[StBernard] Art in April no longer a one-day event

[Westley Annis]

Art in April no longer a one-day event

Published: Thursday, March 29, 2012, 7:05 AM     Updated: Thursday, March
29, 2012, 10:43 AM

 By Kim Gritter 

For the past 15 years, St. Bernard Parish's most talented artists and
crafters have been touted during a one-day-only spring art festival. This
year though, organizers of the annual Art in April festival have decided to
transform the event into a month-long celebration.

In partnership with the St. Bernard Art Guild, St. Bernard Parish Public
Schools, Nunez Community College and the St. Bernard Parish Seafood &
Farmers' Market, the St. Bernard Parish Office of Tourism is working to
ensure residents will be exposed to the arts through an array of activities,
including music by local musicians and performers, art exhibits featuring
works of art by locals, theatrical performances and hands-on children's
activities.

Members of the 2012 Art in April committee invite residents to participate
in various activities throughout the community throughout the month of
April.

Members of the committee are: Polly Campbell, chairwoman; Elizabeth "Gidget"
McDougall, advertising; Gayle Buckley, treasurer; Claudette Ponstein,
children's entertainment; Judy Hoffmeister, exhibitors; Elizabeth
Ellison-Frost, children's activities; Amanda Hardesty, Farmers' Market
manager; Charles Cassar, St. Bernard Parish public school system's cultural
arts coordinator; and Dana Sherlock, St. Bernard Art Guild.

The celebration will kick off Monday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. with the opening
reception of the 2012 Nunez Community College Spring Art Show in the
college's Arts, Sciences and Technology Building. The show, which is open to
the public, will continue through April 5. Today is the deadline for
submissions. Artwork should be brought to Room 231.

"All types of art including drawings, paintings, photographs and sculpture
will be accepted," said Juliette Paul, Nunez assistant professor of fine
arts. "The artwork must be original and created in the last five years."

Two dimensional art must be matted and ready for hanging. Every piece should
have an information sheet with it including name, title, materials used and
price, if the artist is willing to sell the item.

Artwork also will be displayed at various restaurants throughout the parish,
including Plantation, Touche, Charlie's Restaurant and Par 3 restaurant.

For more information, contact Paul at jpaul at nunez.edu or 504.278.6273.

Beginning April 7, and continuing each Saturday in April, the Art in April
committee will sponsor children's entertainment at the St. Bernard Seafood &
Farmers' Market at the Aycock Barn, 409 Aycock St. in Old Arabi. Uncle
Wayne's Porta-Puppet Players will present "Nursery Rhyme Thyme" April 7 and
28 at 11 a.m. and Young Audiences' Frank Levy will present "Stories in
Motion - Jungle Book" on April 14 at 11 a.m. Two caricature artists will
capture the faces of children in their drawings on April 21 at 10:30 a.m.,
and the New Orleans Ballet Association's After-School Ballet program
participants will perform April 28 at 10:15 a.m.

Members of the St. Bernard Art Guild will be painting white shrimp boots
that will be residents can bid on at the Saturday events. The boots will be
auctioned on April 28. Proceeds from the boots will benefit future Art in
April activities.

On April 18, residents are invited to Touche Cafe in Arabi from 6 to 9 p.m.
to enjoy the sounds of Paris' Raphael Bas and meet local artists Janet
Attaway and Dana Sherlock.

An Art & Wine Walk set for April 19 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Farmers' Market
will showcase various artistic and culinary talents prevalent in St. Bernard
Parish. There will be music by the Courtyard Kings, local cuisine, arts
vendors, and a celebration of Louisiana's Bicentennial including free
birthday cake.

On April 19, everyone is invited to Charlie's Restaurant in Poydras from 5
to 9 p.m. to meet local artists Ed Estopinal, Donna Lind and Claire Pescay.

An Art in April patron party will be held April 20 at 6 p.m. at the
Chalmette High School Cultural Arts Center on the Ninth Grade Academy
campus, followed by the school's production of "Glitter & Gloves." Tickets
for the patron party are $40 and up, and admission to the performance is
$10.

On April 25, the public is invited to Plantation Restaurant in Meraux from 6
to 8 p.m. to meet artist Elaine Hodges.

Nunez Community College's Pelican D'Or Film Festival will take place April
26 at Chalmette Movies. Submissions are described as short films, about 25
minutes long, or short, short films, about 10 minutes or shorter. Categories
can range from fiction, documentary, nonfiction, puppet, animation and music
video.

The submission deadline is April 16. DVD submissions can be mailed to Nevada
McPherson at Nunez Community College, 3710 Paris Road, Chalmette, LA 70043.
Submission details can be found online at the Nunez website, www.nunez.edu.

For more information, contact McPherson at 504.278.6289 or
nmcpherson at nunez.edu.

On April 29, stop by Par 3 in Chalmette from 2 to 6 p.m. to meet artists
Linda Lopez, Rita Trosclair and Skip Hagadone.

A special 15th anniversary Art in April commemorative poster will be
available this year for $20. A limited number of posters from year's past
also will be on sale.

For more information about any of these events, visit
http://www.visitstbernard.com/ or call McDougall at 504.278.4242; Campbell
at 504.554.7134; or Hoffmeister at 504.400.3657.

 Kim Gritter can be reached at kgritter at timespicayune.com or 504.826.3792.