Mark Your Calendars

Mark Your Calendars

AN OPERA, A FESTIVAL, AND AN EXHIBITION

Jordan LaHaye Fontenot

September always carries a sense of anticipation with it, ushering in cooler temps, new beginnings, and the height of our region’s arts season. That this particular September came with especial expectations hardly needs to be said—expectations that have largely been disappointingly dashed by the recent spike in COVID-19 cases. But as always—as is evidenced throughout this issue— our arts organizations carry on. With safety in mind, we’ve earmarked three events from our calendar that piqued our interest for their historical, educational, and philanthropic impacts. From Abita Springs to Port Allen to the safety of your home, we hope to see you there.

Moonshadow Festival (September 4–5)

Facilitated by the nonprofit A. Glantz— which is dedicated to creating programming designed to fuel the artistic community in the Greater New Orleans area—this inaugural festival in Abita Springs joins local music performances with culinary indulgence, visual and performing arts, wellness, and environmental sustainability. The multifaceted experience will elevate creatives from the region while fostering community in the beautiful environs of rural Abita Springs. Attendees must have proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test taken within the last seventy-two hours, or they will be required to wear a mask.

Capital Trash (September 17)

Have you ever heard an aria about garbage? In Opéra Louisiane’s latest creation, a mini opera presented in conjunction with Marie Constantin of the Louisiana Stormwater Coalition, Baton Rouge’s trash problem is the star of the show. Aiming to inspire locals to clean up their hometown and protect the region’s waterways, this production will be presented virtually as part of the Arts Council of Baton Rouge’s Ebb & Flow Festival.

Music Behind the Gates (opens September 18)

In its newest exhibition, the West Baton Rouge Museum explores the distinct art being created behind the bars of the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. The history of the infamous prison is colored by the bands created by its prisoners, the iconic songs, and story after story of how music provides solace in even the darkest places. On display through January 2022.