ON THE COVER

Drumming Song II
12" x 20", collage & acrylic on wood
by Natalie Lane Clay

“My biggest inspiration,” says Opelousas-born artist Natalie Lane Clay “is South Louisiana … although my images might not bring that immediately to mind.” But Clay, who lives in Baton Rouge’s Mid City, has found much to be inspired by in her immediate vicinity. “I’d been wanting to do more paintings of my surroundings, and when Brian started the Marching Band Project, I wanted to be involved.”

Brian is photographer Brian Baiamonte, whose photographs of a group of underprivileged kids who gather to rehearse for a community band, marching along the railroad tracks through Mid City, formed the spark from which Clay’s Drumming Song series of paintings grew. The project set out to raise desperately needed funds to buy instruments for the band, which relies on donated and cast-off equipment. For more information, visit indiegogo.com/the-marching-band-project. More works by Natalie Lane Clay are at Kerry Berry’s Atomic Pop Shop on Government Street, Frameworks Gallery on Highland Road, and at natalielaneclay.com.