books that Explore History and Families
Daughters of the New Year One Book One New Orleans, the nonprofit that focuses on literacy within the city of New Orleans, chose E.M. Tran’s “Daughters of the New Year” as their 2025 book. One Book One New Orleans helps…
12th Annual Baton Rouge Mardi Gras Festival
BATON ROUGE, La (press release) – The 12th Annual Baton Rouge Mardi Gras Festival starts with a Pre-party on Thursday, Feb. 27, from 7 p.m. to midnight at Henry Turner Jr.’s Listening Room. The main festival will be held on…
Allons a Mardi Gras en Louisiane, Y'all: Carnival's Mixed Cultural Roots
At its simplest, Carnival is all about parties. At its most sociological, Carnival is a season with deep cultural roots. Carnival in Louisiana is a celebration with three different strains of evolution: One is the New Orleans style Carnival which is,…
The Talented Artists Who Create the Fanciful Floats of the Carnival Season
At Cantrell Studios in Kenner, René Pierre ascends a ladder to put the finishing touches on an 8-foot teapot. Behind him looms a 10-foot chef who grins as he grips a dough roller the width of a great blue…
There's An Event For Everyone This Carnival Season
It’s true New Orleans gets the most attention when it comes to Mardi Gras and no one would argue that it’s the biggest and — perhaps depending on who you ask — most notorious. But celebrations big and small,…
Carnival, King Cakes and Murals Across Louisiana
From Twelfth Night to Superbowl LIX, ‘tis the season of king cakes, epic parades and official NFL events. Nothing gets Carnival season started like the celebrated Phunny Phorty Phellows’ Twelfth Night (January 6) streetcar ride festooned with “It’s Carnival Time”…
St. Bernard Parish Artist Sabrina Schmidt
Odd how things happen. The 51-year-old Schmidt, a lifetime resident of Chalmette, is a relative newcomer to the full-time “art for art’s sake” world. For almost 30 years, she enjoyed a successful career…
Bluesman Chris Vincent Croons of the Past and the Present
Chris Vincent is surrounded by guitars and sunlight in his French Quarter home. His blind golden mutt Cindy, a Vieux Carré oracle and flâneuse, cocks her head as Vincent plucks strings from his 1947 Gibson L7 named “Gloria.” From northern…
Episode 208: A Man and His Blue Dog - George Rodrigue's Cajun Revival
George Rodrigue is one of Louisiana’s all-time important artists, and may be the most important at depicting images of early like in Cajun Culture. He created scenes of celebrations beneath moss laden oak trees; life of the bayou and even…
The Cordish Companies and Shreveport and Bossier Arts Council Announced 12 Local Winners of Open Artist Call
BOSSIER CITY, La (press release) – The Cordish Companies, in collaboration with the Shreveport and Bossier City Arts Councils, has selected twelve (12) local artists to create original artwork that will be displayed inside the new $270+ million Live! Casino…
Louisiana Artists Snag 2025 Grammy Nominations
NEW ORLEANS – Last week, the Recording Academy announced the nominations for the 2025 Grammy Awards. Among the 94 categories, 20 Louisiana artists and bands made the list. The final round of voting for the Recording Academy's voting members will…
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