Clementine Hunter’s unique vision explored

Patterson, LA – The life and work of one Louisiana’s best known and most-loved artists are explored in Clementine Hunter: Plantation Life a comprehensive new exhibition at the Louisiana State Museum here.

The exhibition opens Thursday, October 1 at 5:30 PM with a gala reception hosted by Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu and the Louisiana State Museum, Wedell-Williams Aviation and Cypress Sawmill Foundation boards of directors.

With more than 60 paintings and other decorated objects, most of them loaned from private collections, Clementine Hunter: Plantation Life is one of the largest exhibitions of her work in recent years. The show presents Hunter’s intimate views of plantation life, the daily rhythms of domestic and agricultural work punctuated by memorable occasions like marriage, funeral, the birth of a child, or fishing trips on Cane River.

Clementine Hunter (pronounced Clem-en-teen) was born in December 1886 near Marco, Louisiana, in the Cane River region of Natchitoches Parish. From 1900 until her death in 1988, she lived at Melrose Plantation. The owners, John and Carmelita (Cammie) Henry, were passionate supporters of art and literature and encouraged Hunter to pursue her creative ability.

During her early years as an artist, Hunter would paint by the light of a kerosene lamp while caring for her sick husband. When canvas was not available, she painted on whatever was at hand. Cardboard, shoebox covers, window shades, bottles, purses, picnic baskets, coal buckets, plastic milk bottles, and a range of other media bear her mark.

By the late 1940s, Hunter’s reputation as an artist began to grow. In 1955 the Delgado Museum (now the New Orleans Museum of Art) sponsored a one-person exhibition, the museum’s first solo show featuring an African American artist. She was the focus of a Look magazine article entitled “Innocence Regained,” published in 1961. Like Grandma Moses, Clementine Hunter had captured the popular imagination.

On exhibit at the Patterson museum are works in varied media from the collections of Anne and Jack Brittain, and Thomas Whitehead. The collectors are from Natchitoches and knew the artist personally.

Clementine Hunter: Plantation Life will be on view through January 9, 2010. Located at 118 Cotten Road (at Highway 90) in Kemper Williams Park, the Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM. Admission also includes the Wedell-Williams Aviation and Cypress Sawmill exhibits. For information, call 985.399.1268

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Founded in 1906, the Louisiana State Museum collects, preserves and interprets Louisiana’s rich cultural heritage from pre-historic times to the present through more than 450,000 objects and works of art. The Museum is part of the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, which is overseen by Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu. For more information, visit http://lsm.crt.state.la.us/.

Franklin’s Tenth Annual Harvest Moon Fest Is Just Around The Corner!

The tenth annual Franklin Harvest Moon Fest will be held Saturday, October 24, 2009 from 11 am to 9:30 pm. Festivities will take place along Franklin’s Main Street in the downtown historic district.

There is no admission fee. Harvest Moon Fest is a community-based downtown street festival celebrating the sugar cane harvest and the return of fall. Events for this year’s celebration include live entertainment all day long, children’s activities, arts & crafts, a 5k Run/Walk, an Antique, Hot-Rod, Classic Car & Motorcycle Show, bass fishing tournament, art show, BBQ cook-off, and more.

As part of the festival, Franklin Downtown Retail Merchants will provide special sales and promotions to open the Christmas shopping season. Concession booths with local foods and crafts will line the downtown area around the music stage and an electric train will be available for rides through Franklin’s historic district.

Live entertainment will be provided by Ricky Lorenzo & Mark Robichaux, Jody and the Zydeco Hot Poppas, the Johnny Firmin Band, and 5th Avenue. All performance will take place at the stage in the center of Main Street in Franklin.

Children’s games and activities will be open to all children ages 12 & under and will include a space walk, bean bag tossing, pick a duck, remote controlled cars, pumpkin bowling, Chinese rickshaws, and much more.

Teche Action Clinic’s Adeline Guienze Breast Cancer Memorial Fund 5K Run/Walk will begin at 9 a.m., Saturday, October 24th at the Courthouse Square. Entry fees for the race are $20.00 by October 12th (includes t-shirt), $25.00 after October 12th, $15.00 for Senior Citizens (includes t-shirt), $15.00 for no t-shirt entry, and $5.00 for school teams (per student/ no t-shirt). Late registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. at the Courthouse Square on the day of the race. To register for the race or to find out more information, contact Alfreida Edwards at (337) 828-2550 ext 131 or Florence Beverly at (337) 829-2550 ext 145.

The Antique, Hot-Rod, Classic Car & Motorcycle Show will also take place on Main Street. Registration is $15.00 for those who register before October 24th and late registration is $20.00. The show will begin at 9 am on Main Street in Franklin. Awards will be presented to the top 10 vehicles, Best of Show, Longest Distance, and Club Participation. Door prizes will be awarded throughout the day.

The St. Mary Chamber of Commerce is hosting the Adopt a Lamppost Contest. The entry fee to adopt and decorate a lamppost is $20. Decorating begins on Oct. 10th and judging will take place on Oct. 21st. To register, contact the St. Mary Chamber of Commerce at (337)828-5608.

The AGU’s Fine Art Show and Sale will begin Saturday at 11 at 600 Main St. in Downtown Franklin. To register for the show and sale contact Laura Zuniga at (337)828-0811. Artist are invited to paint on site on Saturday.

The Harvest Moon Fest Bass Tournament will take place at safe daylight until 3pm on Oct. 24, 2009. Registration will take place the morning of the tournament at the launch site and weigh in location, the boat landing under Hwy. 90 overpass at Franklin Canal. Entry fees are $100 per boat with a 2 man team, $50 per boat to fish solo. Each boat is allowed to weigh-in five fish, minimum of 12 inches. Winners will be announced at 4 pm at the stage on Main St. in Franklin, LA.

The Harvest Moon Fest is including a BBQ cook-off this year. The entry fee is $25 and must be received by Oct. 19, 2009. The categories for judging are pork spare ribs, chicken (thighs only), and beef brisket. For more information contact Chuck Bourgeois at (337)940-1467. Teams may prepare additional food, if they choose, to be sold for sampling/tasting.

Harvest Moon Fest is a production of the Franklin Office of Development/ Main Street Office and the Franklin Main Street Merchant Board. For more information on Harvest Moon Fest contact Debbie Von Werder at (337)828-3706 or Joan Adams at (337)578-1505 or the Cajun Coast Visitors & Convention Bureau at (800) 256-2931 or email info@cajuncoast.com.

Morgan City, LA to host 09 UIM

World Championship Powerboat Races

The Morgan City Power Boat Association will host the prestigious UIM 2009 Atchafalaya World Championship Powerboat Races on October 17 & 18, 2009 at the Lake Palourde Parkway, Morgan City, Louisiana.

Over 100 powerboats will be awaiting spectators at this year’s championship. According to Race Commodore, Oren Dupre, UIM (Union Internationale Motonautique - established in 1922) is the World governing body for power boat race.Through American Power Boat Association's (established in 1903) affiliation with UIM, APBA receives its designation as the U.S. National Authority for power boat racing. There is one organization in each country around the world that is designated by UIM as the National Authority for that country. All these countries are member National Authorities of UIM. It is truly interesting how the sport of power boat racing brings all these countries together for the good of boat racing

As the National Authority for the U.S. only the American Power Boat Association is granted approval by UIM to hold true World Championship events here in the United States. If a World Championship event is held in the U.S. for classes that participate around the world, drivers will come from many countries to participate. The Inboard classes are APBA classes only and not run around the world, so mostly just APBA members will attend the event. However, each of the owners/drivers that win will truly hold the distinction of being a true World Champion.

Dupre stated we expect around 110 boat entries this year for the festival on Lake Palourde, including several racers from Canada, New York, Virginia, California, Florida, Washington and many others, will travel to South Louisiana to compete. Sanctioned Classes include 1.5 Stock, 2.5 Modified, Jersey Speed Skiffs, Grand National Hydros, KRR, 1 Liter, 5 Liters, Super Stock, 2.5 Stock, National Mod, Pro Stock, G.P. and Cracker Box.

The course will be four 1 ¼ mile laps, approved for records. Thrills and spills will begin at 9:00 AM, ending at approximately 4:00 p.m. daily. Pre-ticket sales will be available at $8.00 per person/per day thru Friday, Oct 16th, and $10 at the gate per person/per day; children 12 and under are free all week-end when accompanied by parent or guardian.

Tickets can be purchased at M C Bank’s Colonial Plaza Branch, located at 6413 Hwy 90 East in Morgan City, American Supply, and St. Mary Chamber of Commerce.

Non Profit Organizations will man concessions with a variety of food and drink items; for this reason, the festival organizers have asked the community to refrain from bringing ice chest & food into the parkway. Parkway & City policy also states no glass, no open fires or BBQ pits, no pets, and no firearms are allowed on the property.

Sponsorships are being sought to assist with the VIP Tent, Racers Pit Party and each class of boats competing. Current sponsors include the Louisiana Lt. Governor’s Office of Culture Recreation & Tourism, The City of Morgan City, St. Mary Parish Government and the Cajun Coast Visitors & Convention Bureau.

Anyone interested in advance tickets, tee-shirts, or sponsorship information can contact the Morgan City Power Boat Association c/o American Supply, P. O. Box 2074, Morgan City, LA 70381, (985) 384-3000, Oren Dupre (985) 498-2926, or the Morgan City Chamber of Commerce at (985) 384-3830. Please visit their new web site http://www.mcpba.net/; visit it often, it’s ever changing with updates.

Hydroplane Racing – the greatest show on H2O

Community Concert Opens

Community Concert begins its season Thursday, September 10th in Morgan City at the MC Auditorium.

Opening the Concert season is "Nearly Neil and the Solitary Band", an amazing tribute to Neil Diamond. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m., September 10th.

Other concerts include Buffalo Rome, blending west coast country rock with today’s modern country on Thursday, October 1, 2009; Hunt Family Fiddlers, an award-winning family of Irish step dancers, fiddlers, and singers performing bluegrass, Celtic, inspirational, popular, and more on Thursday, October 29; Red Hot Hollywood, a “red carpet” review of Hollywood’s greatest music memories on Thursday, March 11, 2010; and the final concert will be held Tuesday, April 20, 2010, with Daniel Rodriguez, the beloved New York Police officer who became one of the department’s official tenors after September 11, 2001,

Season tickets for the season are $45 for adults and $10 for students (K-12). Bronze Patrons, 4 tickets, are $150; Silver Patron, 10 tickets, $350, and Gold Patron, 20 tickets, $600.

All concerts are held in the Morgan City Municipal Auditorium Paul Schreier Theatre and begin at 7:30 pm. Subscription for the season also include concerts of New Iberia Community Concert Association. Subscriptions are available at the door.

Call 985-385-2307 for more information.