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The Arts Council of Livingston Parish Artists of the Year from 2001-2007 Exhibit is hanging at the new Denham Springs/Walker Branch Public Library at 13986 Florida Boulevard The Exhibit features Tom Wallace-2007, Paulette Ferguson-2006, Bonnie Smith Williams-2005, Darryl Alello-2004, Marita Gentry-2003, Lionel Kabel-2002 and Bill Rice-2001.

I ran in to see the exhibit, and hated that I did not have time to get a library card and check out some books because the library is so wonderful. I will find time to do this in the near future; perhaps as the exhibits change I will check out and return books making for some good summer reading and getting to know some of the Livingston Parish artists by name.

The exhibit hangs well with a wide assortment of art. You will catch the feeling of relaxation while viewing the majestic mountains, autumn leaves, windmills and cool lakes of Tom Wallace. He was announced as the 2007 Livingston Parish Artist of the Year, however his exhibit is the last exhibit. The first is the exhibit of Paulette Ferguson who was the 2006 Artist of The Year. I asked for brochures, but the attendant said each artist had only left some cards. It would be a neat idea to have some brochures about the Livingston Parish Arts Council or the Denham Springs Fine Arts Association and perhaps artists, who are non-members residing in the area may be interested in joining.

Paulette Ferguson paints one of my favorites, "Pink Glory," with a beautiful dominant pink cherry blossom tree in front of a red brick entry way that makes you want to go right up the steps and go on inside. Also, "Peace," a 24 x 18 dogwood in full bloom is very well done.

Bonnie Smith-Williams has a captivating black lab done in acrylics entitled "Bo The Gentle Giant." I also like her watercolor roosters and especially, “We should have danced all night.”

I loved the lively, vivid colors of lime green, crimson, and orange mixed media on canvas of Maria Gentry. My favorite being the "Black-Eyed Susan."

Darryl D. Alello has very smooth and soothing pastels showcasing "Afton Garden," and a majestic oak with heavy-aged moss entitled "The Stories I Could Tell."

Lionel Kabel’s "Strawberry Picker" is one of my favorites of his. I saw this previously hanging at a Louisiana Arts and Artists Guilds’ exhibit, and I remember thinking just how talented he is. The painting has a large, neatly dressed black man in the forefront bent over picking or checking the strawberries. He is dressed so nice, that he does not appear to be a crop picker, but perhaps an overseer or a checker. He is facing left, and the 7 long diagonal rows naturally get smaller the farther back they are. In the background, facing right are three more pickers. I like the composition and the realism that he captures. It’s as though you are there in the field facing the picker.

Bill Rice has "Jolie Blanc," an oil painting portraying a blonde, barefoot Jolie Blanc with coffee and a cat and a red chair. The colors all play well. He also has a traditional Louisiana-type painting style- "Bayou Egrets" and "New Orleans Lady," both in oil.

About 7 years ago, my mother came to my house one Sunday afternoon almost in tears and said that she was riding up in the country and saw the most adorable art studio and stopped and went in. It was the studio of Bill Rice and his adorable wife. They took my mother in, made her coffee and made her feel so welcome, and before she left Mr. Rice gave my mother a little carved bird. Last year my mother started giving special mementos away saying that she was getting to an age where she was not going to be able to maintain all the material possessions one holds onto for years and years. The little carved bird by Bill Rice was one of the special things that she hand-carried to me. Today, it sits in my china cabinet along with many other things that she has given me over the years.

Congratulations to the residents of Livingston Parish on their new library, and to the Livingston Parish Arts Council for having such a wonderful place to showcase area artists and art. Perhaps I will stop into the antiques district one morning and shoot some photos and then drive on to the library and check out some books and view the new exhibit. I spoke to Alex Kropog, director of the Livingston Parish libraries, and he stated that the exhibits will be changing and rotating. The hours of operation are Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. and Sun 2:00-6:00 p.m.

Happy Painting!