[225] Magazine - September 2020 by Baton Rouge Business Report

SEPTEMBER 2020 • FREE TO-GO DRINKS 16 JA’MARR CHASE 27 FALL ARTS PREVIEW 59

e g u o R n o t a B g n i p e e K

225BATONROUGE .COM

e v i t a e cr How artists are making the city better despite this year’s challenges

With the help of Taylor Jacobsen and Marlee Pittman, a 150-foot mural went up on the Louisiana Key Academy building this summer.

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• Please respond by e-mail or fax with your approval or minor revisions. • AD WILL RUN AS IS unless revision requests are received within 24 hours. • Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees. Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS This ad design © Louisiana Business, Inc. 2020. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700 • Fax 225-926-1329

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• Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees. Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS This ad design © Louisiana Business, Inc. 2020. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700 • Fax 225-926-1329

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UPFRONT //

The art of hope

BY JULIO MELARA

THIS YEAR HAS been a roller coaster, and despite feeling like it’s been a decade long, we’re somehow only in September. But as much has been canceled and postponed in 2020, there have been moments of brightness and hope—and many of those moments have come from local artists. After the Wearin’ of the Green parade was canceled back in March, local artist Marc Verret was still determined to paint the town green. He covered a blighted wall near the Perkins Road overpass—where the parade would have passed—with an enormous mural of pop star Billie Eilish. Eilish was shown crying a river, but her tears looked more like an Irish rainbow. A few weeks later, Jenn Ocken and Aimee Supp partnered on the Front Porch Project, taking photos of local families and encouraging them to buy gift cards supporting our community’s struggling restaurant industry. All in all, the project encouraged participants to donate $1.28 million to south Louisiana businesses. Meanwhile, photographer Jennifer Esneault published an e-book, Quarantine Chronicles, featuring interviews with local creatives speaking candidly about their struggles and silver linings during the shutdown. And as summer turned toward fall and schools planned their reopenings, a new mural went up in Mid City, highlighting the importance of reading to the students at Louisiana Key Academy, a tuition-free school for children with dyslexia. We know murals and photography can’t really fix the economy, cure a virus or solve all problems—and the local artists behind these projects know that, too. But they’re still picking up their paintbrushes and cameras, determined to make life a little better for the rest of us. And I don’t know about you, but after we’ve all faced such a tough season, I feel pretty grateful for that. Turn to page 30 to read their stories and see their projects.

Fall arts It’s not just university sports teams struggling to figure out a path forward for the fall season. As big as the economic fallout of an autumn without football might be, there are other organizations around town grappling with the possibility of losing

another season to COVID-19, too. We’ve written often about how much local arts organizations impact our city’s economy—and its quality of life. Fall is usually packed with events and performances that have become local traditions. But now, theater groups, dance troupes, ballets, symphonies, museums and everything in between are all trying to figure out how to operate in a new norm. While our cover story focused on visual artists making waves around town, we’ve dedicated a separate feature to exploring how local arts organizations—particularly those that focus their energies on performances— are staying afloat. Some are assembling virtual performances and events, while others are planning ahead for a strong 2021 instead—and a few are finding a way to return to the stage with small audiences. Turn to page 59 to hear the perspectives of Baton Rouge’s arts leaders—and to find out how you can continue supporting them during the most challenging season many of them can remember.

The skin you’re in No two people’s skin is the same— and isn’t that the beauty of it? In recent years, the national fashion and beauty industries have been shifting from unattainable, retouched perfection to a more authentic representation of people across all ages, races and body types. In a fall style story, we’re celebrating skin at every stage. We’re featuring three local women with different skin conditions: a 33-year-old author who unapologetically loves her heartshaped birthmark, a 42-year-old nurse who finds strength in her battle with eczema, and a teenager who takes pride in her freckles. We styled them in neutrals and earth tones to complement their natural skin—and no retouching was needed. Because as staff writer Cynthea Corfah writes, “No matter the season, real skin is always in style.” Turn to page 43 to read the story.

Backyard dining With some schools going partly remote this fall and many activities and events still canceled, we’re all still spending a good amount of time at home. And what always makes a weekend

at home better? A good cocktail. Restaurants around town have now spent months with partially opened dining rooms, so they’ve gotten pretty good at this takeout thing. In some cases, they’re even selling to-go beer, wine and cocktails. We’ve rounded up a few options around town for to-go drinks, including a frozen coffee cocktail from BRQ to wake you up; a tropical cocktail from The Bullfish Bar + Kitchen to transport you to island time; and a frozen rose from Mid City Beer Garden that is practically made for backyard family dinners and porch happy hours. Turn to page 16 to see them all. And while you’re at it, check out our monthly Dining In recipe column on page 54. This month’s recipes focus on easy, budget-friendly meals to make during your busiest fall weeks. Make the hearty Stuffed Bell Peppers and Sweet and Tangy Green Beans for dinner, and the warm, gooey Baked Apples with Oatmeal Crumble when you’re craving something sweet. Enjoy!

Meet the 225 app Good journalism is more important now than ever, and we are proud to bring you an even easier way to access 225’s award-winning writing, photography and design on the go! Introducing the new 225 Magazine app, debuting this month on the Apple and Google Play app stores. The app will bring news and stories about Baton Rouge food, entertainment, people, culture and style—all delivered to your phone or tablet so you never miss a headline. Features will include First Looks inside brand-new restaurants, guides to restaurants and bars, interviews with community leaders, and local musicians and artists to follow. Users can enable push notifications on topics they like, save their favorite articles, and access special offers for food, drinks and things to do. Download it for your iPhone, iPad or Android device today. It’s your city and your app!

[225] September 2020 | 225batonrouge.com

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CONTENTS //

Features 16 Which drinks you can take home from local restaurants 24 How the Baton Rouge mayoral race is shaping up 43 Locals celebrate the skin they’re in 53 What to try at the Capital City’s newest Thai food haven

Departments 12 What’s Up 21 Our City 27 I am 225 30 Cover story 43 Style 49 Taste 59 Culture 66 Calendar

And much more … COURTESY JENN OCKEN

ON THE COVER

Keeping Baton Rouge creative MID CITY GOT A little more colorful this summer, when a 150-foot mural went up on the side of the Louisiana Key Academy’s building. Children’s books and youngsters reading make for the area’s largest mural. The charter academy’s mission is to educate children with dyslexia, and the new mural celebrates the education and diversity of its students. Artist Taylor Jacobsen and Mid City Redevelopment Alliance’s director of community relations Marlee Pittman, photographed for the cover by Collin Richie, were two of the leaders who helped bring the mural to the building. They are just one shining example of the many local creatives who have turned 2020’s challenges into a canvas for art. Turn to page 30 to read about more of them in our cover story.

Teddy and Nancy Johnson pose in front of Teddy’s Juke Joint for the Front Porch Project.

[225] September 2020 | 225batonrouge.com

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Our 400+ pediatric specialists are here for your little one. Since 1955, Children’s Hospital New Orleans has provided extraordinary care for children and families across Louisiana, including Baton Rouge. With our all new, expanded Baton Rouge multi-specialty clinic, choosing specialized care for your little one close to home has never been easier! To schedule an appointment today call 844.200.2466.

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Issue Date: September 2020 Ad proof #1

A S K T H E S TA FF

What’s been making you smile lately? Publisher: Julio Melara

COLONOSCOPY VS.

AT-HOME COLON CANCER TEST COLONOSCOPY:

AT-HOME TESTS:

• Only screening that both detects and prevents colon cancer. • Doctors can completely remove polyps or biopsy suspicious lesions. • Insurance only covers one preventative screening, a colonoscopy OR an at-home kit. (A follow-up colonoscopy for a positive test result may not be fully paid for)

• 1:8 false positives for colon cancer with at-home tests • Positive home screening leads to a diagnostic colonoscopy. (out of pocket expense incurred) • At-home kits screen for cancer while colonoscopies screen for cancer AND polyps that can turn into cancer.

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EDITORIAL

“My son playing with his German model train set, which I was completely ill prepared to build and most likely did wrong.” —Collin Richie

Editorial director: Penny Font Editor: Jennifer Tormo Managing editor: Benjamin Leger Staff writer: Cynthea Corfah Digital content editor: Mark Clements Staff photographer: Collin Richie Contributing writers: Julia-Claire Evans, Maria Marsh, April Capochino Myers, Tracey Koch, Elle Marie, Kayla Randall, Maggie Heyn Richardson, Stephanie Riegel Contributing photographers: Catrice Coleman, Andrea Matherne, Amy Shutt, Adam Vo, Haskell Whittington

ADVERTISING

Sales director: Erin Palmintier-Pou Account executives: Manny Fajardo, André Hellickson Savoie, Jamie Hernandez, Kaitlyn Maranto, Brooke Motto Advertising coordinator: Devyn MacDonald

CORPOR ATE MEDIA

Editor: Lisa Tramontana Content strategist: Allyson Guay Multimedia Strategy Manager: Tim Coles

“The amount of creativity on social media. Staying at home more has turned my friends into artists, and there’s just so many unique ideas that keep popping up on my screen!“ —Julia Claire-Evans

MARKETING

“Playing games with my three adult kids on the House Party app. They are in Nashville, New Orleans and Washington, D.C., and since we can’t be together, we meet online every couple of weeks to play trivia and Pictionary. The competition is hilarious!” —Lisa Tramontana

Chief marketing officer: Elizabeth McCollister Hebert Marketing & events assistant: Taylor Floyd Events: Abby Hamilton Community liaison: Jeanne McCollister McNeil

ADMINISTR ATION

Assistant business manager: Tiffany Durocher Digital manager: James Hume Business associate: Kirsten Milano Office coordinator: Tara Lane Receptionist: Cathy Brown

PRODUCTION/DESIGN

Production director: Melanie Samaha Art director: Hoa Vu Graphic designers: Melinda Gonzalez, Emily Witt

AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT

Audience development director: Katelyn Oglesby Audience development coordinator: Ivana Oubre A publication of Louisiana Business Inc. Chairman: Rolfe H. McCollister Jr. President and CEO: Julio Melara Executive assistant: Kathleen Wray

“Mini dance parties in the backyard with my kids, including the famous ‘Chicken Dance!’” —Ivana Oubre

9029 Jefferson Highway, Suite 300 Baton Rouge, LA 70809 225-214-5225 • FAX 225-926-1329 225batonrouge.com ©Copyright 2020 by Louisiana Business Incorporated. All rights reserved by LBI. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited. Business address: 9029 Jefferson Highway, Baton Rouge, LA 70809. Telephone (225) 214-5225. 225 Magazine cannot be responsible for the return of unsolicited material—manuscripts or photographs—with or without the inclusion of a stamped, self-addressed return envelope. Information in this publication is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy and completeness of the information cannot be guaranteed.

[225] September 2020 | 225batonrouge.com

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F E E D B AC K / / W H AT ’ S O N L I N E / /

Farm struggles

Bird’s eye view

Image by @southern_natureshots

456

Image by @preston.salassi

300

Image courtesy LSU Athletics

‘Tiger Pride Podcast’ returns WITH THE RELEASE of our Tiger Pride issue in August, we also brought back the weekly Tiger Pride Podcast hosted by Digital Content Editor Mark Clements. Each week, he brings you forecasts for the LSU football season, analysis, news and exclusive interviews with coaches and players. So far, interviews include defensive coordinator Bo Pelini and defensive back Derek Stingley Jr., and there’s more to come! Find the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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“The farmers market gives a warm feeling of everything good about Baton Rouge. The people and food are over the top. Copper Alvarez and her staff are the best!”

IN AN AUGUST edition of 225 Dine, we wrote about how local farmers have been trying to bounce back from the shutdown of restaurants that often relied on them. The Red Stick Farmers Market’s summertime markets have provided some relief, as locals have flocked to pick up veggies and other items. One reader weighed in:

SOME OF THE images that get the most response on 225’s Instagram feed are drone and aerial shots. That was the case in July and August with these images we shared.

L TAY

Mushroom Maggie’s Farm at the Red Stick Farmers Market

—Coleman Brown

CORRECTION In the August issue, we incorrectly listed mayoral candidate Jordan Piazza’s occupation. He is the owner of Uncle Earl’s Bar. 225 apologizes for this error.

CONNECT WITH US Issue Date: September 2020 Ad proof #1

twitter.com/225batonrouge facebook.com/225magazine • Please respond by e-mail or fax with your approval or minor revisions. • AD WILL RUN AS IS unless revision requests are received within 24 hours. • Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees.

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FOR OUR MENU, VISIT ELSIESPIES.COM BEST OF

BEST OF

AWARDS

2019 WINNER

2020 WINNER

BEST OVERALL RESTAURANT

3145 GOVERNMENT ST 225.636.5157 SUN-MON: 11AM-9PM TUES-THURS: 11AM-10PM FRI-SAT: 11AM-11PM EQ 225batonrouge.com | [225] September 2020

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September

Design and dash Local designer makes quick and trendy custom clothing designs for fashionable clients

Joey Redditt creates custom clothing for children, women and men at his Baton Rouge studio.

HAVE YOU EVER wanted to have your dream dress designed to fit you perfectly? These days, you don’t have to travel to New Orleans or New York to meet with a designer. Local clothing and graphic designer Joey Redditt makes custom clothing for children, women and men at his Baton Rouge studio. His designs are a mix of casual readyto-wear clothing and high-fashion runway attire. The Baton Rouge native makes everything from fierce, floor-length tulle dresses to comfy, denim patchwork matching sets. Redditt has been designing clothes since 2010, when he was gifted a sewing machine. Before he taught himself how to sew, he ran a graphic T-shirt company called Grab it Rabbit. After his T-shirt business took off, he decided to try his hand at designing clothes. Now, the 30-year-old has more than 35,000 followers on Instagram, his own design studio, and designs casual clothes and dazzling garments for special occasions. “It’s so rewarding to work with my unique clients, like tall and short girls,” Redditt says. “The fashion industry wasn’t made for them, so at my studio you get fashion and a custom fit in one spot.” Redditt is a quick worker. On average, he spends about two hours designing custom clothing for his clients. He typically works with knitted fabrics and materials that stretch well so the garments fit comfortably and can be reworn and sewn easily. His most popular clothing requests are special occasion dresses, but Redditt most enjoys making daytime wear like T-shirts, maxi dresses and vacation-ready, wrinklefree clothes. Over the years, his main focus has been apparel. This year, he plans to venture into branded home goods like pillows, candles and drapery. Though he never imagined he would be a full-time clothing designer, every happy client fills him with pride and purpose. Redditt doesn’t plan on moving anytime soon. He wants to continue growing his brand, become a household name and inspire youth and people of color to follow their dreams and turn their art into a career. “The more creative people that leave Baton Rouge,” Redditt says, “the less creatives will be here.” thejodesignstudio.com

COLLIN RICHIE

—CYNTHEA CORFAH

Redditt’s designs are a mix of casual readyto-wear clothing and high-fashion runway attire.

[225] September 2020 | 225batonrouge.com

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W H AT ’ S U P / /

Party like it’s a pandemic

Dillon Farrell opened his coffee cart, Social Coffee, in July 2019.

12 local businesses to hire to take your socially distant gathering to the next level THIS YEAR, PARTIES, weddings and special events look different than ever before. Instead of hosting large indoor parties, people are getting creative to follow social distancing guidelines. From drive-by car parades to socially distant outdoor picnics, locals aren’t letting the pandemic stop them from celebrating. Shop local and elevate your socially distant party by working with some of these local businesses.

Balloons & yard signs COURTESY DILLON FARRELL

For jaw-dropping balloon art and memorable yard signs | Animated Art Balloon Decor and Entertainment Find it on Facebook For stylish balloon art displays Baton Rouge Balloons Find it on Facebook

Coffee on wheels

For larger-than-life yard signs and balloon displays The Real Balloons of Baton Rouge Find it on Facebook

Local pop-up coffee cart Social Coffee serves coffee and espresso drinks around Baton Rouge

Snacks For colorful and photogenic cheese boards | Bites & Boards Find it on Facebook

panels painted white and is topped with a polished wood table top. It fits all the basics like an espresso machine, coffee cups, the menu and bags of coffee for purchase. Social Coffee serves coffee, espresso drinks and chai tea. Customers can order hot or iced espresso beverages, including an americano, cappuccino or latte. Farrell holds pop-ups at local businesses, weddings, parties, markets and other special events. Before COVID-19, he could be spotted popping up at Ogden Park Prowl, White Light Night and Mid City Markers Market. Now, he serves mostly at local businesses like CounterspaceBR, The Hope Shop and farmers market The Market at the Oasis, as well as local neighborhoods like Lakes at Jamestown. “There’s lots of areas in Baton Rouge that don’t have coffee shops,” Farrell says, “so I get to help satisfy that need.” Find Social Coffee on Facebook

COLLIN RICHIE

WHAT A TIME to be alive. Baton Rouge coffee lovers can get their coffee fix from local cafes, grocery stores, breweries—and now, coffee carts. Local entrepreneur Dillon Farrell started Social Coffee, a coffee cart business, in July 2019. As a coffee enthusiast and former barista at Magpie Cafe downtown, he wanted a way to provide specialty coffee and make connections with his community. “Coffee is a culture,” Farrell says. “Coffee allows you to slow down and talk with others.” The 29-year-old shared his vision of a coffee cart with a contractor friend and turned his dream into a reality. He saw food and drink carts on the internet and wanted to have his own. The wooden stand on wheels has a bright, modern and minimalistic feel. Its base is made of wood

For healthy and tasty grazing boards and plates | Village Cofe instagram.com/villagecofe

Animated Art Balloon Decor and Entertainment owner Tabitha Miller

For custom, decorative sugar cookies Seaux Sweet Cookie Co. | seauxsweetcookieco.com

WINNERS

Annie Laurie Thompson and her husband harvest honey in their backyard.

DIGITS

420,000

COLLIN RICHIE

The number of bees local honey business Basic Bee Shop owns. Celebrate National Honey Month with a jar of bourbon honey, hot honey, honey cubes or raw honey from the Baton Rouge business. basicbeeshop.com

New Orleans’ Urban South Brewery has donated hand sanitizer to more than 150 public schools in Louisiana since April. The brewery began producing hand sanitizer during statewide bar shutdowns due to the pandemic. urbansouthbrewery.com

225batonrouge.com | [225] September 2020

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W H AT ’ S U P / /

Bluebonnet Swamp is available for birthday parties, meetings, weddings and all kinds of rentals! CONTACT US FOR MORE Issue Date: Sept 2020 Ad proof #1

INFO

N.e-mail Oak Hills Parkway brec.org/swamp • Please 10503 respond by or fax with your approval225-757-8905 or minor revisions. • AD WILL RUN AS IS unless revision requests are received within 24 hours. • Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees.

Buzz feed By Julia-Claire Evans

CATRICE COLEMAN

Looking for a great space for your next event?

W H AT ’ S N E W

Just shipped BATON ROUGE’S NEWEST park has a little bit of a twist. Millennial Park features shipping containers refurbished into restaurants, deck space and covered picnic table seating. Jive Turkey, Memphis Mac BBQ and Royal Taste of Jamaica are just a few of the food vendors at Millennial Park’s growing home at 3829 Florida Blvd., and the park has even hosted drive-in movie nights and socially distant block parties. Find Millennial Park on Instagram at @millennialpark

Thank you, Baton Rouge

Slice of life

for your patronage! Our Family is Celebrating

54 YEARS

of serving Baton Rouge the best & most authentic Italian Food!

PIZZA ART WINE, a pizza bistro concept from model and LSU alum Yilena Hernandez, is coming soon to Ichiban Square. Located next door to MoMo Tea, Pizza Art Wine says its mission is to make each pizza a piece of art. Find it on Facebook

Best Italian 14-TIME WINNER Previous Winning Catagories:

Best Italian, Most Romantic, & Best Date Night

What’s new with COVID-19

75% 4542 Bennington Ave | 225-927-7156 | ginosrestaurant.com

AMOUNT OF LOUISIANA residents who tested positive for COVID-19 but were also asymptomatic or presymptomatic in an Ochsner Health study. The study was conducted in mid-May, testing volunteers in then-hardest hit Jefferson and Orleans parishes to estimate local prevalence of the coronavirus. Only 7.8% of participants tested positive. Ochsner is working on a Baton Rouge version of the study next. ochsner.org and testbr.org

[225] September 2020 | 225batonrouge.com

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88%

COMPANION ANIMAL Alliance’s record-breaking save rate in the second quarter of 2020. When the Baton Rouge Area Foundation created CAA 10 years ago, it aimed to help the 80% of homeless animals that would be put down in East Baton Rouge Parish shelters. Over the years, CAA has raised money to construct its own facility on the LSU campus, and this past year, the shelter saved a record number of 77% of the animals in its care. The latest 2020 numbers are already exceeding expectations. caabr.org

5th

WHERE LOUISIANA’S INTERSTATES rank in a report on the worst driving conditions in the country. Only Hawaii, Delaware, Wyoming and New Jersey have more out-of-shape roadways than we do, according to the national report released in July by TRIP, a national transportation research nonprofit. But if you’ve travelled on I-10 lately, this isn’t news to you. If there’s one thing you learn while quarantining at home, maybe it should be how to change a tire?

LOVE at FIRST SIGHT? MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT is taking on Louisiana. Yep, you read that right. Lifetime’s hit marry-a-stranger series’ 11th season features five New Orleans couples, including one Baton Rouge native, Karen Landry. The show will follow the couples as they get matched by expert matchmakers, get married, go on a honeymoon and start lives together. It will run until Nov. 4. If you want to see how this ends (we sure do), make sure to keep up every Wednesday at 7 p.m. mylifetime.com

BR in the CDC Jonathan Lynch, a Baton Rouge native and former medical journalist, is the CDC’s senior health communicator and has been a national leader in helping decode coronavirus-related news for the public this year. He has been with the CDC since 2003, but since COVID-19 reached the United States, he has hosted and produced online seminars. cdc.gov

NO NEED TO HOMESCHOOL THIS FALL! We provide professional tutoring services by certified teachers for PreK-College. SERVICES INCLUDE: Private Tutoring • Online Tutoring • Study Skills ACT, SAT, PSAT Prep • Kindergarten Readiness

Ask about our NEW Supplemental Instruction Program.

Destination Studyville Studyville, a new academic coworking space for middle and high schoolers in Perkins Rowe, is staying open when school begins in order to assist students who are dealing with academic uncertainty due to COVID-19. Studyville will offer tutors for on-site help. studyville.com

TEACHER OWNED AND OPERATED 7516 Picardy, Suite A & C | Baton Rouge bestinbr@yahoo.com | 225-505-6900

BESTINBR.COM 225batonrouge.com | [225] September 2020

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ORDER THIS

To geaux drinks Baton Rouge restaurants are offering to-go drinks so customers can bring the bar home By Maria Marsh

DURING CORONAVIRUS TIMES, restaurants and bars around Baton Rouge are still trying to offer the best cocktails, beer and wine— even if customers want to enjoy them elsewhere. Some locals have exchanged their happy hour routines for socially distant porch hangouts with their quarantine pods. And as we’ve all spent more time outdoors, we’ve learned to pack a few essentials: sunscreen, bug spray and a great bottled beverage. A half-gallon of a frozen cocktail or a growler of your favorite craft beer feels like the perfect companion to those late-summer nights. Restaurants have to comply with a few restrictions, but large-batch alcoholic drinks in sealed containers are permitted—and on the rise. Here’s where Baton Rougeans can find some of their favorites to-go.

1. Tin Roof Brewing Co.’s Open Air American Wheat Ale growler; tinroofbeer.com 2. BRQ Seafood & Barbecue’s Frozen Whiskey Wakeup: Sazerac rye whiskey, Community Coffee cold brew, French vanilla, nutmeg and Kleinpeter dairy; brqrestaurant.com 3. Mid City Beer Garden’s Frosé: rosé wine and strawberries; Find Mid City Beer Garden on Facebook 4. Bullfish Bar + Kitchen’s The Bullfish cocktail: Malibu rum, Blue Curaçao, pineapple juice, vodka and “a secret ingredient”; thebullfishbar.com 5. Bistro Byronz’s Vodka Freeze: lemon, lime and vodka; bistrobyronz.com

COLLIN RICHIE

6. Rocca Pizzeria’s Summertime Spritz: elderflower liqueur, tequila, blood orange simple syrup, mango, honey and lemon juice topped with moscato and Champagne; roccapizzeria.com

[225] September 2020 | 225batonrouge.com

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C hampions We dress

everyday.

Other spots serving to-go drinks Bin 77 Blue Corn Modern Mexican Restaurant Fred’s Bar La Carreta MID TAP Rouj Creole Superior Grill Tio Javi’s TJ’s Ribs The Velvet Cactus

COLLIN RICHIE

What other restaurants are providing beer, wine or cocktails to-go? Tell us at editor@225batonrouge.com.

7620 Old Hammond Hwy, Baton Rouge, LA 70809 225.926.6892 | w w w.carriagesbr.com

Editor's note: To-go drinks must be sold in sealed containers. We added straws and glassware for this photo shoot; the drinks were not served to us like this.

225batonrouge.com | [225] September 2020

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Are you more productive in the morning or at night?

YOUR FLAVOR

Drink you’d love to sip poolside

If you could teach a school class, what subject would you cover?

Carlos Foret

Executive chef, Eliza Restaurant & Bar 44

Night

Mojito

Morning

Pineapple smoothie

Cooking

Do you have a skin care routine?

I perfected my recipe for loco moco, a Hawaiian lunch plate.

Absolutely not

A vision board for my goals

No, but I probably should.

Getting back to school

Finishing my book, God Grind

Justine Crooks

Manager, Orangetheory Fitness - Long Farm 18

Confidence and self-love

One thing you’re looking forward to this fall

Favorite creative project you’ve made this year

Cool weather

Jeremy Duncan CEO, Rapture Ready Productions 34

Pina colada

Morning

History

I wrote a new music single.

Some good old Noxzema

Yes. I love vitamin C serum.

Home decor and design

Putting my creative energy into our new business venture

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Good

I N S I D E : News briefs from around Baton Rouge

neighbors

Local nonprofit Project 70805 aims to socially and economically advance north Baton Rouge B Y CYN T H E A CO R FA H / / P H OTO S BY CO L L I N R I C HI E

Jason Hughes, founder of Project 70805, stands on a north Baton Rouge property on Monarch Avenue he hopes to convert for a mixed-use development.

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OUR CITY //

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WHEN JASON HUGHES opened his automotive business Capital City Collision in November 2015, he noticed a lack of development in the surrounding neighborhood. The shop sits on Scenic Highway near Choctaw Drive in north Baton Rouge’s 70805 ZIP code, an area with vacant and rundown buildings, food deserts and underdeveloped housing options. One month after opening the shop, Hughes hosted the business’ first Holiday Toy Giveaway and provided 500 toys for local families in-need. After its success and hearing advice from friends, he started the nonprofit Project 70805 in 2016. “I grew up in the ZIP code, so I understood the need for help and change,” Hughes says. Project 70805 aims to promote social and economic growth in north Baton Rouge by helping to create affordable housing in the area and offering education opportunities,

programming and other resources. The Holiday Toy Giveaway continues each December, but Project 70805 now also provides automotive training to teenagers—a natural extension of Hughes’ business—and collaborates with other local businesses to grant scholarships to high school students. Before COVID-19, Hughes trained 16 high school students from the Community School for Apprenticeship Learning on basic automotive skills during their elective hour. Students learn hands-on automotive repairing skills, such as how to change the oil, replacing tires and how to identify car parts. Hughes also taught the students accounting, marketing and other automotive business knowledge. In July 2020, the nonprofit rewarded 20 Baton Rouge high school seniors with $1,000 scholarships. It’s just one of the ways Hughes aims to help locals have access to better education and opportunities. He also plans to provide programming on how to pay for,

[225] September 2020 | 225batonrouge.com

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Issue Date: September Ad proof #2 OUR CITY //

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“I grew up in the ZIP code, so I understood the need for help and change.”

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Year round volleyball leagues, tournaments, and freeplay!

—Jason Hughes, founder of the nonprofit Project 70805

sustain and maintain houses in north Baton Rouge, helping residents learn how to become a homeowner, the stages of homeownership and what resources are available for potential homeowners. “We can build a bunch of houses, but if we don’t educate people on how to keep the house, the same cycle will continue,” Hughes says. The pandemic has given Hughes time to brainstorm new ways to improve Project 70805. This year, he is revamping the nonprofit’s board. In January 2021, the organization will begin its search for a new executive director. “I am taking a step back, readjusting the roles and appointing new people to

help this organization grow,” Hughes says. With a full plate at Capital City Collision and a commitment to being involved in the community, Hughes wants to appoint a leader who can dedicate his or her time and energy to the nonprofit. This December, Capital City Collision will again take the lead with the Holiday Toy Giveaway so the nonprofit can focus more on its main goals. Though Project 70805 may look different next year, the mission remains the same for Hughes. “We want to be a catalyst for the community,” he says, “to help it advance, grow and understand the value of education.” project70805.org

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OUR CITY //

News briefs

DI GI T

Compiled by Benjamin Leger

NUMBER OF OTHER Metro Council seats that are up for grabs in November. Trae Welch of District 1, Scott Wilson of District 4, Donna Collins-Lewis of District 6, Tara Wicker of District 10 and Matt Watson of District 11 are all at the end of their terms. District 10, which includes downtown, parts of Mid City, the Garden District, Old South Baton Rouge and LSU, saw the largest pool of qualifiers with eight locals vying for the seat—though one was later disqualified (see more at right).

STATUS UP DAT E

Your mayoral candidates Here are the eight individuals who qualified for the mayor-president race in Baton Rouge

Sharon Weston Broome

Democrat, incumbent mayor

Steve Carter

Republican, former state representative

“E. Eric” Guirard

Independent, personal injury lawyer

C. Denise Marcelle

Democrat, state representative

Jordan Piazza

Republican, owner of Uncle Earl’s Bar

Frank Smith III

Republican, business owner

Matthew “Matt” Watson Republican, Metro Council member

Tara Wicker*

Democrat, Metro Council member

*At press time, a decision on Tara Wicker’s candidacy was pending in court after she filed an appeal against her disqualification. Editor’s note: In the August issue of 225, we listed the first five candidates who had announced their candidacy. Qualifying ended after the issue went to press and three more names—Carter, Guirard and Smith—were added.

Already on board THE RACE FOR Metro Council’s District 3 representative ended as soon as qualifying was over. Consultant Rowdy Gaudet was the only candidate to qualify for term-limited Chandler Rowdy Gaudet, Loupe’s seat on the incoming District 3 council. Therefore, he’ll council member be sworn in next year without having to appear on the ballot in November. Gaudet previously worked as assistant chief administrative officer for Mayor Sharon Weston Broome’s administration. This summer, he joined consulting firm Emergent Method as its managing director. Though he was part of a Democratic administration, Gaudet switched party affiliations last fall from independent to Republican. Gaudet says he is “humbled” to have been elected without opposition and plans to hit the streets to meet with citizens in District 3. That includes Riverbend, Gardere and parts of St. George, including the Country Club of Louisiana.

FIL

S AY WH AT?

“Some people just don’t want to wear masks. They’ll usually pout and put them on, but about one person a day leaves like, ‘F— this.’” —Zippy’s restaurant owner Neal Hendrick, who spends up to $400 a week on disposable masks to give to customers.

GREAT DRINKS. EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE. INNOVATIVE MENU OPTIONS.

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PERKINS

ROWE

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OUR CITY //

LAWSUITS, LAWSUITS, EVERYWHERE. After the first full week of election qualifying ended July 24, four separate legal challenges emerged against mayoral hopefuls and Metro Council candidates. Mayoral candidates Matt Watson and Tara Wicker each faced a lawsuit—Watson for allegedly failing to file campaign finance reports and Wicker for allegedly not filing her state income tax return. The lawsuit against Watson was withdrawn before a hearing even took place, after the state ethics administration said he was in good standing. While a judge initially tossed out the lawsuit against Wicker in early August, the First Circuit Court of Appeals ruled a week later that she was ineligible because she failed to file two years of state tax returns. As of press time, she was planning to appeal. A third lawsuit sought to disqualify LaMont Cole from running again for his District 7 seat, claiming he no longer lived there. A judge dismissed the suit a few days later. And the fourth lawsuit aimed to throw out five of the eight candidates running for Wicker’s vacant District 10 seat, alleging residency issues for some and

tax concerns for others. A judge cleared Quentin Anthony Anderson, Eugene Collins, Markeda Cottnaham and Jay Gaudet, but disqualified William Chatman Sr., for not registering within the district or filing state income tax returns in a timely manner. Both Watson and Wicker claimed opponents were behind the legal challenges. A consultant of Jordan Piazza had filed the lawsuit against Watson, while Wicker suspected the plaintiffs in the suit against her were connected to Mayor Sharon Weston Broome. Both Piazza’s and Broome’s campaigns denied involvement. But the number of lawsuits this election cycle has raised eyebrows. “It has become a trend in the last few years to file lawsuits like these in political campaigns,” political pollster Bernie Pinsonat told Daily Report. “Consultants start looking at everything from potential legal problems to tax filings to where a candidate lives to how many times they missed voting.” Pinsonat says it can create doubts about candidates among voters. But on the flip side, it can also generate plenty of free publicity.

COURTESY LSU ATHLETICS

Take ’em to court

S HO U TO U T

D-D Breaux THE LSU GYMNASTICS head coach announced in early August she is retiring after 43 seasons. She is the longest tenured coach of any sport in Southeastern Conference history, and she plans to continue as an ambassador for LSU with the athletics department. Co-head coach Jay Clark will step into the head coach spot. During Breaux’s tenure, the Tigers won the inaugural SEC Championship title in 1981 and did it again in 2017, 2018 and 2019. “This program was not built easily, but it is now in the most secure and positive position it has been since its inception,” Breaux said in a statement. “LSU Gymnastics is one of the best and most powerful programs in the country with, most importantly, the most incredible fan support.” SOURCES: Taken from news reports

MASK NOW so we can

In Louisiana, we love our football games and tailgate parties. Let’s work together so we all can get back to enjoying the traditions that make us special. Wear a mask or face covering now to protect yourself, your neighbors and the way of life we love in Louisiana.

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JORDAN HEFLER

Ja’Marr Chase HE’S THE WINNER of the prestigious Biletnikoff Award, the No. 1-ranked receiver in the nation, and this fall will wear the No. 7 jersey. Some of the best players in LSU history wore No. 7, including Grant Delpit, Leonard Fournette, Tyrann Mathieu, DJ Chark and Patrick Peterson. The honor is passed down between teammates. And this year, Ja’Marr Chase has stepped into one of the biggest leadership positions on LSU’s team. The upcoming junior says he plans to not only live up to the expectations that come with wearing the esteemed jersey but to place his name alongside or even above those who left the most notable legacies at LSU while wearing that number. Chase started his football career at just 7 years

old. Growing up in Harvey, he never thought he’d be playing in his home state. But 13 years later, he has made his family, school and state proud. Last season, Chase became the first wide receiver and 11th player in LSU history to be a unanimous All-American. He set multiple school and SEC records. The Biletnikoff Award he won is presented to the most outstanding receiver in college football that year. Not to mention he did all of this as a sophomore. So, how does he plan on repeating the same success? Simple. Doing the right thing. “Doing the right thing can be hard, and it can be easy for some people,” Chase says, “but if you want to be successful in life, if you want to be a leader, you have to do the right things.”

—MARIA MARSH

“Now that I’ve made a name for myself, I can’t really be one of those guys who are messing up at practice, who are late and stuff like that. I actually have to be one of those guys who is responsible for myself. I have to be responsible for the team, too. I just look at it as doing right all the time.” 225batonrouge.com | [225] September 2020

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AD V E RT I SE ME N T

Dudley DeBosier recognizes those who

4LA oRight4

SOARES LEADS STUDENTS TO A BRIGHT FUTURE Franklin Soares, a Ph.D. student at LSU, has made it his life’s work to prepare students to be future leaders. His research has focused on the mental health of Black college students and the challenges they may face when attending predominately white colleges and universities. In addition to earning his Ph.D., Soares is also a freshman instructor at Southern University. When Soares is not in the classroom, he is involved in the community. He is currently a member of 100 Black Men of Metro Baton Rouge Ltd. and the graduate coordinator for the LSU Black Male Leadership Initiative. LSU Black Male Leadership Initiative is an organization designed to improve the retention, graduation and participation rates for Black male students. The initiative

focuses on mentoring, leadership development and academic support while connecting students with the campus community. BMLI currently has more than 40 Black male students in various disciplines, who share a common goal to graduate from LSU while creating a brotherhood with other like-minded men. For more information on BMLI, visit lsu.edu/diversity/bmli/support.php. In the future, Soares plans to continue his research and partner with local individuals and organizations to create a network to support men of color financially, academically, physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. His goal is to make these men become the best they can be.

Do you know someone “doing right?” Submit their name to promos@dudleydebosier.com

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AD V E RT I SE ME N T

MAKING A

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DUDLEY DEBOSIERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S LEADERSHIP ACADEMY Dudley DeBosier has always felt strongly about giving back to the community. After talking with nonprofit leaders, Dudley DeBosier realized there was a need for training especially in marketing, organization and leadership topics. The idea behind Dudley DeBosierâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Leadership Academy was born soon after. Their vision was to offer FREE training geared towards nonprofit leaders, employees, board members and volunteers. In 2018, Dudley DeBosier held their first Leadership Academy with 10 nonprofit organizations. Since then, it has grown tremendously, and this past January, 170 people registered (representing over 80 organizations) and learned about leadership skills and training leaders. It was a full day filled with not only learning but networking and fun team building activities!

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Art

C OV E R S T ORY

in t he age of

Some of Baton Rouge Gallery’s artist members, who created colorful masks to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.

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s u r i v a Coron H

C OV E R S T ORY

Local visual artists are keeping Baton Rouge creative, despite—and in response to—2020’s challenges

MORE ART IN COVID-19 TIMES This month’s cover story focuses on visual artists creating during difficult times. But we also have a feature story in this issue about how performing arts organizations and art venues are changing things up this year. Turn to page 59 to read about how artists in theater, dance, opera and more are pivoting in how they share their work during the coronavirus pandemic.

AVE YOU BEEN keeping a journal lately? We’re living in hard times, but these days are also history-making. If each day of 2020 has seemed to turn the world more upside down than the last, imagine how these stories will sound when we repeat them decades from now to younger generations. A hundred years into the future, those photos of us all wearing masks will feel just as far away as the black-and-white stills from the 1918 influenza pandemic. But today’s headlines will be retold in history books. And those journal entries will become memoirs. As the memories fade, 2020 will be immortalized through writing, photography—and art. Even when the classrooms, restaurants, theaters, concert and event venues were shut down and everything— everything!—was canceled, we noticed something: Local artists never stopped creating. Not even for a day. In the earliest phase of the stay-at-home order, outdoor murals were still being painted. Photographers were sharing their services to help shuttered restaurants. And artists were making face masks to keep us safe and inspire us. And when the local conversation changed following George Floyd’s death, murals and art exhibits followed suit, exploring themes of racial injustices and diversity in education—and sending a message that Black lives matter. By the time this magazine hits newsstands, there will be a little more than 100 days left in 2020. It’s hard to say what else those final weeks of the year will hold. But we’re confident that no matter what, artists will keep creating work that resonates in these sad, strange times. Decades from now, you might not remember exactly how you felt in March or June or December of this year. But when you look back at the art from today, one feeling might come flooding back: the hope it gave you the first time you saw it.

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C OV E R S T ORY

W h en t h e

party’s over

MARCH Organizers announced The Wearin’ of the Green Parade, originally scheduled for March 14, would be postponed. But Marc Verret still painted a St. Patrick’s Day mural. Find it near the Perkins Road overpass, where the parade would have passed by.

The St. Patrick’s Day parade was Baton Rouge’s first big coronavirus cancellation, but the mural it inspired lives on By Jennifer Tormo // Photos by Collin Richie

IT WAS ONE the first signs things might get bad here. With Louisiana’s count of COVID-19 cases nearing 20, rumors swirled that Baton Rouge’s biggest parade could be canceled. New Orleans had already canceled its St. Patrick’s Day festivities. So had Ireland. Sure enough, the Wearin’ of the Green Parade was called off two days before it was scheduled to roll. At the time, organizers promised it would roll later in 2020. None of us could have dreamed then how fundamentally our lives would be altered in the coming months—maybe years, maybe forever. But back then, Baton Rouge was shook. The parade’s statement on Facebook was shared more than 150 times. The deluge of comments expressed a mix of gratitude toward organizers for helping “flatten the curve” and despair that the Garden District and Perkins Road wouldn’t get their annual bath of green beads. That afternoon, away from the meltdown that was happening on the internet, Marc Verret was in the middle of painting his own surprise. Verret, whose artist name is Marc Fresh, was set up underneath a bridge along the parade route. He was armed with a roller, buckets of paint, cans of spray paint—and a brilliant mural idea. On top of a wall covered with Care Bear graffiti and swear words, he was painting the face of Billie Eilish, the teen pop star his daughter was constantly listening to. Eilish is known for crying black tears in her video for “When the Party’s Over.” But was bummed that it wouldn’t Verret’s piece was get the sightseers. But it turned called “Billie Irish,” out it kind of blew up digitally.” and her tears looked Yes—while no paradegoers ever more like a glittering Irish Artist Marc “Marc took drunk selfies in front of Verret’s Fresh” Verret rainbow. The finishing touch? masterpiece, it did cause a stir on Wavy green hair. social media. Verret’s Instagram post “That mural was just me of the mural now has nearly 4,000 likes, being funny,” he says, laughing. “I knew including Billie Eilish herself. there’d be loads of people who would The reaction has made the mural a walk by it, and they’d say, ‘Oh my god, 2020 favorite for Verret, who estimates let’s take a pic by this.’” he has about 50 other murals around Verret was camped out off Perkins Baton Rouge. Road painting the mural for a full day. The Slidell native has lived here since Halfway through it, he got a call from he arrived to study drawing and painting a friend. The parade was canceled, his at LSU in 1999. After graduating, he friend said. Verret pushed on anyway. worked odd jobs before getting involved “I didn’t want to not finish it,” he says. “I in the film industry, creating graffiti

and backdrops for sets. Soon, he was splashing colorful murals over our city’s restaurants, businesses and homes. He attributes his growth as an artist to his schoolteachers and organizations like The Walls Project. Like many businesses, he briefly worried his work would slow down during the stay-at-home order. He is a full-time artist whose business survives on commissioned murals and paintings. But so far, there’s been just as much of a need for art as ever. Verret spent the spring painting murals over boarded-up business windows in an eerily quiet New Orleans. He spent the summer collaborating with the artists who painted the Black Lives Matter mural

at Boil & Roux’s parking lot in Baton Rouge. He’s had some personal and commercial clients sprinkled in between. He even painted a sunshine-yellow smiley face mural for a kid’s game room at the beginning of quarantine. And Verret is still getting messages from people who accidentally stumble upon the St. Patrick’s Day mural while they’re walking in the area. It’s made him think he should start a map of all the hidden-gem murals around town so people can explore them, especially now that we’re all spending more time outside. Because uncovering our city’s art, he says, is like a treasure hunt. Find him on Instagram @marcfreshart

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Six feet apart

PHOTOS COURTESY JENNIFER OCKEN

C OV E R S T ORY

A picture is worth a thousand words, and these pictures were worth more than a million dollars for the local economy By Julia-Claire Evans

pulled up to their house. WE CAN ALL agree that the pandemic “I walked up and was about to start has been a difficult experience. But, every crying,” Ocken says. “I could hear my driver once in a while, brightness shines through. for the day yelling ‘Get it together, Jenn,’ Something like The Front Porch Project. because it was on the day that we had 60 The Front Steps Project started in portraits.” Massachusetts in March, during the Another family, the Rolands in St. beginning of most states’ shutdowns. Francisville, wanted to be photographed Originally, photographers captured images with the water buffalo they care for on their of community residents for free, and the private farm. residents paid it forward by donating to local Ocken and Supp sent a survey to portrait charities. subjects who had worked with them and Aimee Supp of PartnersOne pitched the the other participating photographers. It idea to local photographer Jennifer Ocken. asked how much they had spent to help local Together, the women decided to bring the businesses since having their picture taken. project to Baton Rouge under their own The total was more than $1.28 name, The Front Porch Project. million, with a $375 average Their version would gift a donation. free downloadable and “It was all organic,” Ocken printable image as a thank says. “It was during a time you to participants. when we had no idea what It encouraged to do or what was going clients to support local to happen, so it gave businesses struggling people not only someduring the stay-atthing to look forward to, home order—whether but it gave them a sense through buying gift of purpose.” cards, ordering meals Many local businesses or leaving reviews of have reached out to tell that business online her how business has in order to bring more multiplied because of a clientele to it. recent increase in reviews. Between the end of Ocken has since started March and mid-June, a new project, The Store Ocken shot about 900 Jennifer Ocken and Aimee Supp, seen Front Project Baton Rouge, different portraits over here with Todd Graves of Raising Cane’s, spearheaded the Front Porch photographing small 35 days, completing up Project in south Louisiana. business owners in front to 60 portraits a day. of their businesses. The The many other photographs are once photographers who again taken for free and can be used by signed on to the project photographed business owners for things like promotions hundreds of others in the Baton Rouge, New and advertising. Orleans and Northshore regions. “It is so important to stay focused on local Some of the most memorable sessions businesses,” Ocken says. “We just can’t lose were the simplest. At one Baton Rouge that.” Find the project at facebook.com/ home, the Campbells’ two little boys were groups/TheFrontPorchProjectBR holding up a thank you sign for Ocken as she

MARCH

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C OV E R S T ORY

MAY

Issue Date: Sept 2020 Ad proof #6

PHOTOS COURTESY JENNIFER ESNEAULT

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C OV E R S T ORY

Portrait s of

quarantine

When a photographer couldn’t take in-person portraits, she turned to her iPhone By Kayla Randall

TURN TO PAGE 70 for an art print by Jennifer Esneault that you can cutout to keep. The portrait, Esneault says, "is a social commentary on how during these weird times, what we consume with our eyes and minds can be just as dangerous or bad for us as the virus."

JENNIFER ESNEAULT SET out to bring quarantine stories and silver linings to the world this spring. In May, the local photographer launched the Quarantine Chronicles, a series that features FaceTime portraits and interviews with people about how the pandemic has changed their lives. She asks her interviewees, many of whom are friends who she has longed to chat with, how they’ve been impacted by the pandemic and what silver linings they’ve found during this time. The project provides a look into their livelihoods, and gets to the heart of all the feelings we share as people. The series was a bit accidental, she says. “I was FaceTiming with my parents, and I thought, ‘This is really the only way we can be together,’” she says. “And I thought, ‘Why does it have to be just my family?’” She started connecting with people, asking to FaceTime them and take their pictures using her camera and phone, since the pandemic stopped her from being able to do her typical portrait sessions this spring. For the project, she spoke with artists, educators, an OB-GYN and more.

(Editor’s note: She also interviewed 225 editor Jennifer Tormo.) “I just started having conversations and reconnecting with people I hadn’t talked to in a very long time,” she says. “It felt really good.” The pandemic has been tough for Esneault also used the extra time at home to take 40 self Esneault, as it has portraits leading up to her 40th birthday. been for so many people across the globe. “We have lunch together every day.” Suddenly, her income was gone, and she She’s also been finding her artistic voice, had to give out refunds to portrait clients. digging down into her niche. The Quarantine Chronicles project has “I’ve been trying to do a 40-day been cathartic—it’s all about finding and countdown to my 40th birthday,” she says. fostering human connections. Now, the “I make a new self-portrait every day for 40 project is available as an e-book on Apple days.” Books. She completed this endeavor in So, as she asks in her interviews, does August, in a series of dreamlike selfEsneault have her own silver linings? portraits that make you believe in magic. She says one silver lining has been somebodysdaydream.com family time and being there for her kids:

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C OV E R S T ORY

Masks with meaning Baton Rouge Gallery promotes community safety with masks that are wearable works of art By Kayla Randall // Photos by Andrea Matherne WHEN BATON ROUGE Gallery reached out to its 65 member artists to turn their art into decorative face masks to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, they all said yes. “In this day and age, if you can get 65 people to agree on anything, that’s a win,” says BRG president and CEO Jason Andreasen. “Understandably, artists are protective of their work. So we were expecting that there would be some artists who, for whatever reason, didn’t want to participate. We were thrilled to see that every single one of the artists who were a part of the gallery were excited about it.” The mask project, launched in June, is still going strong. There’s a huge variety of cloth masks available, printed with designs ranging from Katrina Andry’s stunning woodcut and mylar piece to Randell Henry’s colorful collage painting to Michaelene Walsh’s charming ceramic sculptures. The idea came from preparing for the gallery’s June reopening—with visitors required to wear masks—and simultaneously realizing masks were going to continue to be a part of our shared reality. The thought was that it was a way for wearers to feel creative with their mask choices while supporting both the gallery as a nonprofit and the individual artists affiliated with the gallery. “Their livelihoods have been impacted,” Andreasen says. “There’s fewer exhibition opportunities and potentially fewer opportunities for them to sell their work. Here is a way that we could help them through a difficult time and give people the opportunity to express themselves and support local art with their face coverings.” The gallery has been part of the community and trying to support artists for more than 50 years, he says. And now, with the mask project, it’s supporting the health of the community, the artists and their art. For every $25 donation to the gallery, patrons get one of the 65 available masks as a thank you gift. On day one of this project’s launch, Andreasen’s email inbox was full of donations. He says masks have gone out to donors in 30 different states—and two have gone as far as Norway. But you don’t have to travel far to see the masks in action: Andreasen has seen photos on social media of people wearing them, including frontline health workers who were given masks thanks to donations. And the donations are making a difference: By August, the gallery had raised more than $35,000. batonrougegallery.org/ brg-masks

JUNE Baton Rouge Gallery launched its collection of more than 60 colorful, artistdesigned masks.

A few of Baton Rouge Gallery’s artist members and masks makers: Randell Henry, Hye Yeon Nam, Nonney Oddlokken, Mary Lee Eggart and Samuel J. Corso

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C OV E R S T ORY

JULY In response to nationwide calls for protests against police brutality, more than a dozen artists contributed to a Black Lives Matter mural in the Boil & Roux parking lot.

Black lives mat ter

How local artists came together to convey this message in a uniquely Louisiana mural By Kayla Randall // Photos by Collin Richie

Kristen Downing spearheaded the mural painting.

THE MURAL IN the Boil & Roux parking lot is full of vivid color, showcasing the talents of Louisiana artists in one eternal message: Black Lives Matter. Local artist Kristen Downing curated the mural’s creation during the July 4th weekend, and organized the more than a dozen artists who contributed their own letter designs. Each letter has its own artistic flair in hues of blue, red and many more colors. After several Black Lives Matter murals were painted in cities across the country in response to the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery earlier this year, Downing says she received many requests to put a Black Lives Matter mural up in Baton Rouge. She says she reached out to people, including city officials, to make this a downtown community project but felt like she was given the runaround. “It made sense to put this mural somewhere downtown, just like other cities are putting it on major streets,” she says. “I didn’t get that approval.” She continues, “Adrian [Hammond] from Boil & Roux heard that I was trying to do the Black Lives Matter mural. He actually funded the whole project with getting our supplies and feeding the artists.” Downing wants artists to use their

creativity to stand up for what they believe in. “We can be powerful and send out a message through art,” she says. She designed three letters for the mural, the “B,” the “S” and the “R.” She worked with artists like Marc Verret, Lamont Coleman and Cierra English. “I’m a portrait artist; I tell our stories, African American stories,” she says. “I’m the voice for the voiceless.” Downing’s own design for the “S” includes the words “stop killing us” outlined in white and set against a black background. Her “B” design features the faces of Black people killed by police. The project has been a way to give back to the artist community, Downing says, particularly for artists who haven’t previously had a platform to create such large pieces. Many of the artists she spoke with said that this was their first major project. And, she says, after the project, a lot of them got other mural commissions. It was meaningful to her that everyone who worked on the mural project is from, based in or associated with Louisiana, and many were local to Baton Rouge. “If I have a door open up for me, it’s only right that I open up the door for other creators, especially the local talent,” she says. “The people with a platform have to provide that space.” “People should speak,” she continues. “Use your voice, let your voice be heard. Never stay silent. And no matter if you’re on the frontline of a protest or sitting behind, we all have a part to do to make a change.”

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COLLIN RICHIE

C OV E R S T ORY

JULY

Universal emotions

COURTESY ANTIONE LACEY

Antione Lacey’s exhibit “Muse: Fade to Black” went up at the Main Library at Goodwood. “My muse is my Blackness,” he says, and it’s why he chose to show photos depicting a range of Black feelings.

A local artist is using his work to express shared experiences of Black joy, pain and love By Jennifer Tormo

THERE ARE SOME things Black men just can’t talk about. And that’s what Antione Lacey wants to amplify in his work. “We are told from a young age to never show emotions. To man up,” Lacey says. “But what exactly does ‘man up’ really mean? It’s just hard to be vulnerable in some cases without being seen as weak.” As a photographer, poet and designer, Lacey has often struggled with feelings that his work wasn’t good enough for others to see. But he recently made himself vulnerable in the biggest way possible: bravely showcasing his pieces in a July exhibit at the Main Library at Goodwood. Just a few steps from the library’s entrance, patrons couldn’t miss his “Muse: Fade to Black,” display. Blackand-white framed photos and printed

poems stood out against a gray wall. The stories were divided into three sections, each depicting a different emotion. Black joy, which Lacey says is Blackness in its truest form, was represented in moments like artists breakdancing on Bourbon Street. Black pain was depicted in visuals from a local protest following George Floyd’s death. The heartache seemed to reverberate from the photo, a pain that Lacey says is universal in the Black community and is felt mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally. Black love is the bridge between it all. “It keeps us whole in between the joy and pain,” he says. “It is pure.” Lacey’s favorite image from this section is a maternity photo representing new life. The couple’s hands rest on the mother’s pregnant belly, forming the

shape of an ankh, an ancient Egyptian symbol that translates to mean “life.” Lacey prepared poems to go with each section. He chose to print his photos in black and white, because he says the tones complement the soulful moments he captures. But there is one image in color. It’s a depiction of a Black man’s bloodied arm on the ground. Scrawled across his skin are the words “not another hastag.” Hashtag is intentionally missing the “h,” to represent those killed by police. Hashtags are another thing that became part of Black culture without anyone ever asking for it, he says. Lacey began working with the library on the exhibit at the beginning of 2020, but it was put on hold during the stay-at-home order. After the library reopened—and George Floyd was killed—he reexamined which

images he wanted to show and what he wanted the exhibit to convey. “With all that’s going on in the world right now,” he says, “somehow we still show love. Even when the world has turned its back on us. We still show kindness. We still show a way to love others as we love ourselves.” All the positive feedback he’s gotten from the exhibit has done wonders for Lacey’s confidence. He’s grateful for all the people who have bought prints. He smiles when he thinks of those who have emailed him to say how nice it was to see a fresh face at the library, or to thank him for bringing everyday experiences to light that aren’t usually discussed. “It took me a while to overcome my artist’s anxiety, to stop viewing myself as not being great,” he says. “But I am great.” visionaryblessings.com

[225] September 2020 | 225batonrouge.com

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PHOTOS COURTES

Y BRUCE Q. WILLIAMS

C OV E R S T ORY

“The Burning Buech Sugarcane Fields”

Bruce Q. Williams’ “Debut” exhibit appeared at the Main Library at Goodwood.

“The North Baton Rouge Food Desert Photo Project”

A deeper look A photographer’s images examine local food deserts and rural farming

IN JULY, THE Main Library at Goodwood hosted a second exhibit focusing on social justice themes. Bruce Q. Williams’ “Debut” show featured visuals from two separate photo stories. Here, Williams shares the inspiration behind them. His answers are edited for clarity and brevity, but you can find the extended interview at 225batonrouge.com.

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How did you get interested in photography? When I was a kid, my parents kept their cameras on the top shelf in their closet. I would always sneak up there and get a camera. But I didn’t start really taking photos until I took one photography class at BRCC. I would always stay after class and ask my professor a bunch of questions about composition and styles. He thought my photography was good, so I started to take it more seriously. I started taking photos of music shows and eventually switched to photography full time. I learned to develop film from a roommate. Do you shoot primarily on film now? Yes. I develop film in my kitchen. I like that film is not perfect. You can experiment with it more. I think visually it looks closer to what our eyes see. Captured on film, your “The Burning Bueche Sugarcane Fields” series is haunting. Tell us that story. After my grandmother’s funeral, my mom and I drove from Baton Rouge to the funeral home in Bueche to pick up her floral arrangements. On the way, we noticed sugarcane fields being burned. I’ve seen those sugarcane fields in that area my whole life. Seeing them burn was giving me goosebumps. When I got back to Baton Rouge, I went to the store to get some film and drove back to Beuche to photograph them. It felt very spiritual, like an out-of-body experience. Those photos, I think, resonate the most with the public out of any photo project I’ve done. Why do you think those images captivate viewers so much? Something about the fire is primal—it feels relaxing and comforting. And normally you don’t see a field on fire, but if you live in Louisiana you’re familiar with how things get cropped. I thought it was a good way to showcase blue collar labor work that, maybe 20-30 years from now, might become more automated.

Your “The North Baton Rouge Food Desert Photo Project” shows storefronts of food businesses owned by Black, Asian and Hispanic people. How did you put this together? My extended family is all from north Baton Rouge. Growing up, I always noticed the food marts. They were community safe spaces for people to catch up on local news and see family and friends. I kind of had a mental map of where all the food marts are, so I woke up early one day and drove out there to start shooting.

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What did it mean to have those images shown at the Main Library, where people from all different walks of life would see them? I’ve always been a big fan of libraries. I pitched the idea to the library right before the pandemic. I wanted to make people aware of how bad food accessibility is in north Baton Rouge, and how your environment affects your health. For each photo, I included the proximity of where these food marts are from bigger grocery chains in Baton Rouge. Most people don’t have to drive far to get food if they live close to bigger stores. That’s not the case for people in north Baton Rouge. What feedback have you gotten? I’ve had a lot of people from north Baton Rouge contact me to say that they didn’t expect to see photos of north Baton Rouge in the library. And they didn’t expect to see photos that captured what it looks like to people who live there, from the beauty to the ugliness of it—like any environment we all live in.

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What does your exhibition’s name “Debut” symbolize? It was my first solo show, and I started to realize the importance of having a show at the library. The significance of being Black and having your own photo show, even though I’m not trained in photography or social justice or activism. For more on Williams’ upcoming projects, visit bqwphotography.myportfolio.com.

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C OV E R S T ORY

Reading rainbow A new mural in Mid City celebrates education and diversity in a unique way By Julia-Claire Evans // Photos by Collin Richie

Artist Taylor Jacobsen and Mid City Redevelopment Alliance’s director of community relations Marlee Pittman were two of the leaders who helped bring the mural to the building.

AUGUST A 150-foot mural was completed on the Louisiana Key Academy’s building. The mural was started in late June and took several weeks to complete.

DRIVING DOWN GOVERNMENT Street, a new mural may catch your eye. Lining the exterior of the Louisiana Key Academy Mural is a 150-foot painting showcasing a row of books alongside reading children. The young children fly and float whimsically along the school’s beige-covered wall. The five of them symbolize the fact that one in five children suffer from dyslexia. The charter academy’s mission is to educate children with dyslexia, and the new mural celebrates the education and diversity of its students. The mural is part of the ArtLIFT project, spearheaded by Mid City Redevelopment Alliance and Mid City Merchants to help raise funds for and to support public art. The project also co-sponsored a mural that went up this summer at Millennial Park. The Louisiana Key Academy building provided the biggest mural canvas in Mid City, according to Marlee Pittman, Mid City Redevelopment Alliance’s director of community relations and a Mid City Merchants board member. “We wanted to activate that big, empty parking lot,” says Pittman, referring to the large lot in front of the building. Pittman says she and her team approached the school with the idea for a mural. They worked together to develop an idea of what they wanted the mural to portray, and then held open calls for artists to create designs. Out of those, local artist Taylor Jacobsen of Urban Canvas Studio was selected. As part of his design, students and staff of the school were engaged in creating the idea for the mural and even got to pick which books were showcased, like Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary, A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle and Overcoming Dyslexia by Sally Shaywitz. “It was really rewarding because they got to choose what represented them,” Pittmam says. While the mural is stunning and colorful in the light of day, it is meant to be viewed at night. When the security lighting on the building hits the mural after sunset, the children appear to be reading by moonlight. “I hope it inspires people to understand that all around us, people are helping each other,” Jacobsen says. “They’re helping to build a better community.” Pittman says she hopes the mural will attract the attention of people driving to work during the day, as well as people coming to enjoy what the area has to offer at night, including spots like The Radio Bar and Elsie’s Plate & Pie directly across the street. “It’s a very large sign,” she says, “indicative of the importance of education and diversity of Mid City.” midcityredevelopment.org; lakeyacademy.com

[225] September 2020 | 225batonrouge.com

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YOUR DIGITAL LIBRARY IS OPEN!

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Browse and enjoy thousands of FREE digital items like e-books, e-magazines and e-audiobooks, plus streaming media including music, films, documentaries, and concerts. Stay in the know with online newspapers and magazines, and acquire a new skill or broaden your knowledge with a variety of learning tools and platforms. Kids can explore Miss Humblebee’s Academy, Pebble Go, Sesame Street E-books, Early World of Learning, and Scholastic Watch and Learn, and teens can check out TeenBookCloud, OverDrive, Kanopy...AND MORE!

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My skin, my story

Dressed in eclectic, neutral and earth-toned clothing for the fall, local women go beyond skin deep to share personal stories about their skin conditions

C R E AT I VE DI R ECTO R : Cynthea Corfah / STYLING: Elle Marie / PH OTOGRAPH Y: Adam Vo H A I R A ND M AKEU P: Cekeisha W illiams / MODELS: Ferrin Roy, Nicole Scott and Taylor Thomas S H OT O N LO CAT IO N AT ACHR O M A STUDIO 225batonrouge.com | [225] September 2020

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STYLE //

Key terms Eczema: a medical condition that causes patches of skin to be rough, inflamed and itchy Nevus: a birthmark or mole on the skin, especially in the form of a raised patch Vitiligo: a disease that causes the loss of skin color in blotches

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I WAS 25 when I developed full body eczema. I had multiple jobs, modeled for local clothing boutiques and loved the skin I was in. That was until I decided to stop using prescription topical and oral steroids to treat it. I didn’t want to use addictive medicines with harmful side effects anymore, so after years of using topical steroids I quit them cold turkey. For months, I tried to relieve my skin naturally by changing my diet, trying light treatment, and applying natural oils, organic salves, balms and fragrancefree moisturizers. By the beginning of 2020, the woman staring back at me in the mirror was unrecognizable. I could hardly look at myself. Like continents on a map, dark, itchy rashes went from patches on my skin to consuming my entire body. My skin tone went from a light brown, cafe au lait to a deep, dark brown, mocha latte. It felt as if I was wearing a layer of clothes I couldn’t take off. For months, going to bed was like a jail sentence. I was a prisoner in my own body. A deep internal itch would come over my body every night that could never be satisfied—even after hours of intense scratching, deep breaths, tears, bloody legs and stained sheets. “How will I ever feel beautiful again?” I wondered. “Am I a freak?” “How do I fight the stares, questions or unwarranted skin care suggestions?” In July 2020, in the middle of a pandemic, the eczema on my face spread like wildfire. One moment, my face was hot, damp and inflamed, the

[225] September 2020 | 225batonrouge.com

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STYLE //

next it was dry and scaly, like a reptile in the desert. My eyes were so puffy and swollen I could hardly open them. I couldn’t work like this, let alone live a happy life. So I surrendered. I went back to the doctor’s office and took the same medicines I once swore I’d never touch again. Within a few shorts days, poof, the eczema calmed down. It was as if I was a bare tree shedding its fall leaves, making room for new lively buds to grow. My skin started to smooth, and I could recognize my face again. While I wanted to heal naturally like the success stories I read about on Instagram, my body found relief with the help of Western medicine. And for that, I was grateful. Like the seasons, my skin has seen many changes, and my journey is just one of many. From eczema and psoriasis to rosacea and albinism, everyone’s skin has its own story. My path wasn’t easy, but I knew I wasn’t alone. I wanted to talk to other local women with unique skin stories and hear how they’ve overcome insecurities and learned to

love themselves. Throughout my skin journey, there have been many days I didn’t feel beautiful. So I wanted to cover the pages of our September style section with a celebration of real women showing off their real skin in timeless, fashionable clothing. Local author and inspirational speaker Ferrin Roy was born with a 4-inch, heart-shaped nevus birthmark on her right cheek. After being bullied as a child and never feeling represented in the media, she decided to love herself unapologetically. Since then, the 33-year-old has published two inspirational books promoting self-love and faith: The Mark She Kept: A Woman’s Journey to Living Her Purpose Courageously and Bloom into the Woman God Created You to Be. “I hope to teach others to live their lives no matter who is watching, be kind to others and educate yourselves on skin pigmentation,” Roy tells me. “Comparing yourself to others is a waste of your authenticity. The world needs more real people, and it begins with you and me.”

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STYLE //

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Baton Rouge nurse, yoga instructor and community leader Nicole Scott has also had a skin condition since she can remember. The 42-year-old nurse has battled with eczema her whole life. She has dry, itchy rashes behind her knees, the insides of her elbows, thighs, shins, hips and chest. “In my 20s, I saw a dermatologist who prescribed topical steroids that didn’t work,” Scott says. “In my 30s, I tried home remedies like hydrocortisone, and that didn’t work. In my 40s, I found out that I’m allergic to most topical things and was prescribed an injection called Dupixent. That worked, but it’s so expensive that my insurance won’t cover it.” She manages her breakouts with cool showers, eczema-friendly moisturizers and natural oils. Scott encourages her social media followers to be gentle with themselves, practice self-care and listen to their bodies. “It’s so easy to want to just cover up your flaws,” Scott says. “I’m still working on loving myself despite the eczema. Some days are better than others.” St. Joseph Academy senior Taylor Thomas was born with fair skin and small, light brown freckles all over her face. Despite being asked about her freckles often as a child, the

[225] September 2020 | 225batonrouge.com

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17-year-old learned to love herself at a young age. “I love my freckles and will never cover them up,” Thomas says. “Sometimes I forget I have them until someone says something.” We live in a society where photos of airbrushed skin, cosmetic skin procedures and skincare products with harmful ingredients are the norm. But whether your skin is bumpy, flaky and discolored, or smooth, toned and radiant, it’s more important now than ever before to celebrate the skin we’re in. The beauty and fashion industries have made large strides over the years, but they still have a long way to go. Fashion model Winnie Harlow, known for publicly speaking about her vitiligo skin condition, made a name for herself on the 21st cycle of America’s Next Top Model in 2014 and has changed the modeling industry ever since. Now, more designers, companies and publications are starting to celebrate people with all types of skin conditions. 225 wanted to be a part of the revolution. We intentionally chose to

feature three local women with different skin conditions and styled them in neutrals and earth tones to complement their natural skin. Glimmering golds, crisp whites and variations of brown accentuated their unique complexions. Dressed in a mix of vintage and modern clothing and accessories, the women were styled like royalty. No two people’s skin is the same. That is the beauty of our skin. From the post pregnancy stretch marks on your stomach to the scars on your knees from falling off your bike as a child, your skin is like the pages of your life’s memoir. Today and always, celebrate your skin at every stage. In a world that encourages uniformity and sameness, honor what makes you stand out. No matter the season, real skin is always in style.

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Plaquemine has 120 structures in the National Register Historic District. Two driving tours showcase a variety of architectural styles standing as a legacy from the lumber industry of the late 19th and early 20th century. Historic buildings in their original location and condition along streets lined with oak trees, houses with decorative porches, and numerous wooden mill houses, all contribute to the city’s architectural legacy from its lumber industry days.

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10. Plaquemine Lock Historic Site 308 & Visitor Services 70 997 Ho Plantation* 11. St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church 18. Tally 12. Iberville Museum 19. Nottoway Plantation & Resort* 13. Plaquemine Depot Market 20. Roberto’s River Road Restaurant Pierre Part 14. Mississippi River Ferry at Plaquemine 21. St. Gabriel Catholic Church 15. St. Louis Plantation* 22. National Hansen’s Disease Museum Napoleonville Attakapas 16. Madonna Chapel Lake Elm Hall WMA Island WMA 401 *These sites are not open to the public,Verret but can be viewed from the road 17. St. Paul Catholic Church* r

2. Live Oaks Plantation* 3. Trinity Plantation* 4. Tanglewild Plantation* 5. Sunnyside Plantation* 6. Mound House*Lake Fausse Ba Point yo 7. Mike Zito Multi-Purpose Center u Te ch Last Wilderness Swamp Tours 8.The e Jeanerette 9. Bayou Plaquemine Waterfront Park L ev

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WHEN IN DOUBT:

The North Iberville Visitors Center is open, and its friendly staff can provide information and directions to any of Iberville’s unique cultural experiences, including the Visitors Center’s own baby alligator. Find more information and plan your route at visitiberville.com. The interactive map puts the destination at 67 64 your fingertips. Find it at map.ibervilleparish.com.

East Grand Lake

Belle River

Plaquemine Lock (Plaquemine, LA) Built in 1909, the Plaquemine Lock structure was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. The area includes the Gary James Hebert Memorial Lockhouse, a museum and visitors center. Roberto’s River Road Restaurant (St. Gabriel, LA) Don’t forget to eat! Visit a local favorite and find out what made them a Best of 225 award winner. Roberto’s is a deliciously hidden gem serving up inspired dishes in a laid-back atmosphere.

National Hansen’s Disease Museum (Carville, LA) Experience the Hansen’s Disease Museum and learn about the stigma that leprosy once posed in our community. Admission is free to the museum and grounds. The museum houses roughly 4000 square feet of exhibits inside, and the self-guided 9-stop audio driving tour takes you through the Carville Historic District. Audio CDs and maps are also available at no charge.

8/14/20 2:44 PM

CULTURE I N S I D E : Arts and music events

The show must go on

… and online, too, as Capital City performing arts groups reevaluate their fall seasons B Y B E N JA MI N L EGER

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“It was unusual at the end of the pieces to not hear anything. When you’re performing, you feel a room get quiet, you can feel a room hold its breath, and you can feel a room when it relaxes and applauds. You can feel the energy of a room very clearly.”

COURTESY BATON ROUGE BALLET

—Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre’s Molly Buchmann on filming ballet dancers in an empty Manship Theatre in July

BALLET DANCERS TAKING the stage in masks. Theater productions performed entirely on Zoom. Orchestra musicians divided by Plexiglas. It’s the world we live in now. But it’s one in which the show must go on. Such is the case for Baton Rouge’s arts organizations as they prepare for a fall season with many COVID-19 restrictions still in place. Performers are required to socially distance on stage; art galleries have to designate routes through their new exhibitions so art lovers don’t crowd together; and audiences must don masks. And that’s assuming those audiences show up to the venue, since the admission ticket now might include a link to stream the performances and other visuals at home. “When everything shut down, I think the change and the drastic situation was a strong source of inspiration for me,” says Garland Goodwin Wilson, artistic director of contemporary dance-theater organization Of Moving Colors. “We launched a digital platform with online programs, and I was really able to sink my teeth into what seemed like a temporary rhythm. Now, it’s a more complicated process to figure out how to serve the dancers in our community and if that should be live or virtual. It’s a nearly impossible task to figure out how an art form whose primary mission is tactile can continue in a pretty un-tactile world.”

Many of these organizations already had their spring seasons canceled or postponed. Then, money-making summer programs like children’s camps were off the table. By August and September, organizations like Louisiana Art & Science Museum and Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra would normally be announcing their fall schedules with big events and fundraisers. But as the summer waned on, the prospect of a regular programming schedule of in-person events seemed more and more bleak. Restrictions like audience capacity would continue, and artistic directors would also have to consider the safety of their performers. Can a stage play be reworked so the actors are always 6 feet apart? Should a dance company stick to only those pieces where the dancers never touch? Should there be partitions between the wind instrument sections of an orchestra? Opéra Louisiane faced a particularly difficult prospect, as singing in any kind of group setting posed safety risks. But the organization used the summer to test out a new model. Appropriately dubbed “Shifting Gears,” a duo of socially distant and masked opera singers took to an outdoor stage at the LSU lakes in July to serenade passersby for free. “We wanted to make sure we had a good sense of what the majority of

singers are comfortable with, and that varies a lot from person to person,” says Sinella Aghasi, Opéra Louisiane associate director. “Early on, they were hesitant to perform. But now I think they are more comfortable with masks and all the guidelines.” But even though the performances attracted attendees, it highlighted a bigger problem. Streaming on social media and providing one-off events in public spaces can keep audiences connected. But does it provide a return on investment when these organizations are facing their toughest times financially? “It’s been challenging,” Aghasi says. “Ticket sales have been an issue, and we still don’t have a solution.” For its part, the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge has been helping with grant applications and finding other revenue streams. But President and CEO Renee Chatelain says the pandemic has forced a new way of thinking, as well as how to reach new audiences virtually. “I don’t think we’ll go back to normal totally—there will always be a virtual component,” Chatelain says. “It’s economically challenging, no doubt. But in a way, it’s forcing all of us to go back and say, ‘What is our mission? What do we bring to the table?’” And what they are bringing to the table this fall is a limited schedule of events, with a variety of ways for

audiences to see their work. They’re experimenting with Zoom and onstage arrangements so they can maintain the quality locals have come to expect—and to keep it worth the price of admission. They’re also expecting to pivot at a moment’s notice if the fall brings another wave of COVID-19 challenges. “Everything through the end of January has multiple options,” says Of Moving Colors’ Wilson. “We’re moving forward with hybrid options and preparing to be ready for strictly virtual if that’s the case.” For Molly Buchmann, who has served as Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre’s co-artistic director since 1976, the fall season has helped her reflect on the resilience and adaptability of artists. “Nothing is the same this year,” Buchmann says. “But the one thing that’s always stood out to me is that creative people are flexible. I think that makes the arts community what it is. I believe we are going to be adaptable. And that may not help us financially, but it’s going to help us get our art out there.”

Visit the Arts Council’s website for resources on how to support local arts organizations. artsbr.org

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What’s on for the fall A look at how some of Baton Rouge’s many arts organizations will be providing performances By Benjamin Leger and events for audiences this season

COURTESY OPERA LOUISIANE

PERFORMING ARTS

A previous production of Opéra Louisiane’s Amahl and the Night Visitors

Opéra Louisiane WHAT’S ONLINE: Artistic Director Michael Borowitz’s live chats on Facebook with guest artists from previous productions, dubbed “Maestrotini.” There’s also an ongoing Facebook trivia series, and the organization has uploaded previous performances to its website for free. “It’s been a great way for patrons to feel like they are still connected,” says Sinella Aghasi, Opéra Louisiane’s associate director. WHAT’S NEXT: Watch for more of the “Shifting Gears” performances, where masked opera singers belt out opera favorites in outdoor spaces. On Oct. 16, the company will stage a virtual production of The Barber of Seville, cast entirely through popular vote in an online fantasy draft in August. The “Lunch with Leanne” series returns in November with four virtual shows featuring singers from across the country and a Zoom meet-and-greet. In December, the holiday performance of Amahl and the Night Visitors returns, though details were still being ironed out at press time. operalouisiane.com

Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre WHAT’S ONLINE: A recorded performance of pieces from She Moves …, which was postponed this spring. Masked ballet dancers took the stage in July and performed the Suffragetteinspired pieces before empty seats at the Manship Theatre. It’s now available online for a small fee. “It was very important for us as an organization run by women to celebrate this,” says Co-artistic Director Molly Buchmann. “We wanted these new pieces that these choreographers and dancers put their hearts and souls into to be put on film.” WHAT’S NEXT: In mid-October, BRBT’s Youth Ballet and company dancers per-

form Midnight Magic, which will also be posted online. While the massive holiday production of The Nutcracker: A Tale from the Bayou was unfortunately canceled, BRBT still plans to host smaller holiday events in November and December. “The Nutcracker Sweets” will be a three-part Zoom series for kids with storytelling, dancing, treats and crafts available for pickup, and appearances from the ballet’s dancers. batonrougeballet.org

Of Moving Colors WHAT’S ONLINE: Components of the spring “CityBound” series, with videos of dancers around the city, and nearly a dozen “IttyBitty” videos that feature short movements taught by the dance/theater organization’s network of dancers. “Leaning on that uncertainty from the pandemic is exactly what performing arts companies are having to do all across the globe,” says Artistic Director Garland Goodwin Wilson. WHAT’S NEXT: The Byrde’s Dancers Scholarship Luncheon on Sept. 17 in-person and through Zoom at the Old Governor’s Mansion. The event raises money for underprivileged kids to train with OMC for its annual “Kick It Out” show in January. The company is also developing an arts enrichment program for area 9th grade English classes that acts as a “virtual field trip” featuring a video performance of Romeo & Juliet. Meanwhile, the company’s adult dancers will be gearing up for next April, when OMC plans to host a spring concert with three dance works. ofmovingcolors.org

Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra WHAT’S ONLINE: The BRSO @ Home series, which features nearly 40 performances from the orchestra’s musicians sharing their talents solo

Enjoy an oasis in the heart of the city. Stroll through the beautiful gardens and walk the many trails of the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens and Windrush Gardens. Step back in time to 19th century rural Louisiana at the open-air LSU Rural Life Museum.

Upcoming Events 50th Anniversary Exhibition Series

A Yardman's Art: the Inspiration of Steele Burden September 18-November 20 . 8 a.m.-5 p.m. LSU Rural Life Museum

Rural Life Alive!

Living History and Artisan Demonstrations Wednesdays and Fridays . Oct. 2 – Nov. 20 . 10 a.m.-2 p.m. LSU Rural Life Museum Visit our website for a schedule of topics: lsu.edu/rurallife

Harvest Days

October 3 . 8 a.m.-5 p.m LSU Rural Life Museum

Corn Maze at Burden

October 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31 . 10 a.m.-5 p.m. LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens

Tickets available for two-hour scheduled experiences. Advanced tickets required. Available at BonTempsTix.com

Haints Haunts and Halloween October 25 . 3-6 p.m. LSU Rural Life Museum

Wine & Roses at a Distance

An extraordinary online raffle of art, gifts and other unique items.

September 14-November 23 LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens

Learn more at LSUAgCenter.com/BotanicGardens

Due to Covid 19, events are subject to change. For details about these and other events, visit our website or call 225-763-3990. Admission may be charged for some events.

Burden Museum & Gardens . 4560 Essen Lane . DiscoverBurden.com . Baton Rouge Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily . 225-763-3990 225batonrouge.com | [225] September 2020

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from their homes. “When the pandemic started, a lot of them really kind of dug in and created a lot of art,” says Executive Director Eric Marshall. “They were at home with nothing to do, so you had this wealth of creativity.”

“When you are used to having that harmony right in your ear or right next to you to get that cohesive sound, spacing out and distancing requires an adjustment. And the delay when sound travels across a room is something you have to account for, too.”

COURTESY LASM

COLLIN RICHIE

WHAT’S NEXT: Sept. 17 brings the start of the Lamar Family Chamber Series, with four shows featuring small ensembles. The September show takes place at First Presbyterian Church and features a flautist, guitarist and baritone vocalist. The rest of the series includes Bachtoberfest on Oct. 16, the String Quartet on Nov. 12 and Holiday Brass on Dec. 16. Another special holiday concert will be Dec. 6 at Houmas House & Gardens, and BRSO intends to return to full orchestra performances in the spring. brso.org

ART GALLERIES, MUSEUMS and VENUES

Louisiana Art & Science Museum’s Frances Lee says the 75,000-square-foot building makes 50% capacity an easy guideline to follow. “I would be surprised if we had to turn people away from the door.”

Louisiana Art & Science Museum

WHAT’S NEXT: The museum’s annual gala will go virtual Sept. 25, with several Facebook Live streams leading up to the event to preview silent auction items. The gala’s “water” theme coincides with a new exhibition of water-inspired works by 12 Louisiana artists. The museum launched “Cosmos: Imagining the Universe” and an exhibition of landscape paintings by Will Henry Stevens in August. Both will stay on view through next summer. Also, an exhibition of Frank Hayden’s sculptures has been extended through January. lasm.org

WHAT’S ONLINE: Regular updates to virtual-lasm.org with educational resources, videos and activities for a variety of age groups. That’s become more important now that the museum likely won’t be welcoming school field trips in the fall. “We had never really done virtual programming before, so this has really pushed us out of our comfort zone and enabled us to think differently about how we reach our community,” says Frances Lee, director of communications.

—Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra’s Eric Marshall on the potential difficulties of distancing musicians on stage or putting up Plexiglas barriers

LSU Museum of Art WHAT’S ONLINE: A library of artist talks is up on its YouTube channel. There are also instructions for at-home art activities through social media. Courtney Taylor, curator and director of public programs, says the online programming has inspired the team to find ways to use Google Classroom and even 3D scanning to bring art to kids who might not be able to visit the museum now. “It’s good to create something that can be used forever by teachers,” she says.

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and About the New South.” The museum is planning virtual talks with Huckaby as well as other artists this fall. The currently-on-view “Living with Art: Selections from Baton Rouge Collections” will end its run Sept. 27. lsumoa.org

COURTESY LSUMOA

WHAT’S NEXT: On Sept. 17, the museum debuts a new exhibition by Letitia Huckaby, featuring quilted photographic works inspired by her connections to Louisiana. In October, the museum brings “Southbound: Photographs Of

Letitia Huckaby’s “Cotton Pests and Diabetes” features pigment prints sewn into a patchwork quilt.

Extended viewing THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC has led many museums to extend shows that were otherwise set to end this spring and summer. “We don’t want to invest heavily in shows that no one would have a chance to see,” says LSU Museum of Art’s Courtney Taylor. “Luckily our art lenders and donors have been extremely helpful and flexible during this time.” Curators have also made plans to stretch out future exhibitions, rotate them less frequently or add more in-house exhibitions from the permanent collections—partially to give visitors more time to see the art, but also to compensate for staff and budget cuts. “This allows us the chance to take a breath and also show off more of our permanent collection, which we don’t get to exhibit very often,” says Louisiana Art & Science Museum’s Frances Lee. But extended exhibits present another challenge: “Anything sensitive to light or works on paper, that’s not something we can extend for too long,” Taylor says.

Baton Rouge Gallery WHAT’S ONLINE: A treasure trove of twicea-week Facebook videos called “Artists in Residences” where local artists show off their studios. You can also still find “The Flat Curve Gallery” where more than 500 artists have submitted artworks created during the pandemic. “[At the time,] we didn’t feel good about just throwing up our hands and saying, ‘We’re closed.’ We wanted to still be of service to the community,” says Executive Director Jason Andreasen. WHAT’S NEXT: September brings the long-awaited return of regular monthly artist member exhibitions. This month features photographs of wading Louisiana birds by Mary Ann Caffery, abstract prints by Rosemary Goodell, mixed media pieces by Malaika Favorite and sculptural works by Michael W. Howes. batonrougegallery.org

Manship Theatre WHAT’S ONLINE: The multi-faceted venue created a virtual cinema this summer where patrons could purchase a ticket to stream films. It also created a “Manship Musical Moments” video series on social media with short performances from local musicians. Its summer camp and kids musical went online, too. WHAT’S NEXT: While the virtual cinema experience is still going on, film screenings returned to the theater’s big screen in July with everything from Purple Rain to The Goonies. Many concerts and other performances at Manship that were scheduled for this year have been rescheduled for 2021. manshiptheatre.org

COMING THIS NOVEMBER... A SPECIAL COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE CELEBRATING BATON ROUGE! Don’t miss out on our anniversary issue! To reserve space today contact Erin Pou at erinp@225BatonRouge.com

225batonrouge.com | [225] September 2020

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Issue Date: September 2020 Ad proof #2

C U LT U R E / /

Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS

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Best Meat Market 2019 & 2020 Iverstine Farms Butcher delivers farm-fresh beef, chicken, pork, and dairy to East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Livingston, and Ascension Parishes.

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BATON ROUGE • 225.349.8200 • IVERSTINEFARMS.COM • 4765 PleasePERKINS respond by RD, e-mail or fax with your approval or minor revisions. • AD WILL RUN AS IS unless revision requests are received within 24 hours. • Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees. Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS This ad design © Louisiana Business, Inc. 2020. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700 • Fax 225-926-1329

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New Venture Theatre WHAT’S ONLINE: Video discussions with artists about supporting Black theater. Every Sunday, New Venture hosts an open mic night on Instagram. Executive Artistic Director Gregory Williams Jr. says the team also plans to offer online master classes with Broadway actors, renowned professors and screenwriters. WHAT’S NEXT: Though the African-American theater company had to cancel productions of Annie and The Bodyguard this spring and summer, Williams says it will not be performing live this year or rescheduling any of the canceled shows. But the company plans to start performing all new live productions again in February 2021. newventuretheatre.org

Theatre Baton Rouge celebrates its 75th season this year, but Managing Artistic Director Jenny Ballard says upcoming productions such as American Son will require significant adjustments.

Playmakers of Baton Rouge

Theatre Baton Rouge

WHAT’S ONLINE: Executive Director Todd Henry started the Facebook Live series “Playmakers Live” this spring—a variety show, talk show and musical theater showcase all in one. July brought a virtual children’s musical, The Show Must Go Online!, followed in August by a Zoom production of 10 Ways to Survive Life in a Quarantine.

WHAT’S ONLINE: The city’s largest theater company was the first to dive into Zoom productions with successful virtual runs of How I Learned to Drive and A Doll’s House, Part 2. In early August, TBR streamed its fifth annual gala on Vimeo for a ticketed audience. The gala featured socially distant stage performances by local talent that were filmed in July.

WHAT’S NEXT: A fundraising campaign in September for the 38th season, called “38 Days of Giving.” Playmakers will also start an online series with a chance to purchase tickets to view archival footage of classic Playmakers shows. playmakersbr.org

WHAT’S NEXT: It is planning to offer in-person performances of American Son with limited seating in September. The play tells the story of a biracial couple dealing with the fallout after their son is detained by police. theatrebr.org

Red Magnolia Theatre Company WHAT’S ONLINE: While the fledgling women’s theater company had to cancel its spring events and wasn’t able to hold online events, it did co-sponsor a screening of the 2015 film Suffragette and the partnering traveling exhibit, “Determined to Rise: The Woman’s Suffrage Movement in Louisiana” in August at the Manship Theatre. WHAT’S NEXT: Next year, the company plans to perform Laundry and Bourbon and Belles, shows that were canceled this season. If the opportunity to perform live this year happens, the theater will consider it, artistic vice president Macy Jones says. redmagnoliatc.org

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WHAT’S ONLINE: After completing its last live production—Ella Hickson’s Oil in February—the nonprofit professional theater company hosted a virtual student-lead short film festival, monthly online panel discussions on theater and the Black community, and worked with KLSU to perform Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest on radio in July.

#38003 #AM-50-BAJ

THEATER

WHAT’S NEXT: An online performance is in the works of Small Mouth Sounds, a play about six runaways from the city and the lessons they learn at a silent retreat. The nonprofit plans to start performing again in-person in spring 2021. One of the shows on the theater’s roster is The Wolves by Sarah DeLappe. swinepalace.org

COLLIN RICHIE

Editor’s note: Because of COVID-19, events are subject to change. Check with the arts organizations and venues for the latest information.

MUSIC BEST BETS SEPT. 4 The Red Dragon Listening Room will host Slim Bawb! once again. The country singer-songwriter will display his far-reaching talents on multiple instruments. Steve Judice will open. Find the event on Facebook SEPT. 10 The Beauvoir Park venue at 2834 Greenwood Drive near the Perkins Road overpass hosts the psychedelic-rock band Hydra Plane. Find the event on Facebook SEPT. 22 Albert Cummings has played alongside greats like B.B. King and Buddy Guy, and he brings his talents to the Red Dragon Listening Room. Find the event on Facebook Editor’s note: Check with the venues for updated dates and times.

[225] September 2020 | 225batonrouge.com

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Issue Date: Sept Ad proof #2

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Issue Date: September 2020 Ad proof #2

CALENDAR //

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TWO FAVORITES Love yoga and locally brewed beer? Look no further. Join Tin Roof Brewing Company for its free, hour-long Yoga on the Lawn class every Wednesday until Sept. 16. Spots are limited, so participants must register online. Find the event on Facebook

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Issue Date: September 2020 Ad proof #1

Data from NIMH otheryour selectapproval sources. Find citations for this resource at nami.org/mhstats • Please respond byCDC, e-mail or and fax with or minor revisions. • AD WILL RUN AS IS unless revision requests are received within 24 hours. • Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees.

CHEER ON YOUR TEAM

MOVE WITH PURPOSE Walk or run to help raise funds and show support for childhood cancer research at the annual St. Jude Walk/ Run. Participants may join as a team or an individual and compete against other teams and individuals to see who can raise the most money for the cause. The walk/run is a virtual event. stjude.org/ walkbatonrouge

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Issue Date: September 2020 Ad proof #4 Where play aro to Baton R und o this monuge th C ompiled b y Maria Mars h

CALENDAR //

ALSO THIS MONTH

ALL MONTH Red Stick Farmers Market works hard to bring Baton Rouge the freshest local produce year-round. It is open Thursdays behind Pennington Biomedical Center and Saturdays next to Main Street Market downtown. breada.org ALL MONTH Join some Friday night tennis lessons/round-robin matches. The events are held at BREC’s Forest Community Park. Find the event on Facebook SEPT. 4 Healing Place Kids presents: Cooking with Smythe, an online event for children to learn a new recipe from their chef friend, Smythe. The required ingredients will be posted prior to the class. Find the event on Facebook SEPT. 10 + 23 Enjoy paddle boarding or kayaking with a Sunset Paddle at BREC’s Milford Wampold Memorial Park. Participants of all skill levels are welcome to enjoy an evening on the water. Find the event on Facebook

WALK TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE The Baton Rouge Walk to End Alzheimer’s has moved online. The hosts of the event encourage participants to walk around their own neighborhoods with their loved ones. The event raises money to research possible ends to Alzheimer’s. alz.org

SEPT. 28 The National Kidney Foundation of Louisiana will host the 24th annual Baton Rouge Golf Tournament. The event will be held at the Country Club of Louisiana. Lunch and dinner will be provided. Find the event on Facebook MORE EVENTS Subscribe to our 225 Dine e-newsletter for our weekly roundup of events. 225batonrouge.com

ON THE ROAD NEW ORLEANS

504

1: COOLinary New Orleans, neworleans.com/coolinary

TEE TIME Join the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank in a round of golf to help fight hunger in the community. The Slice of Life Golf Classic will be at Carter Plantation in Springfield and will begin at 10 a.m. brfoodbank.org/ sliceoflife2020

12: Sista Strut, find the event on Facebook 26: The Big Gay 5K, New Orleans Virtual Run, find the event on Facebook

LAFAYETTE

337

11: UNITE, acadianasymphony.org

26: Bayou Festival and Boat Parade, find event on Facebook 27: Vintage Market at the Wurst, find the event on Facebook Editor’s note: Event details are as of press time in mid-August. Please check with the events for the latest information.

HOMECOMING 2020 COMING SOON… HERRINGSTONE’S BATON ROUGE 7474 Corporate Blvd Ste C | 225.239.5239 | www.herringstonesboutique.com 225batonrouge.com | [225] September 2020

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PRESENTS:

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[225] September 2020 | 225batonrouge.com

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Issue Date: August LSU 2020 Ad proof #3 WRITE ON //

Passing time to me to slow down, breathe and try I MUST HAVE seen the mural dozens to find love, beauty and goodness of times before. wherever I can. But I don’t think it really hit me At times, that’s felt harder than until this summer. ever this year. “Doomscrolling” Passing by downtown’s quiet through the news feels downright Ferdinand Street on my bike, the depressing—but in an election year, bold, black lettering seemed to catch keeping up with that news also feels my eye anew. more essential than ever. The words read, “You lose a lot of And don’t even get me started on time, hating people.” the comments on those The quote on the news stories. I think a lavender and pale yellow lot of journalists have a crocheted mural appears running joke to “never next to a woman’s face. read the comments.” She’s larger than life, But in reality, we always and seems to be looking do. toward the sky. In a time when It was brutally hot absolutely everything is that evening, and I was politicized, I think we eagerly making my have all spent a lot of way toward the breezy time feeling angry this riverfront, where the year. I know I’ve perwind would blow my By Jennifer Tormo sonally been frustrated hair out of my eyes. about people who But as I biked down refuse to do something as simple as the levee, I wasn’t thinking much wear a mask, about others who don’t about the heat, the setting sun or agree with views, and about how the bugs zipping through the air no-end-in-sight this pandemic feels. alongside me. I recently ran into a friend I hadn’t Because I couldn’t seem to get the seen since March, and we talked mural’s words out of my mind. about how we have to “figure out I remembered learning about a way to safely hang out sometime how the piece was installed last soon.” I was struck by how sad and year. It was created by Philadelphia hopeless her tone felt, though. artist Olek. He stitched together “You see that no one else around us crocheted squares created by his cares about all of this, don’t you?” she local community to create one giant, asked me, referring to the state of the meaningful image. world. “Do you feel it, too?” That message was brought to I nodded, because I did feel it—and Baton Rouge to line the side of still feel it. In truth, it seems like most The Arts Council’s upcoming Cary of my friends feel it, as well. Saurage Community Arts Center Or at least I thought they did. Until headquarters. I talked to another friend who said The mural’s face and quote, though, she thought this year had actually belong to musician and civil rights made us all kinder. More empathetic activist Marian Anderson. to what others are going through. And And as I biked that day, I was more creative than ever, as we literally thinking about how the meaning restructure our entire lives. of Anderson’s words—which seem This year is going to change us all— so simple, so universal—must have but it’s up to us how it changes us. changed throughout the years. So that night on my bike, I rode They must have meant something past the mural again, just to see it one different when Anderson, who was more time. the first African American to perform I took a deep breath, and tilted my at the Metropolitan Opera back in head toward the sky just as Anderson 1955, first spoke them decades ago. was doing in the mural. And her words echoed a little I thought of all the artists—and so differently when they went up on many other types of people—who that wall in Baton Rouge in April despite it all are still trying to make 2019 than they do today, to a person our city, our world better. passing by them in the middle of a And in that better world, there is no pandemic. room for time spent hating people. But that night they were a reminder

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FRAMED //

In every issue of 225, you’ll find a free print on this page. FRAMED celebrates life and art in Baton Rouge, each one featuring a local photographer, place or graphic designer. Cut it out to hang in your cubicle, or frame it for your home gallery wall. Show us where you hang them by tagging them on social media with #225prints.

DEATH BY CONSUMPTION PHOTO BY JENNIFER ESNEAULT / @jennifer.esneault GET FEATURED We love spotlighting local photographers, artists and designers for this page! Shoot us an email at editor@225batonrouge.com to chat about being included.

[225] September 2020 | 225batonrouge.com

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