Crafting the South Louisiana Sound
Lionel Leleux works on various fiddles he is making. 1991. Photo by Philip Gould.
In collaboration with Festivals Acadiens et Créoles and the Center for Louisiana Studies, this exhibition highlights the work of musical instrument builders in south Louisiana from the 1930s to the present. The exhibit features hand-built accordions, violins, guitars, amplifiers, triangles and rubboards, as well as photographs and video footage, offering a glimpse into the minds and workshops of local makers. Modern instrument builders in Acadiana continue to rely on traditional methods, but have far greater access to high-quality tools and information. Although musical instrument making has largely shifted from a labor of necessity to a labor of love, local instrument builders have long provided the tools for Cajun and Creole musicians to carry on their musical heritage. hilliardmuseum.org.
