“In Art, the more personal you become, the better you become.” George Rodrigue as I wrote his words in my journal, 6/30/11 Years ago, George’s and my publishing agent, Roz Cole, pushed me to write a book she called, How to Love.* At the time, I humored her by considering it, but I deferred toContinue reading “Bodies”
Category Archives: Portraits
Sharing George: A Video
The Life & Legacy Tour began because I felt compelled to help others experience George Rodrigue in a more personal way. After eight months, the tour is in demand more than ever, with no end in sight! And perhaps that’s exactly as it should be. Want to know what it’s like? Here’s a video from Dr.Continue reading “Sharing George: A Video”
Life and Legacy
George Rodrigue’s life, art, and philanthropy touch lives every day. In a reality that, from my perspective, is both exhilarating and unsettling, I see him moving into near-mythic status, grouped in art lessons with Van Gogh, Picasso, and Matisse. I’ve always known that he belongs with these artists —Modernist giants whose output enriches our world,Continue reading “Life and Legacy”
What did he look like? …A LAA+ Tour
It was last spring that a young student at The Dufrocq School, a Louisiana A+ School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana asked me the most basic of questions: “What did he look like?” Thrown off, I could only think Where’s my phone? (in my purse) followed quickly by Where’s my purse? (on the other side of theContinue reading “What did he look like? …A LAA+ Tour”
Rodrigue Comes Home
Those of you who follow this blog know that over the past six years (goodness…..six years….) and more than 300 essays, I focus on text, with quotes from George, and a careful complement of photographs and paintings. However, after spending a whirlwind week in Louisiana, I’m ready to post quickly and then get on withContinue reading “Rodrigue Comes Home”
The Petro Brothers
“Ya’ here to look or to buy?…” …barked Bud Petro from the porch of George Rodrigue’s Jefferson Street gallery.From a rocking chair, he watched the Esso station he owned with his brother Norman, while monitoring and, according to George, “scaring away” potential Rodrigue collectors. “I couldn’t tell him to leave,” laughed George.“He was part ofContinue reading “The Petro Brothers”
An Exhibition from the Other Side
This month, the State Library of Louisiana premieres an exhibition based on a new Rodrigue book, The Other Side of the Painting, on view through February 2014. Unable to attend the November 2ndopening in Baton Rouge, George Rodrigue and I relied on curator Marney Robinson, who astonished us with her ability to fully utilize aContinue reading “An Exhibition from the Other Side”
Gus Weill and George Rodrigue (a couple of local boys)
Why do you do what you do? Ah sir if we only knew. But the winds call And the waves toss And we follow And are lost. Ah sir if we only knew.* -Gus Weill, 1981 (pictured, A Couple of Local Boys, 1981, oil on canvas by George Rodrigue, 48×36 inches; collection theContinue reading “Gus Weill and George Rodrigue (a couple of local boys)”
Rodeo Drive
Artist George Rodrigue and I attended a rodeo in South Lake Tahoe, Nevada last weekend. The area, called Glenbrook, reminded me at first of developments like Seaside and WaterColor near my hometown of Fort Walton Beach. Although I’m fond of these ice cream colored Florida Panhandle houses, my initial comparison was a stretch, now thatContinue reading “Rodeo Drive”
My Blues Brothers
George Rodrigue has painted several versions of the Blues Brothers since 1995. Although all in private collections, the paintings from this series are among his most popular, famous within the pages of art books and as reproductions on the walls of the Blue Dog Café in Lafayette, Louisiana and Besh Steakhouse at Harrah’s Casino in NewContinue reading “My Blues Brothers”