Fran and Hunt Slonem
New Iberia is home to the Bayou Teche Museum, a space preserving and presenting all aspects of the area’s culture and history. Native American artifacts, items retrieved from a shipwreck, and interpretations of the area’s involvement in the Civil War are just some of what’s on display; but a new exhibit has garnered special excitement.
Hunt Slonem is recognized in art circles the world over for his vivid and colorful paintings, which often incorporate images of flowers, rabbits, and especially birds (Slonem is a bird lover and keeps many as beloved pets). While he spends much of his time in New York City, the artist also owns two historic homes in South Louisiana; after purchasing the once-dilapidated Albania Plantation just outside Jeanerette, he refurbished it beyond even its former glory. Many historic homes are the subject of restoration efforts, but few get a second life quite as spectacular as Albania's, which has become the pet project of this widely respected artist.
Slonem, who has been a patron of the Bayou Teche Museum, is now also the focus of a major exhibit, Bayous, Birds, and Butterflies, which features some of his larger-scale pieces in a refurbished space decorated to match the themes of his work—think bright yellow walls and natural motifs. It’s rare for a small museum to have the opportunity to present a full exhibit of work by an artist of Slonem’s standing; and this presentation of his energetic, upbeat work is a must-see for art lovers. The exhibit remains until December 1, 2106.
A second exhibit featuring one of the art world’s heavy hitters, George Rodrigue, will also be on display at the museum starting in January. Both exhibits are must-sees for art lovers and for those interested in the continuing development of the cultural life of Iberia Parish and the wider region.
