The LSU Museum of Art hosted a free, all access Black history event Sunday to highlight local artists and uplift the Black community.
The event was organized by Callie Smith, the museum’s educator and public programs manager. Planning began in November, culminating in the event featuring artist Mike Weary and a choir performance by Author J. Gremillion from the AJG Experience School of Music.
“We knew that we wanted him to create an original work of art that was live for people to witness that process,” Smith said. “We also really wanted there to be an interactive component as well.”
The piece created by Weary is modeled after his daughter, thinking about her life and the role of Black women within civil rights history. Imagining her future, the interactive piece included extra markers on the side for people to add to his artwork.
Weary himself is self-taught, and is best known for painting many of his pieces upside-down. He took his first art class at 15 and fell in love with painting from there. He also received inspiration from his mother, who was also an artist and constantly drew at home.
“She would paint murals on our walls and stuff like that,” Weary said. “So, for me I took on a lot of that first-hand visual knowledge and I painted a lot of portraits. My first one was when I was 6.”
His mediums of choice include iron, copper and patina because of his upbringing in New Orleans. His inspiration is mainly found walking around the city and admiring the architecture, seeing iron and copper as a parallel for humanity and how people “come and go.”
Events such as this are held every month at the museum under “Free First Sundays,” in which attendance is always free. Other museums in the Baton Rouge community also participate, including the Louisiana Art and Science Museum and the Capitol Park Museum.
Recently, Smith collaborated with the LSU International Cultural Center to transport international students to the museum to participate with the events.
The museum has a couple events coming up within the next few months, even collaborating with the LSU Vet School in April to host a children’s Little Golden Book art show. The vet school will have “live raptors” at the museum while children can read along with their animal books.
“It’s for all ages, not just a kid only program,” Smith explains. “It’s obviously very friendly to families but, I love seeing older people, grandparents, teenagers and would love more LSU students.”
Prospective attendees can keep up with the museum on their social media pages and stay updated on new events that are free for all LSU students the first Sunday of each month. The museum itself is always free for students with an LSU ID.
