Jun 1, 2024: “He inspired me,” said George Rodrigue, when I interviewed him about his 1985 portrait of Zydeco legend Clifton Chenier. “Still does. He didn’t curl up and let his disease stop him, even after losing a foot to diabetes. He kept on playing.”
Following his cancer diagnosis in May 2012, Rodrigue painted the brightest and most joyful canvases of his career and continued to do so until his death in December 2013. Both Chenier and Rodrigue epitomize the joy of life. Through their music and art, they left this “joie de vivre” as an eternal gift and poignant reminder for us all.
The short film is part of a series of “Rodrigue Video Narratives,” produced by my current husband, Douglas Magnus, and highlighting individual George Rodrigue artworks.