In celebration of the University’s sesquicentennial, the LSU Museum of Art is exhibiting the work of former University professor Caroline Durieux.
Bringing together various pieces from Durieux’s artistic  career, the retrospective exhibit, called “Caroline Durieux: A Radioactive Wit,” showcases her work in paintings, sketches, lithographs, colored cliché verre prints and radioactive electron prints.
Laden with satirical humor and exceptional craftsmanship,
Durieux’s art captures her environment and contributes innovative techniques to the printmaking     medium, said Natalie Mault, assistant curator at the LSU Museum of Art.
Mault said the resulting work is playful, intriguing and thought-provoking.
“Many of the subjects she depicts are humorous, but not all of them,” Mault said. “Some are of war or the atomic bomb, but viewers don’t feel anxious. They are done in a mocking way, and although made decades ago, we still recognize aspects of society in them today.”
Mault said showcasing the work of a former University professor is in keeping with the museum’s dedication to University-related art.
“We’ve been looking forward to this exhibit since we moved away from LSU to the downtown area,” she said. “This kind of event is a great way to tie in all things LSU.”
As a celebration of the 150th anniversary of the University, “A Radioactive Wit” is just one of many events honoring the milestone year.
The University and the LSU Museum of Art have made great efforts to highlight the positive effects of the University on the Baton Rouge community, said Aaron Looney, editor at University  Relations.
Looney said the sesquicentennial aims to celebrate the impact the University has made through research, education, athletics and art, with each one showcasing a different aspect of community involvement.
“Art tells a story — different artifacts have history and a story behind them,” Looney said. “These stories are part of the LSU history and how it has gotten where it is today.”
Mault said she expects  Durieux’s groundbreaking work in printmaking to bring strong attendance and interest to the  exhibit from both students and the community.
University art professor Kimberly Arp said Durieux’s advancements were milestones in printmaking techniques.
“In terms of the history in printmaking here at LSU, if anything has a lot to do with the sesquicentennial and the history, it is this idea of her using radio elements to do artwork,” Arp said.
Arp also expects Durieux’s experimental combination of art and science to intrigue students who visit the exhibit.
“Anything that pushes the envelope or widens the scope of possibility, young folks are  interested in it,” he said.
“Caroline Durieux: A Radioactive Wit” is on display from Aug. 22 to Nov. 2.
—-
Contact Morgan Searles at [email protected]