In addition to the University, two State Capitols and a host of recreational parks, Baton Rouge is also home to a piece of land open to the public and more than half the size of New York City’s Central Park.
The Burden Horticulture Society is holding its first art contest, called “A Brush with Burden.” The contest will serve as a fundraiser for the center, as well as an invitation for people to get to know the grounds.
All art media will be accepted into the contest. Submissions must be related to the Burden Center, and there is a $15 fee per entry. Pieces must be offered for sale, and 20 percent of the profit will go to the LSU Foundation for the Burden Center.
The winning entries will be displayed in the Shaw Center for the Arts after the show. Opening receptions will take place Feb. 4, and the exhibition closes Feb. 6.
The Burden Center is located on 440 acres of land off Essen Lane where people are welcome to visit, relax, walk and learn more about agriculture and horticulture.
It’s the perfect setting for art and music, said Ginnie Bolin, chair for the Burden Horticulture Society.
Volunteers had their first meeting about the contest and other potential events a few months ago and decided to host the contest pieces in the Orangerie on the grounds.
“This is a very motivated group of people that got together and wanted to see this happen,” Bolin said. “We looked at the Orangerie and thought we’d like to see the public enjoy that building.”
Submissions will be accompanied at the opening of the art show by 18 traveling works from a similar art contest hosted by Garvan Woodland Gardens in Arkansas.
Painter Carolyn Breaux said Brush with Burden is an opportunity to be involved in a fundraiser for a good cause.
“I do enjoy painting out there, and it’s a lovely area,” Breaux said. “It’s a beautiful venue and a wonderful opportunity to exhibit work.”
The Burden Center is unique in that it is a research station where the public can see progress happening in the fields of horticulture and agriculture, said Jeff Kuehny, assistant director of the Burden Center.
“The Burdens donated the land to create a permanent green space for the city of Baton Rouge so that the public could enjoy horticulture and get away from the trappings of urban life,” Kuehny said.
The land cannot be used for any other purpose other than agricultural research, public gardens and the Rural Life Museum, Kuehny said.
“A lot of people don’t know the Burden Center exists,” Bolin said. “We really want people to know about Burden and what a wonderful gift it is to the city and the state.”
This contest is one piece of a plan to make the Burden Center a more popular site for locals to visit and to raise money to for the grounds.
“We will continue to provide more opportunities and increased access to Burden woodlands,” Kuehny said.
If all goes well, the contest will return again next year.
 
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Contact Morgan Searles at [email protected]