Tess Talk: Welcome to the Dixie Center Gallery Nina Stephens

They say that you can take the girl out of Louisiana, but you can not take the Louisiana out of the girl, or something like that. Lucky for us Nina Stephens has returned to her roots and is showcasing her collection of paintings at the Dixie Center for the Arts. Even though she lived most of her life in Natchez, Mississippi she couldn’t escape her Louisiana spirit.

The opening reception was during the third week of Dog Days of Summer and it was a great way to welcome the newest additions to the Louisiana Tech family into our fair city. Nina’s paintings are kind reminders of home as well as moments of tranquility. The students and parents instantly connected her piece LA Tech Bull Dog that included the beloved mascot in the main gallery. As her work continued to line the walls the guests saw a variety of landscape paintings, one of the being of Hideaway Park and others of an outdoor paradise. Further along in the lobby are some examples of Nina’s still life paintings which emulate the culture of Louisiana. And lastly the viewers can see Nina’s skills in her animal paintings. My personal favorite is The Man, a rooster baring his broad chest with his head tilted back in pride and authority.

While all of Nina’s paintings draw the crowd in with cheer and delight they have a deep meaning for the artist herself. She will tell you that her paintings are her therapy, a way of story telling and exploring the journeys life has taken her through. It is a release of her emotions and an outlet for her to express her memories and feelings.

Nina’s paintings will be on display for a limited time at the Dixie Center for the Arts. So come on over, sit for a while, enjoy the experience, and reflect on the simple joys in life. You can thank Nina for the moment.

Tess Talk: Dugdemona Woodcarvers

Today's post is by Tess Stickney, NCLAC Gallery Coordinator Intern.Tess is working with our exhibitions this summer, including Dixie Lobby shows, Dog Days Art Crawls and Peach Art Exhibit.

It was late one summer afternoon in downtown Ruston and families of incoming freshmen were roaming the streets and store fronts. Louisiana Tech University and the city of Ruston hosted their first Dog Days of Summer, a series of events introducing students and families coming through orientation to the community by way of walking tours and art crawls. With maps in hand these adventurers wandered the local businesses in town, making one of their stops the Dixie Center for the Arts. Inside the lobby they would find  the walls and tables covered in years of woodcarvings by the Dugdemona Basin Woodcarvers Guild.

This group of artists have worked together for over twenty years in Jonesboro, Louisiana, beginning as a small interest group and growing into a collective of woodcarvers. The exhibit displays a variety of styles and techniques in wood carving, and it also shows the fun a creative side of this ancient art. Reliefs of eagles, walking canes with lovable characters such as E.T. and Uncle Sam, and Louisiana themed bowls, sculptures, and reliefs line the walls of the Dixie. The talents of its members shine through these works of art, especially in pieces like a walking cane entirely made up of carved train cars moving downward. If asked to pick which piece is their favorite in the show, they cannot simply pick one. They can, however, pull out a small Kodak photo album and flip through a few photographs of pieces that could not fit in the show, such as a totem pole that was a collaborative effort by the group.

The night ended with hundreds of maps being colored in and just a few cups of lemonade left, but the room was never empty with people to view the work. If you missed out on the first Dog Days of Summer, don't worry. This exhibit will last through the month of June, including the Ruston Peach Festival. Come see the wonderful art created by these local artists and celebrate twenty-five years of art with them.

The next Dog Days Art Crawl date is Wednesday, June 18, from 7-10pm. Stop in and see the Guild's work! July dates are the 9th and 30th, with featured artist Nina Stephens of Dubach.