Black and white at LASM

Beginning Saturday and continuing through March 2, the Louisiana Art and Science Museum will play host to two concurrent exhibitions of black and white photography that illustrate the need to preserve America’s history. American Ruins: Photographs by Arthur Drooker features a stunning visual record of significant architectural sites across the United States, including ancient Native American dwellings, an old West ghost town and Civil War-era ruins. Augmenting the Drooker exhibit are a selection of haunting photographs by Clarence John Laughlin that capture a vanishing New Orleans urban landscape. The Dark Side: Photographs by Clarence John Laughlin, 1935–1961 provides insight into the broad range of themes explored by this American master, who is best known for images of southern plantation architecture. Regular museum admission applies. lasm.org