Modernist Masters from the New Orleans Museum of Art

On Friday January 11, from 6pm to 8pm, the Imperial Calcasieu Museum will open Miro, Matisee, and Picasso: Works from the New Orleans Museum of Art.  Featuring 24 original pieces by Miro, Matisse, Picasso, this is a once in a lifetime chance to see the work of these modernist masters up close.  

Susan Reed, Devin Morgan, Randy Lanza of the Imperial Calcasieu Museum inspect Picasso's Corrida, 1953 and Wood-Owl Woman, 1951, two of five original works by Pablo Picasso.  

Exhibit Programs include: 

• Free school tours for Calcasieu Parish schools beginning January 15th at 9:30am or 12:30pm.  Please contact the museum at 337-439-3797 or impmuseum@bellsouth.net to schedule a school tour.  
• A Lunch & Learn event Wednesday February 6th at 12:00 noon in the Gibson Barham Library.  There will be a lecture given by McNeese Art Historian Bridget McDaniel and box lunches by Jo's Party House.  Lecture and Lunch will cost $10.  Please call to make a reservation, seating is limited.
• Museum after hours, Thursday January 31st from 6pm to 8pm.  The museum will extend its hours for an evening viewing.  

The Imperial Calcasieu Museum is open Tuesday - Saturday from 10am to 5pm.  Admission is $7 for Adults, $5 for Seniors, $2 for Children, and FREE for students & Museum Members.  For more information call 337-439-3797.

50 Greatest Photographs of National Geographic

The City of Lake Charles will open the traveling exhibition “50 Greatest Photographs of National Geographic.” The opening reception will take place Friday, January 25 from 5:30-8pm at the Historic City Hall Arts and Cultural Center at 1001 Ryan Street. All ages are welcome at no charge and refreshments will be served.

(North Atlantic Ocean, with 10,000 watts of light and a pair of new submersibles, the Titanic comes to life two and a half miles down. photo by Emory Kristof, 1991)

The exhibition showcases some of National Geographic’s most compelling photographs. From Steve McCurry’s unforgettable Afghan girl to Nick Nichols’ iconic image of Jane Goodall and chimpanzee to Thomas Abercrombie’s never-before-seen view of Mecca, the exhibition includes some of National Geographic magazine’s most-remembered and celebrated photographs from its more-than-120-year history. In addition to seeing the photographs as they appeared in the magazine, visitors to the exhibition will learn the stories behind the photos and more about the photographers themselves. For some images, visitors will be able to see the “near frames” taken by the photographer: the sequence of images made in the field before and after the perfect shot. The exhibition is based on the popular iPad app released by National Geographic in 2011 and featured by iTunes as an iPad “App of the Week.” Devices featuring the app will be available in the gallery for visitors to experience. 

The National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations and one of the world’s leading organizers of large-scale, traveling exhibitions. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.com.

Historic City Hall is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Admission is free, but donations are gladly accepted.  For more information, please call 491-9147 or visit www.cityoflakecharles.com.

Kelley and Arsement Awarded Artist Grants

Heather Ryan Kelley

Recently two Lake Area artists, visual artist Heather Ryan Kelley and Cajun musician Ganey Arsement, were awarded funds from the Artist Career Advancement grant with the Office of Cultural Development in Baton Rouge. The grant, which funds up to $3,000 per application, is designed to assist practicing Louisiana artists in a variety of disciplines by funding projects and opportunities that propel creative and professional growth.

Out of over 200 applications received by the state, only 26 were awarded funding with the total amount allocated at $68,452, and Kelley and Arsement represent the two funded applications from Southwest Louisiana. 

Kelley, an art professor at McNeese, received a grant for a project that will focus on James Joyce’s Finnegans Wake. Kelley will create a collage for each page of the comic novel which will collectively act as a meditation on the novel’s motifs and symbols. Kelley was born in Connecticut and holds a BFA in printmaking from Southern Methodist University and an MA in painting from Northwestern State University.

Ganey Arsement

Arsement, an accordionist and vocalist for the local Cajun band the LakeSide Gamblers, received a grant to record a sophomore CD in order to increase his exposure outside of Louisiana. Arsement has been working in the Cajun music industry for nearly 20 years, and his music stays true to the traditional styles of Cajun music. He has toured the world with the Grammy-nominated Basin Brothers, and the world renowned Balfa Toujours. He teaches at Barbe High School and holds a Master of Education from McNeese State University.

Additional grants are offered annually for arts initiatives and projects in Southwest Louisiana through the Arts Council, and guidelines and deadlines can be found at www.artsandhumanitiesswla.org. For details on other grants offered through the Office of Cultural Development, visit www.crt.state.la.us. For more information, contact the Arts Council office at (337) 439-2787.

Celtic Winter Concert with Four Shillings Short

The celtic, folk, and world music duo Four Shillings Short will be in Lake Charles this week to perform their show entitled "Celtic Winter Concert."  Toting over 30 instruments from around the world, this duo delivers a set of music that spans the globe, and offers a rare view of music from cultures few are likely to visit. 

Four Shillings Short will do two shows on Wednesday December 19, the first at the Iowa branch of the Calcasieu Parish Public Library at 10 a.m., with an afternoon performance at the Sulphur branch from 6 p.m. - 7 p.m.  The following day, Thursday December 20, they will perform from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. at Stellar Beans in Lake Charles.  

For more information visit www.artsandhumanitiesswla.org

Rock School SWLA In Session

Marcus Sawyer of Lake Charles, has recently opened a one stop shop for musicians young and old looking to learn the ropes of rock-n-roll.  Music Lessons, Voice Lessons, Music Business Classes, Booking Agency, Recording Classes, and Live Sound classes are all offered under Sawyer's newly opened "Rock School."  

With years of hands on experience in the real world of rock-n-roll, Marcus has a wealth of knowledge to offer on the do's and dont's of the modern rock-n-roll industry.  Employing a team of well known local musicians such as Kris Harper and Matt Moss, to name a few, Sawyer has created the perfect place for musicians to get together and learn everything from the most basic, to the most technical.  

Rock School is located at 2915 Common Street in Lake Charles.  Call (337) 439-0211 For more information, or visit www.rockschoolswla.com

Live Soul Thursdays with Lindsey Papion

HeatWave internet radio presents a new event,  Live Soul Thursdays with Lindsey Papion at the Foundation House, 720 Enterprise Boulevard.  Every Thursday at 7 p.m. head over to the Foundation House for great food, drinks, live music, open mic session, and visual artist displaying their work.  

The venue is a soul food restaurant/lounge, that will roll food, visual art, and music into one funky place for artist to share their work.  Artists and musicians interested in participating can contact Lindsey at info@lindseypapion.com.  

Lindsey is a highly accomplished artist who has performed for President Obama, appeared on NBC's "Clash of the Choirs," and has just released her new album "Lost Sheep."  For more information on Lindsey Papion visit www.lindseypapion.com

Jazz in the Arts!

Jazz in the Arts returns to Central School on December 16th at 5 p.m. in the Benjamin W. Mount auditorium.  The Concert will feature Saxophonist Mike Kittling and Vocalist Verlin Chretien.  There will also be an appearance by Dasia May and Reginald Larkins of Dancing Classrooms DC dance company.  Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door, and can be purchased at the Arts and Humanities Council of SWLA, or by calling Pat Daigle at 337-794-5744.  

Jazz in the Arts in a non-profit organization under the umbrella of the Arts & Humanities Council of SWLA.  For more information call The Arts & Humanities Council SWLA at (337)-439-2787, or Pat Daigle at (337)-794-5744