La Prix de la Franco-Responsabilité
The 2013 Louisiana Culture Awards celebrated April 23 the work of Arnaudville native and resident Mavis Arnaud Frugé, a 26-year advocate for French language usage.
Photo by Myriam Jegat
The awards ceremony was conducted at the Louisiana Capitol Park Museum, where upon the announcement of Frugé’s name, Breton musicians
Erwan Lhermenier (clarinet) and Tudual Hervieux (pipes) accompanied her as she walked to the podium. No exaggeration, easily one-fifth of the room stood on their feet cheering.
Frugé has hosted more than 300 French speakers at her home since 1994. She has for seven years served as director of the Jacques Arnaud French Studies Collective, a francophone community developed in Arnaudville. The collective focuses on the four sectors of the Prix de la Franco-Responsabilité: education, culture, economy and professionalism.
She founded and participated in numerous francophone programs from Louisiana to Nova Scotia to France, and through the collective’s partnership with NUNU
Arts and Culture Collective, is one of the hosts of Semaine Française d’Arnaudville, an international six-day rural cultural summit on Creative Placemaking.
Félicitations Mavis!
Vous faites la mode française.
(You make French fashionable.)
Semaine Française d’Arnaudville
Photos by Myriam Jegat
EVENTS SCHEDULE
May events at NUNU Arts and Culture Collective are:
Every Thursday – 1:30 p.m., Les Coudre Points, quilting en français. For more information call 337-754-7115.
Second Sunday - 3 p.m., May 12, Contra and Squares dance. Music by Eric Frey, Clelia Stefanini & Richard Burgess. Callers are: Charlene Heaton (contra) and Steve Bing (squares). $5 suggested donation. NUNU Culinary Collective sells non-alcoholic beverages and plate suppers.
Third Friday - 7 p.m., May 17, Pot Luck social. Think Big House Party. Cost of admission, your “most favorite” dish for contribution to communal dinner. Non-alcoholic beverages available for purchase. Help us celebrate the birthday of Arnaudville Mardi Gras King, Bryon Boudreaux. See the work of students from Lycee de Beaumont, completed during Semaine Française d’Arnaudville. Music by The Pot Luck Band.
Last Saturday – 9 a.m.-noon, May 25, La Table Française. Francophone gathering. Coffee and homemade treats are served along with fun topics for group conversation. A true immersion experience.
Photo by Myriam Jegat
Deux Bayous Gallery
Gourd honors
Deux Bayous Gallery member Karen Willingham’s gourd work received honors in April when the Louisiana Gourd Society Bete II Chapter awarded her three blue ribbons.
Willingham’s work can be viewed and purchased at Deux Bayous Gallery in the NUNU Arts and Culture Collective.
The Deux Bayous Gallery extends its days of operation this March, by adding a third day for operation. Now open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
Deux Bayous Gallery features member Linda Jeffers
Jeffers’ work featured at Deux Bayous Gallery
The Deux Bayous Gallery welcomes member Linda Jeffers as its featured artist for April and May.
Jeffers, known for compelling constructions,
sculptures and assemblages which depict current events, pop culture and personal events, has been a member of the Baton Rouge Gallery since 1993. Jeffers lives and works in Baton Rouge, maintaining Jeffers’ Studio.
Jeffers attended Louisiana State University where she received a Master of Fine Arts and Master of Education degrees. She has taught in East Baton Rouge Parish, at Louisiana State University, at Baton Rouge Community College and has initiated several art programs in East Baton Rouge.
Jeffers exhibits both locally and nationally. She is recipient of numerous awards. Many of her paintings and assemblages are found in the Hospice of Acadiana’s collection.
Jeffers attributes the influence of Adelaide Brent, a renowned artist, as the reason she became both artist and teacher.
Jeffers reports that she is searching “for still more novel approaches” to express her psychodramas.
The Deux Bayous Gallery is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.