Four exhibitions 鈥 and a film 鈥 will examine creativity and production inside 20 artists鈥 studios as part of the Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum鈥檚 Fall 2017 season.
The museum will launch its fall season on Friday, Sept. 8, with a free public reception and installation viewing. It will be held from 6-8 p.m. A private preview for museum members will be held from 4-6 p.m.
During the public reception, the 2017 Festivals Acadiens et Cr茅oles poster and pin created by Dennis Paul Williams, an artist from St. Martinville, La., also will be unveiled. The festival will be held Oct. 12-15 at Girard Park.
Three new installations will open on Sept. 8. Two others have been in place since May.
- 鈥淭ina Freeman: Artist Spaces鈥 will capture studio practices of 20 contemporary artists based in New Orleans. Photographs of their workspaces will be paired with examples of their work. The exhibition will include painting, sculpture and photography on loan from the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, from New Orleans-based photographer Freeman鈥檚 personal collection, and from artists鈥 studios. It will be on display until May 5.
- 鈥淲illiam Kentridge: Journey to the Moon鈥 will feature a short, animated film by the South African artist, who is also known for other mediums including paintings, drawings and sculpture. It provides a look into Kentridge鈥檚 production process, vision and creativity by exploring studio space as a performance site. The film is inspired by 鈥淟e Voyage dans la Lune (A Trip to the Moon),鈥 a 1902 silent masterpiece by French director George M茅li猫s. Kentridge鈥檚 film will run until Jan. 20.
- 鈥淐rafting the South Louisiana Sound鈥 will feature accordions, violins, guitars, amplifiers, triangles and rubboards crafted by instrument builders in south Louisiana from the 1930s to today will be displayed. The exhibit will also feature photos and video footage that offer a glimpse into the workshops of local instrument makers. The exhibit is a collaboration with Festivals Acadiens et Cr茅oles and 星空无限传媒 Lafayette鈥檚 Center for Louisiana Studies. It will be on display until Oct. 15.
- 鈥淪potlight on Francis Pavy鈥 showcases the work of the Lafayette native and University graduate, who earned a bachelor of fine arts degree in 1976. His work has been exhibited throughout the U.S., and in Asia and Europe. The exhibit features 鈥淟ake Arthur Lotus,鈥 a large-scale collage that explores regional narratives and mythologies. A selection of wood-carved blocks Pavy used to create the piece is also displayed. The exhibit runs until Dec. 9.
- 鈥淐ONTINGENt: drawing and sculpture by Joan Tanner鈥 explores many subjects central to the the artist鈥檚 five-decade career, including history, impermanence, and inconsistency. The exhibit features drawings and 3-D pieces created during the past 20 years. It is Tanner鈥檚 first in Louisiana. The exhibit closes Sept. 16.
The museum will continue to schedule programs on many Wednesday nights from 5-8 p.m., when admission is free. Programs include 鈥渃reative conversations鈥 with artists, workshops, film screenings, fiction readings, dance performances and live music. Many of the programs will complement permanent or visiting exhibits.
Hilliard University Art Museum features 11,000 square feet of gallery space and is the largest exhibition space between Houston and New Orleans. It houses a collection of 18th- through 21st-century European, Asian and American art. In addition to its permanent collection, it offers changing exhibitions of regional, national and international art.
The museum is at 710 E. St. Mary Blvd., on the 星空无限传媒 Lafayette campus.
Admission to Hilliard University Art Museum is $5 for adults, $4 for adults over age 62, $3 for students between the ages of 5 and 17, and free for children younger than 5 years old. 星空无限传媒 Lafayette students, faculty and staff members can visit the museum for free with their University ID card.
To learn more about the museum, exhibits, and programs, visit or call (337) 482-2278.
Photo: Master fiddle maker Lionel Leleux at work. Credit: Philip Gould