December 2014
Be Merry Acadiana’s Publication for the Arts
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features
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ASO’S CHRISTMAS CONCERT A Fireside Christmas will leave you feeling warm and inspired. Read what is in store this year for the annual event featuring an internationally renowned baritone and local youth symphony and choral musicians.
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TAYLOR YOUR LOOK Using natural beauty as a canvas, Taylor Wilson discovered her passion and creativity and as a make up artist helps others discover their own inner beauty.
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LINK UP ASO’s Conservatory of music partners with Carnegie Hall to bring 3rd-5th graders an interactive musical experience like no other. Learn more about this year’s Orchestra Sings program with 2,000+ area students, teachers and ASO musicians.
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WELL DRESSED WOLF
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Children’s fashion with ethereal, and ancestral, inspiration. Two Louisiana ladies have created a highly sought-after clothing line that even the likes of fashionista Sara Jessica Parker are rumored to buy.
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THE ART OF THE ORNAMENT Explore the history and evolution of the art of ornaments. From ancient practices to functional use only to decorative and artistic expression, ornamental art has come full circle.
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FINE JEWELRY & DISTINCTIVE GIFTS
ACADIANA MALL 337-981-8071 • LMFJ.COM
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December 2014
contents
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8 OPENING NOTES Jenny Krueger, Executive Director 10 FANFARE Mariusz Smolij, Music Director & Conductor 14 GUEST COLUMN Ed Bowie, Executive Director, AOC 16 HOLIDAY MIXOLOGY Insider tips on drinks for the holidays. 18 MAKE YOUR HOME MERRY Quick and easy tips on home decorating. 20 ASO’S CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC Fall Student Recitals 22 KINDERMUSIC Lafayette music program expanding children’s interest.
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26 THE ARTICLE Parents helping kids discover their creativity. 28 The PERFECT TURKEY Social Southern Table and Bar chef Marc Krampe cooks the perfect turkey. 30 ART OF COFFEE Nathanael Johnson turns a childhood love into a successful business. 34 STATE OF THE MUSEUM The impact of a museum on local culture. 36 CINEMA ON THE BAYOU Local film festival shows award winning movies.
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38 FIREBIRD FRIDAYS 4th graders act out Igor Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite. 46 SYMPHONY SEAUXCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Death by Chocolate 48 APPLAUSE Death by Chocolate Sponsors 50 COMMUNITY SEAUXCIAL HIGHLIGHTS March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction and Lafayette Parish Medical Society Luncheon 6 December 2014
38 Overture Magazine
December 2014 Vol. 2, No. 4
PUBLISHED BY
EDITOR Jenny Krueger jenny@acadianasymphony.org
PROJECT MANAGER Rebecca Doucet rebecca@acadianasymphony.org
WRITERS Emily Brupbacher Catherine Schoeffler Comeaux Ann Dobie, John Guidry ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Carolyn Brupbacher carolyncb@me.com • 337.277.2823
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ed Bowie, Tanner Ducote Judy Dunn, LouAnne Greenwald Rebecca Hudsmith Mark Krampe, Pat Mire Mariusz Smolij, Luke Sonnier Taylor Wilson, Cissy Whipp MAILING ADDRESS 412 Travis Street Lafayette, LA 70503 EMAIL overture@acadianasymphony.org ON THE WEB acadianasymphony.org
Overture Magazine is published nine times a year and distributed free of charge by Acadiana Symphony Orchestra & Conservatory of Music. No parts of this periodical may be reproduced in any form without the prior written consent of Overture Magazine. The owners, publishers, and editors shall not be responsible for loss or injury of any submitted manuscripts, promotional material and/or art. Unsolicited material may not be returned. Advertising in Overture Magazine does not imply endorsement by Overture Magazine or Acadiana Symphony Orchestra & Conservatory of Music. Overture Magazine reserves the right, without giving specific reason, to refuse advertising if copy does not conform with the editorial policies. Overture Magazine does not necessarily agree with nor condone the opinions, beliefs or expressions of our writers and advertisers. Neither the publishers nor the advertisers will be held responsible for any errors found in the magazine. The publishers accept no liability for the accuracy of statements made by the advertisers. © 2014 Overture Magazine. All Rights Reserved.
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Opening Notes
Be Merry!
Jenny Krueger, Executive Director
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The December issue of Overture is about people whose lives have been transformed by finding their calling. There is something powerful when you feel as though you have finally found your true self. Maybe it comes with age, maybe not. For the subjects of the December issue of Overture, it came through struggles, mentors, and lots of love.
I am a passionate person by nature. I can get very excited about certain things. Children, art, music, education, and happy people are just a few things that really push my buttons. What I have been blessed with most recently is watching my nine-year-old son begin to discover his passions. Of course he is passionate about video games, but not for the sake of gaming; he is driven for the sake of seeking out the answers in order to solve or win the game. It’s pretty fascinating. He is also passionate about making music, but not the way that his musical mom does, but the way that he himself discovers it. He The things you are passionate can figure out the melody, pick it out on his about are not random, they are instrument and jam! I’ve never been able your calling. to do that! I am envious of his fearlessness. I believe it is his passion that makes him Fabienne Fredrickson fearless! Whatever your passion, whatever your calling, are you taking time to enjoy that a little every day? If not, what are you waiting for?
As you read this issue of Overture, you will be truly inspired by the story of Taylor Wilson and her journey to find herself. Take a look into the life of Marc Krampe, executive chef of Social Southern Table and Bar, and learn what inspires him to create his culinary masterpieces. LuAnne Greenwald will open your eyes to thinking about art museums in a different way and shares with us how that experience has called her to do what she is doing now.
Enjoy the colder weather Mother Nature has sent our way, take a sip of hot chocolate, flip through the pages of Overture, and be merry! 8 December 2014
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Fanfare
Symphony 101: Celebration Music Mariusz Smolij, Music Director and Conductor
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Throughout the entire history of human kind music was a central element to many different kinds of celebrations. Marking important religious, political, cultural or personal moments with a live musical performance has been essential in adding prominence or depth to those special occasions. As we currently celebrate the holidays and the spirit of Christmas with music of many different kinds, I would like to share with our readers a few examples of remarkable celebratory music in the symphonic literature. Musical settings of the Mass have been an integral part of the Catholic tradition. Many great composers such as J. S. Bach, J. Haydn, W.A. Mozart, L. van Beethoven, J. Brahms, G. Verdi, I. Stravinsky or L. Bernstein contributed to this magnificent tradition. All the composers usually follow the standard order of the movements and the desired celebratory effects. In spite of their different individual styles and particular reason for a Mass setting, the compositions are often strikingly similar. I would like to invite you to listen and compare the short Gloria movements from J. S. Bach’s Mass in B-minor, W.A. Mozart’s Great Mass in C-minor and the unorthodox take of L. Bernstein in his Mass. It is a perfect example of how a great tradition and spirit of music and artistic integrity can thrive through many different generations and musical styles. Celebrating political and historical events with music was not only a smart economic decision on the part of many composers, but also carried a sense of a mission and personal pride. Sometimes the person or object of the artistic focus changed, as was the
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case of the original dedication of Beethoven’s Eroica symphony to Napoleon Bonaparte, but most of the time the noble objects of inspiration and great musical compositions remained a valued part of history by supporting each other’s good name. The best examples of such compositions are Beethoven’s Wellington’s Victory, op. 91 (written to celebrate Duke of Wellington’s victory in the 1813 sea battle of Vitoria, Spain); Coronation March by P. Tchaikovsky (written for coronation celebrations of Czar Alexander III), B. Bartok’s Symphonic Poem Kossuth (commemorating the Hungarian Revolution of 1848 and its hero Lajos Kossuth) or A. Copland’s Lincoln’s Portrait. All of us have favorite musical works that we would like to hear during weddings, religious celebrations or at the symphonic Christmas concerts or July 4th concerts. Please send me your favorite celebratory music of any kind, describe the reasons for your admiration and perhaps I will be able to include some of them in one of our future programs! I am looking forward to hearing back from you. My wife, Kamila, and my daughter, Matilda, join me in wishing you Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
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Concert Feature
Feeling Good About the Season: ASO’s Christmas Concert A Fireside Christmas Emily Brupbacher Even in steamy southern Louisiana, the Christmas season calls to mind hot cocoa, warm fires, and cozying up next to someone you love. One beloved tradition for many supporters of Acadiana Symphony Orchestra is the annual ASO Christmas concert, and this year’s holiday presentation, A Fireside Christmas, is sure to bring attendees that heartwarming sensation that we long for every year at Christmastime. “I hope the music will help with feeling good about the Christmas season, its musical and non-musical traditions, our family, friends, the community in which we live, and how we celebrate those special moments,”says ASO Maestro Mariusz Smolij. “I think the title A Fireside Christmas captures those ideas quite well.” There will be plenty of traditional Christmas favorites featured in A Fireside Christmas that are sure to please every musical taste, from classic to modern. “The repertoire will include selections from Handel’s Messiah and Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker,” says Smolij. “There will be also a symphonic medley of traditional holiday tunes. In addition to the ‘expected’ selections, I have also programmed a number of other works that follow the theme of Christmas. Those include a beautiful suite of NegroSpirituals and a musical story titled How The Grinch Stole Christmas.” 12 December 2014
The Grinch is, in a way, one of the central compositions of this ASO performance. “We will present it with our special guest artist, bass-baritone Kevin Deas, who has performed the work with great success in many cities across the U.S.,” Smolij explains. “Joining the orchestra on stage in this production will be our ASO Youth Orchestra, as well as a local children’s choir, consisting of about 80 middle school students.”
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While there is always an abundance of reasons to bring children to the Symphony, A Fireside Christmas can serve as a wonderful introduction to symphonic music for young listeners. “Hearing a familiar story presented with words and music by a world class singer and narrator, and seeing it performed by other children singing and playing side by side with the professional orchestra, will certainly leave unforgettable memories with the little ones,” Smolij insists. “It may actually inspire them to sing or play themselves. I hope that Acadiana parents and grandparents will not pass on such a wonderful opportunity for the kids. This is the perfect example of a work where entertainment meets education!” Acadiana Symphony Orchestra will present A Fireside Christmas on Thursday, December 18 at 7:00 PM at the Heymann Performing Arts Center. For ticket information please visit www. acadianasymphony.org.
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Guest Appearance
Our Arts and Culture Define Us
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Ed Bowie, Executive Director, AOC
When public officials are challenged with tough community development decisions, economic considerations are generally foremost in their minds. What’s the cost and where to get the money are questions 1 and 1a. Because our thought processes lead to money first, we frequently toss aside our other assets in favor of cash. That’s where our cultural communities are given the short stick. Community development finds the money in the art drawer or under the cultural development cushion. We expect our arts and cultural identities to self-preserve. That’s just wrong.
More than defining what a community appears to be, arts are birthplaces of community dialog and discussion. Art causes reaction. That reaction generates feelings and opinions which in turn develop into our common identity. We are made up of what we express to others and how they react. Our arts are as important as our language for expressing ourselves as community.
Our cultural identity is spread and shared by our art. Every identifiable culture has art that is specific Art in all its forms makes a community more than a collection of jobs connected by cars and fiber. to that culture. That art is part of the definition of that culture and they’re intertwined in a way jobs A community without art lacks a soul, a pulse, a and cultures cannot. Arts makes Lafayette what heartbeat - it lacks fresh air. A community where it is, not the oil field, not the fiber, not jobs. Those there are no cultural markings, no public art, no things allow us to be who we are and we define who shared experiences and no common experiences we are as a community by how we treat our arts. outside the job are not communities at all. They are Would you rather work on a derrick in Lafayette or places. Midland? By giving our culture, and by extension, our I think like this. People want to be where the community, less consideration than we do our culture is defined in a way they like, jobs go where economic conditions, we are ignoring those things there are people. Jobs don’t come first, people do. that help define us. Our communities are expressed Create a place for people and the jobs will follow. in our arts. Those images, sounds, smells - the public areas and displays that are put forth by our community - are used to express our own opinions of ourselves and what we want others to think of us.
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Holiday
Mixology By Tanner Ducote • Photos By Lucius A. Fontenot
When thinking of holiday drinks, you often think of warm ciders and toddies laden with baking spices and whipped cream. While these traditional libations are fun and festive, holiday drinks can also be elegant, composed of unexpected ingredients that still convey warmth. To many, creating unexpected cocktails may seem like a daunting task; however, it is easier than you may think. By adding a few handmade touches, you can create signature cocktails that your guests will still be talking about long after the holiday season has passed. The first step in creating an elegant holiday cocktail 16 December 2014
is to create a flavor profile. Imagine drinking a glass of California chardonnay. As you taste the wine you notice that it has notes of vanilla, baking spice and tropical fruit. Together, these elements constitute the flavor profile of the wine. Start your cocktail with an ingredient that you are most excited about; this fall season, I’m particularly fascinated by curry. If you think about eating curry, you’ll notice that chefs often pair this with other spices and hints of brightness. If we think about curry dishes in terms of beverages, we can mimic the added spiciness with rye whiskey and ginger. Adding a touch of lemon juice brightens up the cocktail while honey mellows out both the brightness and spice. A dash of Angostura bitters rounds out the cocktail, by adding the final nuance. Integrating curry into a drink sounds impossible, but it is easily accomplished by creating a syrup. You begin by making a syrup but instead of using sugar, you Overture Magazine
use equal parts honey and hot water. Add the curry powder to the pot of boiling syrup and let steep. If a syrup seems a little more involved than time allows, consider a tincture. A tincture is made by soaking spices in high proof spirits such as grain alcohol over a period of a week. This pulls the essential oils out of the spice and creates a very concentrated extract. Choose a syrup when you want to combine the spice with sweetness, and use a few drops of tincture when you want to add powerful flavor without the sugar. Both syrups and tinctures can both be made far in advance and refrigerated until needed. By swapping out ingredients in other recipes for your handmade ones, you can create an entirely different cocktail with only one simple step. By taking the extra time to craft a syrup or tincture, your holiday guests will not only remember your signature cookies, but also your signature cocktail. If time fails you or find yourself in a large hurry, opt for a sparkling wine with a homemade fruit syrup for that elegant touch. Acadiana’s Publication for the Arts
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By Judy Dunn 18 December 2014
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Mrs. Judy Dunn, owner of Dunn’s Furniture and Interiors, gives us her inside tips on how to get our homes ready for the most wonderful time of year.
Use what you have
No need to buy new items each year, add some holiday cheer to your existing pieces; tie a festive ribbon around your hand towels and pillows. Fill your favorite vases with ornaments or cut some extra branches off of your tree to add to your table top center piece.
Add some extra GLITZ
Bring in some sparkle with some beautiful material on your mantel and tabletop. Add in cheerful pillows and throws on your furniture, and try to incorporate metallics and twinkle lights as an addition to the colors of your décor.
Before
Your perfect tree
Make sure you trim your tree to an appealing shape before decorating. Use a variety of shapes and sizes of ornaments for visual appeal. Use ribbons in a creative way - gather them in bunches or swirl them for a unique look. Make your tree topper a focal point by adding a spray of branches that tie in the colors of your tree.
Short on time?
Call Dunn’s! If all else fails, our staff can help you with as little or as much of your holiday decorating as you’d like. Whether you just want us to decorate your door or give your whole house a touch of holiday cheer, we are here for you.
Set the Mood
Take advantage of the season and fill your home with lovely scents like pine, evergreen, cinnamon, or peppermint. Turn your ceiling lights down to let the tree lights and twinkle lights shine bright.
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ASO’s Conservatory of Music
ASO Conservatory Recitals: A Celebration of Growth in Conservatory Students
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Emily Brupbacher • Photos by Danny Izzo Nouveau Photeau
Acadiana’s Conservatory of Music is a place constantly abuzz with noise—choral students singing, guitarists strumming, pianists playing away. At the end of every semester, Conservatory students, faculty, and families look forward to the Conservatory recitals, which give students an opportunity to play before an audience and share their growth as a musician with the community. “The recitals are always a fun event, because students get to select what music they want to perform, and it’s always fun to see what they choose,” says Miguel Ochoa, Conservatory Registrar and Instructor. “In the past, we’ve had a little bit of everything—we’ve had kids sing arias from operas, play Christmas songs, or perform music from their favorite video games.” Students and their families look with anticipation for the recitals at the end of every semester. Jeff Moore’s daughters - Molly, 12, and Emily, 8 - find it thrilling to perform in front of an audience after a semester of hard work. “They’re learning the songs on the piano one measure at a time in the beginning,
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then gradually putting all the parts together until they can play the whole thing,” Moore says. “To see them struggling through the first measure at the beginning of the semester and then playing the whole song perfectly at the recital is very rewarding. They are proud of themselves on stage, and I am proud of them.” For Conservatory parents and students alike, nothing better showcases the growth and talent in a young musician than the end of semester recitals. “After all of the hard work she has put in, the recital is like the big celebration at the end,” says Meryl Bertrand, whose
8-year-old daughter Lillian plays piano. “As much as I see her practice, she never ceases to amaze me at the recital.” Overture Magazine
Celina Atwi has three sons currently studying music at the Conservatory—Mateo, 15, studies violin, Andreas, 12, plays cello, and Francisco, 9, studies voice and violin. “Recitals are fun because of the diversity of instruments and styles of music,” says Atwi. “I enjoy watching my children and other children at recitals because you get to have a sense of the children progressing from one level to another. Sometimes the children make a large leap in a semester or a year!”
“After all of the hard work Recitals for the she has put in, the recital is Conservatory’s like the big celebration at Fall Semester the end.” will be held on Saturday, Meryl Bertrand December 13, at 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM, and 2:00 PM at Asbury Methodist Church on Johnston St. The community is invited to attend. There is no cost for the event. For more information about the Conservatory, please visit www.acadianasymphony.org/ conservatory/.
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Kindermusic John Guidry
Music has been a love of Katie Andrus’s life from a very early age. Today, she passes on that love of music to the next generation with her own Kindermusik program in Lafayette, Louisiana. Andrus started singing at age six, and as a youth, participated in church and school choirs. “My high school experience was kind of like Glee,” she says. “I was in every musical possible.” At ULL, she majored in child and family studies, but kept her interest alive by earning a minor in music.
to simple percussion instruments and learn to work their fingers in order to hone their fine motor skills. “There are always a few young kids who are uncomfortable around others,” says Andrus, “and they’re too shy to interact with others – and that’s fine. They still get exposed to the music and musical terms and gradually get more willing to join in.”
As the children get closer to four years old, they are introduced to staccato and legato and gradually begin learning basic instrumentation while still being introduced to various composers. By the time the children are six, the students are exposed to quarter notes, eighth notes, rhythms, and are directed towards instruments in which they are more specifically interested. “I’ll play Beethoven and have them tell me what the song sounds like. Does the song sound happy? Why? Does the song sound sad? Why? This lets us talk about major and minor tonality, and they can actually grasp it.”
Passing on her love of music and seeing students grasp the material are the most gratifying parts of Andrus’s program. “It’s the “When I got married, we agreed that it would be best whole reason I if I could do something I enjoyed while still being able to do it, absolutely,” stay home with our kids.” This led Andrus to investigate, she says. “It’s participate in, and complete the Kindermusik certification so rewarding process. “It was rigorous – the whole process lasted about watching them sixteen weeks and you have to really know what you’re ‘get it.’ And it’s doing before they certify you and let you open your own great for the branch.” whole family, too. I’ve had parents The program draws inspiration from the Orff Approach who’ve started (which places emphasis on younger children discovering taking their children to the symphony, and the children can music through motion before they become more inhibited come back to class and actually talk about what they heard – by the self-consciousness of older age) and the Suzuki Method (which is a more rigorous program that emphasizes it’s amazing.” children learning music alongside other children, includes Andrus and her husband are currently expecting their parental involvement, encouragement, and repetition). second child, but she hopes to be able to continue her classes in the future and even possibly expand to be able to Andrus’s Kindermusik program in Lafayette, LA has students ranging in age from eight months to six years old. do lessons for special needs children. Andrus taught Pre-K for a few years after graduation, but never lost her interest in music and sharing it with others.
“The eight-month-olds come to class with their moms and just get used to being around other children and listening to music.” As the children get older they are introduced
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For more information about Kindermusik, please visit www.kindermusik. com/about/mission-and-values/. For more information about Katie Andrus’s program, please visit www.facebook.com/KindermusikwithKatie12
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Taylor
Your Look By Taylor Wilson • Photos by Lucius A. Fontenot
I believe that everyone is an artist somewhere deep down inside of them. We all express our creative qualities in different forms. I don’t remember a time in my life that art, in some form, wasn’t a part of who I was. Growing up a social butterfly, I was more interested in fashion, parties, and weekends than my studies. I daydreamed about what I would wear, how I would fix my hair. As
I approached the age of being able to wear makeup, I would give much thought to the exact look I wanted for my makeup. Having a mother and two older sisters before me, makeup was a huge deal in our household. I couldn’t wait until it was my turn to be able to wear it -- every single day! I remember a vacation where my mom allowed me and my sisters to wear a little blush, lip gloss, blue eyeshadow and mascara to Dollywood. Our bangs were high and mighty as that was the era of the infamous ‘80’s mall bangs. I was all of 4 years old, and this day was a happy one. I felt pretty. This day may have been the one that made me fall in love with being a girl. My love for cosmetics grew in my teenage years. I started practicing my skills on family and friends for formal dances, weddings, holiday events, and anywhere they wanted to shine. For one school dance, several of my friends put their trust in me to do their hair and makeup. It was a great self-esteem booster. I not only received compliments for my own hair and makeup, but for my friends’, too. I felt really good about that. 24 December 2014
As time progressed and I struggled to get through school, I knew in my heart that my creativity was going to be my salvation. God willing, I was going to make my mark in this world. Once I received my GED, I began working towards fulfilling my dream of becoming a makeup artist. After enrolling and completing cosmetology school, I moved to Lafayette, and worked as a hairstylist for a popular chain salon, and then as a freelance hairstylist. Makeup was a hobby that lifted my spirits and was something I did as a favor for friends. I felt unfulfilled working on hair. My mind was thinking about palette colors and techniques I could have used to complement their every feature. After moving my career in the direction of esthiology at Aveda, I discovered that there were no makeup classes offered. I volunteered to instruct a techniques class by using a book that became very special to me. The book is called Kevyn Aucoin: A Beautiful Life by Kerry Diamond and was written in 2003 after the death of Lafayette, Louisiana’s most famous celebrity, Kevyn Aucoin. This book tells the story of a very passionate young man determined to rise above the struggles in his life and became the most successful celebrity makeup artist known on this side of the moon. In this book are photographs that Kevyn took of his many superstar clients like Cher, Gwyneth Paltrow, Janet Jackson, Cindy Crawford and too many more to mention here. I literally spent hours studying each picture and was taken in by his ability to create perfection with a makeup brush. Today’s popularity of the contrasting, camouflaging and highlighting makeup techniques found in every fashion magazine are known to every true makeup artist as the creative skill of Kevyn Aucoin’s. Kevyn’s ability to bring light, dimension and beauty to every face he touched is remarkable. By reading about his life, though, I found myself closely relating with his story. I struggled with feeling like an outcast due to early learning difficulties which caused more havoc and insecurities in my life than I care to remember. Kevyn’s own unfortunate life experiences helped me to understand that each of us has a place in this world and a time to fulfill our dreams, in his words, by focusing on inner beauty first. Just as I have, Kevyn came from loving parents and a home environment that allowed us to believe in ourselves and reach for the stars, no matter where Overture Magazine
we fit or don’t fit into society’s expectations. After finishing school at Aveda, MAC Cosmetics hired me as a makeup artist and I worked alongside some of the best makeup artists that Lafayette has seen since Kevyn Aucoin -- Samuel Richard, Mandy Grayson and Mimi Ngo. Still, it has taken many years for me to believe I could build a life around my passion. Insecurities, poor choices, and the circumstances arising from them took me away from the profession I loved so much. But with loving support from those who have believed in me, my family and clients alike, I am now living my dream as the owner of my own makeup studio,
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Taylor Your Look (TYL), which opened this past summer. After becoming a qualified professional artist and retailer with Kevyn Aucoin Beauty, I am proud to own the only makeup studio in Lafayette that sells the complete Kevyn Aucoin cosmetic line. Now, to give you a glimpse of where I am today and what I do at TYL, you will see that I am busy getting ready for a glamour filled holiday season. Christmas and the New Year is around the corner and Mardi Gras is not far behind. Here is one of my beautiful canvases from start to finish. All of my clients, beautiful inside and out, are my inspiration for everything I do as a makeup artist.
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the ARTicle Parents Helping Kids Discovery Their Creativity Luke Sonnier
As a parent who pays attention to such things, you have likely heard a number of statements and statistics about the impact the Arts have on student achievement. At the time of this writing, a quick Google search of “How the Arts Impact Student Achievement” returns just over 4 million results. While there is a significant amount of information out there, it is easy to be skeptical until the impact has been witnessed firsthand. I was skeptical until I saw the benefits in my son, Samuel.
while still developing, fell short of expectations. Sam’s teacher made a few recommendations for improving finger strength which would in turn improve handwriting. I mentioned to her that Sam had recently begun piano lessons and she agreed that there was an excellent chance that lessons would help.
Sam is a happy child who is always eager to please. At five years old, when his mother and I asked if he would be interested in piano lessons, he agreed. He was at roughly the mid-point of his Kindergarten year at school and by coincidence, parent-teacher conferences were the same week. One of the issues brought to our attention by Sam’s teacher was his handwriting. We were told that his fine-motor skills,
of shortcomings in his or her own child’s development, it is important to feel that there are answers available to correct any issue. Sam could have practiced handwriting at home. He could have done exercises to work on finger strength. Through piano practice, he improved finger strength and fine-motor skills while having fun and learning the basics of the language of music.
As Sam and I attended piano lessons each week, and as we worked together to practice at home, I observed a noticeable improvement in his ability to push the keys of the piano with each individual finger. While practicing scales felt painful for the first few weeks, Sam slowly improved and eventually I am a lifelong music fan. As long as I can remember, I’ve had a deep appreciation and unwavering love of music. Despite became comfortable playing forte (loudly) or piano (softly) this passion I never learned to play an instrument: a regret that with all five fingers on each hand. In fifteen short weeks, Sam’s has persisted into adulthood. As I’ve discovered since, learning fine-motor skills made tremendous improvement. When the last parent-teacher conferences of the Kindergarten year to play music as an adult is not impossible, but it is difficult. took place, we were proud to learn that his handwriting had With this in mind I vowed that in addition to providing Sam improved significantly, meeting the expectation of a child with the opportunity to play sports at the appropriate age, it entering first grade. was also important to begin music lessons at an early age in order to create a foundation in the event that he discovered a An improvement of fine-motor skills may not seem like passion for it. the most tremendous achievement, but when a parent learns
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A Perfect Turkey Marc Krampe, Social Southern Table and Bar
So, what about my own family? Many nights they are without me, eating the quickest and easiest meal possible, so that I can do what I love. They sacrifice more for me than I wish they would. I usually don’t cook at home. When I come home I want nothing to do with the kitchen. In fact, cooking is the last thing I want to do on my one day off. However that doesn’t stop my kids from asking for pancakes, omelettes, waffles, or cookies; and since I will do anything for my family, I make the best pancakes I have ever made, with the most intricate plating, just like I would for a paying customer. When the holidays come around, there are long days and nights for the Krampe team. During the holidays, I work to make customers wishes come true, and provide them with a memorable experience. Meanwhile, my wife makes sure our family of 4 kids, 2 dogs and 2 cats is taken care of in the same way. Her customers are much more demanding than mine! 28 December 2014
I love spending holidays with my family. I look forward to cooking for them and enjoy all the chaos that is our own. The pulse of our holiday radiates from the kitchen. We start with the brining of our organic free range (raised right!) turkey. There is no pressure, just cooking, laughter, family and love. True teamwork and family is what my holiday meals are about; sharing my love for my craft with my family who sacrifices for me to do what I love every day. Our holiday meals are amazing!!! Friends whom we have adopted as family, and our actual family, come from all parts of the country bringing their own traditions and dishes. It’s a grand celebration! The more the merrier. Photo by Lucius A. Fontenot
Holiday meals are very precious to me. I spend the majority of my time catering to others, making sure their events and experiences are special for them. When the rest of the world is off and enjoying their time with family and friends, we in the hospitality business are working. We are making sure the rest of the world is enjoying their time off with loved ones. One of the main reasons I entered this profession is because I love being able to be a part of someone’s life without ever meeting them. That is what keeps me going; making people happy.
Probably the only time during the year I ever think about cooking turkey is the holidays, but I really look forward to it and enjoy it very much. As the chef in my family, the responsibility is left to me to prepare the bird. Turkeys are not the easiest of animals to cook correctly. It can be a wonderful and fulfilling process, all while visiting with your loved ones. However, you cannot treat a turkey like a chicken. Due to the size, it is much easier to roast a whole chicken to perfection than a turkey. Of course, you can roast a whole turkey, but unfortunately you will never get that perfect moist breast and cooked-through juicy thighs. Unfortunately, science is playing for the other team. The lean breast and the fat-laden thighs will never cook at the same rate. That’s why I propose breaking the norm! I know, I know, you say “But what about that picture perfect whole roasted turkey that we see in the picture?” Let me assure you, you can have that picture perfect turkey that we see in the Norman Rockwell pictures. Here are my chef secrets to creating a beautiful bird the whole table will think you slaved over all day. Overture Magazine
First, you must break it down into white and dark meats. Breast and wings in one roasting pan. Thighs and legs in another. Here is the recipe I serve my family for our holiday roasted turkey. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do. From my family to yours, happy holidays! Earl Grey and bourbon brine for turkey: 1 raised-right turkey about 10-12lbs 2 gallons H2O 1 cup kosher salt 1 cup local raw sugar 4 quartered satsumas 2 quartered lemons 2 cups bourbon (preferably something you enjoy drinking) 6 sprigs thyme 4 sprigs Rosemary 1 box of Earl Grey tea Bring water to a boil and add all other ingredients. Let the brine come to room temperature and pour over turkey (which I usually put in a trash bag in an ice chest covered in ice). Let turkey sit for 24hrs. Roasted Turkey Preheat oven to 325F 2 onions rough chopped 2 carrots rough chopped 2 celery rough chopped 8 garlic cloves 6 sprigs thyme 4 sprigs of Rosemary Take the turkey out of the brine and rinse off. Dry the turkey before breaking down into breast, wings, thighs and legs. Divide the vegetables and herbs between 2 pans. In one pan put the breast and wings, in the other thighs and legs. Start cooking the dark meat about 45 minutes before the white meat. The turkey is done when a meat thermometer reads 165 deg. F and the juices run clear when the meat is pierced with a knife.
Acadiana’s Publication for the Arts
December 2014 29
Artof
The
Coffee by John Guidry
For most people, coffee is an acquired taste. Most children do not care for it, but we learn to love (or need) it with age. Nathanael Johnson is not most people.
“I loved coffee as a kid. I drank it with my dad – he made it in an old style coffee pot on the stove.”
Johnson liked it so much that he opened his first coffee shop at age twentyone, Café Mosaic, in his hometown of Eunice. Johnson is now the owner of Rêve Coffee Roasters, and is changing the coffee community in Acadiana, one cup at a time.
“Coffee is massive to our culture here,” says Johnson. “It has always been a reason for people to get together in a community, tell stories, and build relationships. With Rêve, I want to honor that tradition and also raise coffee to the next level.”
“There really is an artistic element to making a great cup of coffee,” continues Johnson. “It starts with the farmer and ends with the barista. It’s our job to do justice to the farmers and tell the story of each bean we roast by drawing out every possible nuance of flavor. In the end, you get something that looks so simple – a cup of brown liquid – but so much goes into it to get it to that point.”
Johnson goes on to explain that he wishes to raise coffee to the same level as other specialty foods. Just as a master chef can bring out incredible flavors in food with skillful techniques and seasoning, a roaster can produce a coffee that is more than just the average cup.
“You should take pride in what you’re drinking every morning,” states Johnson.
People have taken Johnson’s ideals to heart. In its relatively short life thus far, Rêve has thrived. Along with Christopher Pickle – Johnson’s childhood friend, business partner, and roaster – Johnson and Rêve have produced and distributed thousands of pounds of fresh coffee from their roaster in Bibi’s Patisserie on Pinhook. Johnson, a level two certified barista, serves the coffee from the shop itself, but it can also be found fresh by the whole bean bag at Whole Foods (Lafayette and Baton Rouge locations), Great Harvest Bread Co., Bread & Circus Provisions, Social Southern Table and Bar, Indulge, and E’s Kitchen. It is also available online from Rêve’s website.
In the future, Johnson hopes to expand his business with a new building containing a coffee bar and a larger roaster, but more importantly, he hopes to start his own non-profit driven by Rêve. “Business isn’t everything, and it’s something I’ve always wanted to do to give back to the local community that has helped me so much,” states Johnson.
30 December 2014
For more information and to order fresh coffee by the bag, please visit www.revecoffeeroasters.com/home.
Overture Magazine
Acadiana’s Publication for the Arts
December 2014 31
Link Up’s Annual Concert Emily Brupbacher
Link Up, a program provided by the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra in collaboration with Carnegie Hall in New York, allows the ASO Conservatory to offer children in Acadiana the opportunity to take part in a premier music curriculum. One of the highlights of the year for students involved with this program is the annual Link Up concert, which will be held on January 27, 2015 at 9:30 AM and 11:00 AM at the Heymann Center.
is not a concert experience where students have to remain quiet and sit still the whole time. It’s a very participatory experience.” Before the concert, an interactive video screen engages students with musical quizzes and questions reviewing what they have learned through their year of study in the Link Up program. “Before the concert begins, we bring out a Link Up T-shirt launcher, which really gets the kids pumped up,” says Tassin. “There’s so much excitement at this event. Students are provided programs, allowing them to use the included listening maps inside to follow along with the performance. They sing along, move with the music, play along with their recorders, and also just enjoy the musical experience.”
The Maestro will lead the Acadiana Symphony in the performance of each of the musical selections. The orchestra is joined by guest solo artists for the concert, many of whom are Conservatory teachers or local music teachers. This year, a children’s choir made up of Conservatory students and students from local schools will also perform on stage with the orchestra. String students from Lafayette’s Arts Academies ( J. Wallace James Elementary School, L.J. “The Link Up concert is such an exciting and interactive Alleman Middle School, and Lafayette High School), along event for everyone involved, especially the students,” says with students of LPSS’s Gifted and Talented Program and Jennifer Tassin, Education Director for ASO’s Conservatory ASO Conservatory, will join the orchestra onstage as well. of Music. “This year’s theme is The Orchestra Sings, and
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“With the 60-85 members of the orchestra, the children’s choir, and the student performers, we will have over 100 people performing onstage in a variety of ways.” In addition to the exciting onstage performance, the Link Up concert also features a few fun surprises each year. While this year’s surprises are still under wraps, Tassin was willing to share some of the thrilling surprises from years past. “Last year, the UL Percussion Ensemble showed up, much to the delight of all our students,” she says. “They snuck in the back doors and marched up the aisles, playing a drum cadence while the students danced and cheered.” Another exciting addition to this year’s concert is the involvement of student dancers from J. Wallace James Elementary School. “Dance teacher Cissy Whipp and her students were very inspired by the recent ASO Firebird performance featuring the Clare Cook Dance Theatre,” says Tassin. “Ms. Whipp and her students had the privilege of taking part in a Master Class with the dancers from CCDT, and created their own choreography to Stravinsky’s Firebird, which they will perform at the Link Up concert.”
The Link Up concert is sure to be an educational and exciting event with plenty of surprises for all who attend. Attendance for the event is $5 and covers the cost of student and teacher programs at the event, as well as professional development for educators involved with Link Up. For more information on Link Up, please visit www.acadianasymphony.org/symphony/link-up or www. carnegiehall.org/Education/Link-Up/. Acadiana’s Publication for the Arts
December 2014 33
LouAnne Greenwald
Executive Director of the Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum
I remember the day after I got my driver’s license, offer a place for community to come together, to learn, to be borrowing my mom’s car and driving to our local art entertained, and to be inspired. museum in Akron, Ohio. I was so excited to exercise my When I was young, I thought of museums as ivory independence and I thought it fitting that my first outing as towers, places where collections of priceless art and artifacts a solo driver should be to the museum. That day, I saw the were stored and preserved. It wasn’t until later that I came “plate paintings” of Julian Schnabel – wall-sized canvases to appreciate the many ways that museums can engage with surfaces that were covered in shards of broken plates, visitors - through exhibitions as well as programs that offer then roughly painted. At close proximity, a different lens through which to view the paintings were dense sculptural Museums today and appreciate the art in its collection. fields of broken ceramics, but from a few Programs like “writing in the galleries” are not just steps back, the painted image came into where guests are invited to share their preserving and focus revealing figures that were further interpretation of an artwork by crafting illuminated by the artist’s titles, Aborigine, presenting culture, their own exhibit label, or “music in the Saint Francis in Ecstasy, Portrait of a Girl. they are helping to galleries” where musicians compose or play I had never seen art like that before, in music inspired by a work of art – these fact I have never seen anything like that create it. programs offer new ways to interact with, before. That day I experienced something and experience, art. In a city like Lafayette truly unique – something that represented that is so rich in cultural resources, the this world but, at the same time, was completely unlike it. possibilities for expanding upon the traditional museum In that moment, my life was transformed. I knew that I experience are endless. wanted to dedicate my life to working in the arts, to make Opportunities for one-of-a-kind, creative and inspiring and see and present works that would inspire others just as I experiences are essential to the busy lives we lead today. was inspired. Museums are not a “nice to have” amenity for the outside My story is not unique. Every day, museums impact the visitor, they are a “must have” center at the heart of every visitors that walk through their doors. Some visitors come community. Museums today are not just preserving and to learn, others come for quiet contemplation. Some are presenting culture, they are helping to create it. seeking entertainment for their children, others are looking Please come visit us at the Hilliard University Art for a cup of coffee or a unique gift that can only be found in Museum – get inspired! a museum shop! Regardless of the reasons, museums today 34 December 2014
Overture Magazine
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A TENTH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION CINEMA ON THE BAYOU FILM FESTIVAL
By Rebecca L. Hudsmith In 2006, at the urging of artist Melissa Bonin, I attended the debut of Cinema on the Bayou, a brand new film festival in Lafayette. I was not disappointed. I experienced a great film followed by an interesting discussion with the filmmaker, met a diverse group of film fans and ended the night listening to music at a local club.
premiere of the André Gladu film Maroon in Lafayette. He readily accepted, and Cinema on the Bayou was born. The Festival has since gone viral across French-speaking Canada, where it is as well known as it is in Louisiana.
film, the art of filmmaking and what makes a film festival pop. Most importantly, he knows and can speak to the soul of the independent filmmaker, that individual committed to making film simply for film’s sake.
The 10th Cinema on the Bayou Film Festival will be held January 21-25, 2015, at AcA and Vermilionville, as well as several other venues. It will be the biggest so far with over 100 world, U.S. and Louisiana premieres, along with panel discussions, workshops, music and nightly parties. At least 50 filmmakers are expected to attend, all of whom are provided food and lodging thanks to the generous support of Festival sponsors, including Lafayette Travel, the Motion
Now in its tenth year, the Festival presents a wide range of narrative fiction and documentary films that focus on My experience that evening is the very experience the diverse cultures across the globe. The Festival also presents Festival’s artistic director, Pat Mire, intended for those at the animated short films due to the highly successful screening inaugural five-day festival and at each festival held annually of Moonbot Studios’ The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. ever since. It is an experience Morris Lessmore, which won the shaped by quality film, dedicated Festival’s Audience Award in 2011 filmmakers, and interesting – one year before it was nominated conversation, embellished with great for and won an Academy Award. food, music and fun. The Festival has just learned that Moonbot Studios’ The Numberlys, Pat, a French-speaking native, which won the Director’s Choice began his career in film over 25 Special Jury Award at the January years ago, making such Cajun 2014 Festival, is on the short list culture classics as Dance for a for an Oscar nod in 2015, the best Chicken, Against The Tide and his indicator that films of the highest narrative feature, Dirty Rice, and quality make their way to Cinema premiering those films at festivals on the Bayou. around the world. Pat knows quality
When Hurricane Katrina caused the cancellation of the New Orleans Film Festival, the National Film Board of Canada offered Pat the opportunity to present the U.S. 36 December 2014
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Picture Studio Mechanics Union Local 478, and the French Consul General in New York and New Orleans. As Pat warns these visiting filmmakers, “I weigh you when you arrive and again when you leave, and I promise you will not lose weight in Acadiana.” So far, none have. As the Festival has grown over the last ten years, so has its impact on the local economy. Last year, several thousand devoted fans of the Festival attended the 70-plus film screenings, receptions and music events held at venues in and around Lafayette. More than 50 visiting filmmakers, musicians and their guests attended the Festival, traveling from Austin, Dallas, New Orleans, Shreveport, Little Rock, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, New York, Atlanta, Miami, Nebraska, Moncton, Montréal and Paris. The majority stayed multiple nights and many, including the 12 filmmakers from Canada and France, stayed for the
Acadiana’s Publication for the Arts
entire five-day Festival. These guests of the Festival, as well as many out-of-town attendees, stayed at local hotels, ate at local restaurants, attended music events at local venues, and visited local and regional tourist sites. In addition, as in past years, important connections were forged among the visiting filmmakers and the Acadiana area, its people and its culture, connections which will have a long term impact on the local economy as these creative people return to this area to work and play and encourage others to come as well from around the world. For more information, visit: www.cinemaonthebayou. com.
Rebecca L. Hudsmith is a local attorney who began volunteering with Cinema on the Bayou after attending the first festival and now serves as its director and a member of the Board of Directors of Cinema on the Bayou Film Society, the Section 501(c)(3) non-profit that presents the Festival each year.
December 2014 37
Firebird Fridays at J. Wallace James By Cissy Whipp
38 December 2014
Overture Magazine
Photo by Paul Kieu, The Daily Advertiser
Because the students were inspired by a master class from Clare Cook’s New York dancers and a trip to ASO’s performance of Firebird: Music Tells a Story,
Photo by Lucius A. Fontenot
Photo by Paul Kieu, The Daily Advertiser
Photo by Paul Kieu, The Daily Advertiser
Soaring through the room, a group of Firebirds glide to the ground near Prince Ivan. They have come to save the Prince from Kashchei, the evil magician. The Firebirds cast a spell and make the magician and his servants dance a wild dance until they fall asleep. Everyone falls to the ground giggling. It is not Clare Cook Dance Theater, but a group of 9 and 10 year olds. the fourth grade dancers are getting immersed in all things Firebird. Each Friday, a different Firebird activity piques their interest: reading different versions of the Russian fairy tale, listening to recordings, and watching video clips of the ballet. Our goal is to create our own version of the dance using the final section of the musical masterpiece. We will have the opportunity to perform it at Acadiana Symphony Orchestra’s Link Up Concert on January 27. The fourth grade dance students at J. Wallace James Elementary are dancing out the climactic scene from Igor Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite. It is all part of Firebird Fridays!
Photo by Lucius A. Fontenot
Editor’s note: There are so many teachers that go above and beyond for the sake of their students. Often those stories go untold. When Overture heard about the special way Ms. Cissy Whipp provides special learning opportunities for her students at J.Wallace James, we hoped she would be willing to share a glimpse of the learning magic she has created for the students of her program.
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December 2014 39
Well Dressed Wolf
40 December 2014
By Catherine Comeaux • Photos by Dalton Lane
Overture Magazine
Elaborate costumes, well-plotted storylines, beautifully crafted art and home-baked goods were de rigeur at the Penny Plays performed on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. Siblings, cousins and drop-in performers were welcome to participate in what sisters Sarah Lemoine and Shannon Caserta remember as some of their first creative endeavors together. The artists were quite young, well supplied and creatively supported by their great Aunt Heartcease Higgins. “We would tear out pictures of mail order collector’s dolls then, using Aunt Heart’s old negligees and hula hoops, we’d fashion our costumes to look just like the dolls’,” Sarah recalls. The sisters are still creating together with tandem home-based studios – one in Lafayette, the other in Covington – where they bring to life The Well Dressed Wolf, their highly sought after children’s clothing line.
when it comes to determining colorways and making fabric choices...she pushes me out of my box - we really work well together!”
Sarah with a background in graphic design and a degree Sarah recalls the genesis of the character who would in mass communication handles much of the marketing. define their brand. “I’ll never forget the hours we spent on Shannon with her degree in accounting handles inventory the phone talking about Well Dressed Wolf like he was aided by their mother and an aunt.The small family business a family member! From the start, we knew W. D. Wolf has only recently expanded to include a hire from afar who to be charming and kind – with an eye for fashion and a works as their customer relations specialist – a position desire to use clothing to express himself in a positive way. much needed for this small company to handle the constant His dream was to create a new and improved image for flow of requests. When asked about rumors of famed wolves whose reputation had been tarnished by ancestors fashionista Sarah Jessica Parker’s interest in Well Dressed who used clothing to trick and deceive - hello, Big Bad Wolf, the sisters tell of receiving emails from someone Wolf and Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing! He was friendly and claiming to be her as well as others from her assistant. approachable- with a scarf and a conspiratorial wink.” “We fulfilled several orders for them and received gracious The clothing itself is simple in fabric and design with a bit ‘thank you’ floral arrangements. We, being simple Southern girls, don’t have a clue how things are done in Hollywood, of whimsy thrown in. The Picnic Line sewn in the United but the whole thing seemed surreal to us! I don’t think we States via a cooperative in New Orleans is typically made up of 100% cotton fabrics with crisp, play-worthy weight to will fully believe it until we see pictures!” Not needing an the designs. The Classic Line is where you’ll find the unique official celebrity endorsement, a typical Well Dressed Wolf collection of 800 items will sell out within the first several smocking and embroidery characteristic of Well Dressed minutes of online sales. Wolf creations – birds on a wire, a three-dimensional dandelion, and fireworks to name a few. “I’ve always been A perusal of the Well Dressed Wolf ’s closet reveals drawn to clothing with simple prints, clean lines, a timeless designers Sarah and Shannon as artists. The Lafayette quality - and a hint of something unexpected,” Sarah relates, home studio’s walls are bedecked with fabrics, old family tea “The most classic Southern looks were never taken too towels, kid’s drawings, ribbons and design ideas sketched seriously in our family. We wore smocked dresses with no by some of the older members of Sarah and Shannon’s shoes and feather boas!” The Daydream line is full of flowing collective pack which includes 11 children between the two cotton voiles and silks. “We collaborate on all designs, each of them. They talk about their creative time as work-attaking the lead on one line and collectively working on home mothers, “For me, there is no perfect time to create,” the third (and soon to be fourth),” Sarah explains, “One Sarah relates, “With so many kids and such busy lives, we of us may sketch a new style and the other will sketch the have to be in design mode all of the time and inevitably the embroidery for it. We choose all color palettes, buttons, trim background noise is . . . NOISY! Sometimes it’s laughter... and fabric. We adjust patterns through fittings and constant often screaming! At the park yesterday, I watched the light communication.” Shannon adds, “Sarah is really gifted play on a leaf in the breeze. The twinkling range of greens Acadiana’s Publication for the Arts
December 2014 41
was so pretty that I had to snap a picture. It is now filed away in my phone (the hub of our business) for future inspiration.” Shannon’s creative time is similarly challenged, “Most often I would say I am listening to the sounds of my children running and playing all around me - it usually takes me quite some time to actually get my full vision onto paper.” The fabrics, textures, ribbons, laces and images laid out in clothing are designed to move and flow comfortably on little living canvases. When asked to each submit a piece of work for a hypothetical Clothing-AsArt Exhibit, Sarah chose a piece titled “French Lavendar.” She explains, “When we originally designed it, we had never seen anything like it in the market. People seemed to fall into one of two categories: smock lover or smock hater. It was hard to find smocking that would appeal to a broad audience. ‘French Lavender’ was a graphically pleasing piece of art that happened to be smocked. The styling of the dress itself was loosely based on vintage pinafore and the addition of a flowing tulle overlay added just enough whimsy to make it sing.” Shannon’s choice came from a more personal place. “Our great aunt
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encouraged and nurtured our creativity in such a sweet way. The Aunt Heart dress really feels like an homage to her. If she was still alive, she would’ve sewn something similar from her lace curtains and cotton tablecloths.” The sisters concur, “We believe creativity is something you can nurture and pass along... with Well Dressed Wolf, we hope to continue that family legacy.” To feed your own creativity, get lost in the images of their work and read from their blog, please visit www.welldressedwolf.com.
Overture Magazine
The Art of Ornament By Ann Dobie
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December 2014 43
KevinDeas, Baritone ASO Youth Orchestra Local Middle School and High School Choruses
PROGRAM: George Chadwick – Jubilee & Noel from Symphonic Sketches Hague/arr. Naughtin – How the Grinch Stole Christmas George Frederick Handel – Messiah (exerpts) Christmas Spiritual Medley Traditional Holiday Favorites
TICKETS: www.acadianasymphony.org
Thursday, December 18, 2014 7:00 pm Heymann Performing Arts Center
A fireside
christmas
GUEST ARTISTS:
MASTERWORK NO.4 44 December 2014
Now that the holiday season is upon us, most people’s thoughts are turning to home decorations: green wreaths, sparkling tree ornaments, colorful bows and wrapping paper. In stringing our lights and hanging our bells, we join in a practice that dates back to the edges of history, the making of beautiful objects that give us visual pleasure. Some argue that even the cave paintings of pre-historic beings are a form of decoration, although others dispute the claim. What everyone agrees on is that in the most talented hands, decorative articles represent the practice of “the art of ornament.” The ancient Egyptians were the first to enhance their buildings by adding images of palm and papyrus trees to the capitals of columns and walls. The Assyrians, who were influenced by their work, added figures of plants and animals. Certainly by the Middle Ages, ornamentation had become a highly developed skill. Illuminated manuscripts filled the pages of the most special books, such as Bibles and books of prayers, so that by the late 14th century, commercial scriptoria that produced commissioned works were thriving in Italy, the Netherlands and Paris. With the invention of print, around 1445 publications could include woodcut illustrations, diminishing the need for an individual artist. Within another century or two, engraving and etching became available, and by the end of the 18th century, lithography was added to the possibilities for ornamentation.
The art of ornament hit a high point during the Victorian era with the Art Nouveau movement that was popular between 1880 and 1914. The flowing, curvilinear designs based on floral and plant images, such as found in works by Aubrey Beardsley and Gustav Klimt, are still highly prized today. Nevertheless, ornamentation declined in popularity with the advent of modernism early in the 20th century. As Adolf Loos wrote in Ornament and Crime in 1908: “The evolution of culture is synonymous with the removal of ornament from utilitarian objects. We have outgrown ornament; we have fought our way through to freedom from ornament.” For the next several decades, designers favored rational, even austere designs that carried no extraneous decoration. The works of Le Corbusier and the Bauhaus in the 1920s and 1930s, with their obvious disdain for nonfunctional Overture Magazine
details, typified modern architecture. This became known as the “International Style”. Ornamentation was out.
The movement against ornamentation began to wane in 1959 when Mies van der Rohe placed a series of structurally unnecessary vertical I-beams on the outside of the Seagram Building in New York. The return of decorative art was official in 1984 when Philip Johnson produced a design for the AT&T Building in that city that had a pink granite neo-Georgian pediment. It became known as the first Postmodernist building. Today ornamentation holds a secure place in the world of art. Its renaissance is due in part to new technologies such as laser cutting, digital printing, and rapid prototyping, which make intricate patterns and three-dimensional shapes possible. Modern ornaments are made of plastic, bronze and brass. They are carved from stone or wood and formed from plaster or clay. They come in a variety of colors and shapes, though they are often influenced by nature, figures, and traditional patterns. They are sometimes applied to a surface; sometimes they grow out of it. Embellishment can be
Acadiana’s Publication for the Arts
found not only in architecture, but in textiles, wallpaper, pottery, furniture, and metalwork- even automobiles.
The assured place the art of ornamentation now holds in the art world is evident by the number of museum showings that feature it. In 2009, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, for example, presented “Visual Delight: Ornament and Pattern in Modern and Contemporary Design”, exhibiting around thirty objects from its modern and contemporary design collection that dates from the mid-1960s. The show included such varied pieces as Robert Venturi’s large-scale building façade panels decorated with oversized flowers, and delicate, laser-cut lighting fixtures by Tord Boontje.
Enjoyment of the art of ornament, it would seem, has come full circle. It has moved from being a highly valued visual experience to rejection, then back to acceptance. As Tom Lane says: “From what I’ve seen, it has infiltrated nearly every facet of contemporary visual culture in one way or another and knows no bounds. I guess it’s like most things concerning creativity—everything seems to go in circles.”
December 2014 45
Symphony Seauxcial
Death By Chocolate November 10, 2014
Photos by Carolyn Brupbacher
The Acadiana Symphony Orchestra teamed up with the Louisiana Restaurant Association and LCVC to bring Acadiana a taste of musical, culinary, and cocktail creations like they’ve never enjoyed. The Petroleum Club was packed as guests waited in line to get a taste of the delectable chocolate inspired dishes like Ruffino’s lobster with port, chocolate reduction, pear and chocolate caviar and chocolate cocktails prepared by seven local mixologists.
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“Why do I subscribe? Times of Acadiana and Business sections keep me inspired and informed in an easy-to-read, accessible way. When my local paper reflects the community I live in, I’m reminded of how lucky I am to live here. It’s a great way to start your day—inspired and informed from your friend in the community, The Daily Advertiser.” — Jenny Krueger, Executive Director, Acadiana Symphony & Conservatory of Music No one covers local issues and entertainment better than The Daily Advertiser, the heartbeat of Acadiana since 1865.
Visit theadvertiser.com/P-D6
Call 1-800-259-8852
Certain restrictions apply. Call or visit website for details.
Promo Code: P-D6
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December 2014 47
Standing Ovation
Cheers to the following sponsors and partners who made the first annual Death By Chocolate event such a success! Their support benefits the education efforts of the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra and the Louisiana Restaurant Association. Title Sponsors
Fine Chocolate Table Sponsors Acadiana Dodge
Mello Joy
Coca-Cola
Morrow, Morrow, Ryan & Bassett
Doerle Food Service
MPW Properties
Dunn’s Furniture & Interiors
Raising Cane’s
Glazer’s
Schilling Distributing
Home Bank
Zea
Louisiana Restaurant Association In Kind Sponsors Budweiser Coca-Cola Community Coffee Event Rentals Flowers by Rodney Glazer’s
48 December 2014
ICEX LCVC Mello Joy Petroleum Club Republic Distributing
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WiFi that is pure artistry. 1 Gigabit Internet and Hub City WiFi Plus from LUS Fiber.
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December 2014 49
Community Seauxcial
March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction October 28, 2014
Photos by Carolyn Brupbacher
The Roaring 20’s was the theme for the March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction for an evening gala. Supporters experienced some of Lafayette’s most enticing dishes, prepared by local signature chefs, along with a live and silent auction. The 2014 Ambassador child is John Thomas “J.T.” Wall, today a healthy kindergarden student whose parents, Courtney and Ben Wall, are grateful to the March of Dimes for the research and treatments that saved his life.
Lafayette Parish Medical Society Luncheon October 31, 2014
Photos by Carolyn Brupbacher
The Lafayette Parish Medical Society honored Acadiana women physicians - among them, LPMS President Dr. Maria Doucet - at a luncheon and fashion show in appreciation for all they do. Spectacular fall & winter fashions from Raffaele Furs and Dolci Modi Women’s Clothier were highlighted including Raffaele’s luxurious furs along with fabulous jewelry by Dr. Debra Crowe, while guests enjoyed a delectable lunch by Chef Lonnie Pope.
50 December 2014
Overture Magazine
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Wednesday Walkabouts Open House Every Wednesday in October and February Take a casual look into the daily life of Sacred Heart where you can see students and teachers in action. Call us today to learn more about the tradition of excellence at Schools of the Sacred Heart.
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students of all races, religions, national and ethnic origins.December 2014 51
52 December 2014
Overture Magazine