Intense oil paintings, colorful quilts, distinctive jewelry,eye-catching stained glass and an ornate dollhouse are just some ofthe expressive works that make up the Folks’ Art Show in the UnionGallery.
The third annual Folks’ Art Show houses the works of retired andcurrent University faculty and staff.
Art show Chairperson David Rousmaniere said the 75-piece amateurshow is not judged but shows all submitted work.
Rousmaniere said he has a deep appreciation for the staff oncampus, and the show is a way to allow people to express themselvesand get together.
“It’s a community kind of event,” Rousmaniere said.
Rousmaniere, who has two needle-point pieces in the show, saidthe show itself has been an inspiration for him.
“Because of the show, I’ve started another [needle point],” hesaid. “It’s got me motivated.”
Gallery Director Judy Stahl said the show is an opportunity forthe faculty and staff to show the campus another side of theirlives.
“It’s a real personalization of the faculty and staff at LSU,”Stahl said.
John Guillory, a systems librarian in the Office of ComputingServices, submitted two oil paintings to the show for the firsttime.
Although Guillory said he has considered paintingprofessionally, he plans on sticking to his day job. but he doespaint and sell portraits on the side.
Guillory’s work titled “Giant,” is a large portrait of hisfriend Mark Martin, who works in Archives at Hill MemorialLibrary.
“I wanted to paint something on a large scale, [with] a massiveamount of flesh, using broad brush strokes,” he said.
Guillory said Martin showed up at his house one day wearingbicycle shorts, so he had him take off his shirt and sit down.
The bright, richly-colored work accentuates Martin’s overweightbody from the bicycle shorts up.
Martin said he did not know Guillory painted the picture, butseveral people he did not know approached him, saying, “You’reMark.”
“They just saw the painting,” Martin said. “I think that speaksto the quality of the painting.”
Union Building Manager Lawrence Henry Gobble has three photos inthe show, two of which are for sale.
Gobble said he has been taking photos since the ninth grade.
He also said he is considering enrolling in the Master’sPhotography Program at the University.
Gobble, who was born in New Mexico but considers New Orleans hishome, said he finds inspiration everywhere, especially in theFrench Quarter.
“I have inspiration to a fault,” Gobble said. “I love creating,but I don’t have enough time.”
Gobble’s ‘Magazine Street Bus’ photo captures New Orleans’historic French architecture along the busy city streets.
But Gobble’s work is not the only piece with a Louisianafeel.
Shirley Christentery’s black and white photo titled ‘Nostalgia,’captures two elderly, black men sitting outside Tabby’s on ThirdStreet in Baton Rouge.
The art show runs until July 22.