Vermilion Arts Council

200 N. Magdalen Square

Abbeville , Louisiana 70510

Ph:337-898-4114 email: warrentm@bellsouth.net

Fax:337-898-4121

Mission Statement:

The purpose of the Vermilion Arts Council shall be to coordinate, promote, support and encourage and advance charitable, cultural, educational, leisure time, creative and other non-profit activities.

Board of Directors:

Mr. Warren A. Mayard- President Mrs. Dixie Mayard Vice President

102 Case Lane 2015 Alcide Dr.

Lafayette, La.70506 Abbeville, LA 70510

Ms. Madeline DeHart- Secretary Mrs. Betty Dore Treasurer

14108 Judy Pvt. Rd. 300 S. Hollingsworth

Abbeville, LA 70510 Abbeville, LA 70510

Mrs. Velta Bourgeois Jeannie Comeaux

206 N. St. Charles St. 120 Azalea St.

Abbeville, LA 70510 Abbeville, LA 70510

Ms. Cheryl Benoit Mrs. Charlotte Broussard

209 W. Magnolia Ave 126 Dwain Drive

Abbeville, LA 70510 Kaplan, LA 70548

Mr. Lloyd Dore III Mr. & Mrs. Charles Dill

P.O. Box 935 111 N. Henry St

Abbeville, LA 70510 Abbeville, LA 70510

Mr. Joseph D. McCarty Mrs. Sylvia Putnam

102 Case Lane 400 Second Street

Lafayette, LA 70506 Abbeville, LA 70510

Mrs. Mary Ellen Sonnier Mr. Dexter Thibodeaux

Two South Magdalen Square 118 S. Main St.

Abbeville, LA 70510 Abbeville, LA 70510

Current Exhibit: Laura LaBorde and her students

Laura LaBorde's Art Class

Viola Aberly

Meg Andersen

Pixie Carter

Crystal Comeaux

Carolyn Credeur

Laura Fontenot

Marvis Harmon

Delores Harrington

Ella Harrington

Marie Lege

Florence Menard

Marie Reinhardt

Lee Simon

Sable Thibodeaux

About the Art Students:

Viola Aberly is 90 years young and tells us that she painted off and on in and around New Orleans and Covington, LA. Viola says that when she began taking lessons with Laura that is when “it all came together” and she loves creating art.

Meg Anderson is originally from Nebraska. She’s lived here since 1967 and says you couldn’t pry her away from Cajun Land. She has always enjoyed painting and manages to squeeze it into her busy life. She’s let it slip away over the past eight years so she started taking Laura’s class. Oil painting has always been her preference and she enjoys learning new techniques. Laura turns her loose; then comes and rescues her when she gets into trouble. She is thoroughly enjoying Laura’s art classes.

Pixie Carter and her husband Jim have two children, Lauren (age 14) and Cameron (age 12) who have been taking art lessons with Laura for 2 1/2 years. Pixie began taking lessons 2 years ago. Pixie says that she didn’t know she had artist skills until she became involved in her children’s school as a room mom. After her children began lessons Pixie became intrigued with art and began taking lessons. Her favorite medium is oils, but she is open to trying new things to broaden her art skills. Pixie looks forward to her weekly lessons not only for the art but also for the fellowship with the other art students.

Crystal Comeaux Lives in the Scott/ Duson area , She and husband David have 3 lovely children. She has taken art lessons with Laura since September 2008. This is her first painting.

Carolyn Credeur is 64yrs young and has been an art student of Laura LaBorde for the past 8 years. Carolyn has been a widow for 15 years and credits her love of animals and life for giving her the desire to paint. Carolyn’s says that her favorite paintings are of wild animals in their natural habitats. She experiences much joy in expressing herself through painting and hopes to continue painting as long as she can hold a brush.

Laura Fontenot began painting china about 15 years ago and loved it but she reacted to the paint and turpentine fumes and began looking for a cleaner medium. This led her to working with watercolor. She began taking lessons with Laura LaBorde about 4 ys. ago and Laura taught her about water soluble oils, giving her a new excitement about painting with oils. She loves painting portraits, landscapes and still-lifes. Laura Fontenot credits Laura La Borde with helping her learn how to see with artist eyes.

Marvis Harmon is a resident of Acadiana and has taken lessons from Laura LaBorde for approximately 10 yrs. Marvis has been painting in oils for 32years and she is fond of painting side-walk cafes. Her “lighthouse” painting graces the entrance of Acadiana Christian Fellowship and her work is in private collections in Houston and Florida.

Delores Harrington has been taking lessons with Laura for seven years. She also takes art lessons with Pat Venable and Kate Ferry. She is also a real-estate agent with Kathy Dyson here in Vermilion Parish .

Ella Harrington lives in the Meaux community. Before retiring, she worked at Wal-Mart for 14 ½ years. She had never held an artist’s brush in her hands before painting with Laura. She’s been working with her for three years now.

Marie Lege joined Laura art class two years ago and has enjoyed oil painting. She feels it is a great pass-time. Marie also takes art lessons with Pat Venerable.

Florence Menard found it hard to adjust to retirement after 38 years of state employment. She always found her job to be very fulfilling and really found herself lost. She had thought about painting but thought she would have trouble sketching anything recognizable. . However, one day Florence mentioned to her sister in law that she would like to paint. Her sister-in-law was already taking lessons and invited her to join the class.

Florence was able to complete a painting after only attending classes for a few months with Laura. She presented the painting to her husband at Christmas and all her family members were really impressed.

Marie Reinhardt retired several years ago and has become involved in a variety of interesting hobbies and activities. Painting with Laura has become one of her favorites and she has been painting with Laura for a little over a year. Marie began by painting a typical still life and moved from there into such things as irises, which she has named “Irises in Motion”. It was quite an endeavor, but she is very happy with the result. Marie always likes to try something different, one of her next challenges is

a swamp scene. Her son lives out of state and she thought he would enjoy something to remind him of home.

Lee Simon is a widow with six children. She has taken art classes for three years. Lee has also been part of Vermilion Volunteer for Family and Community for over twenty years. She received the 2002 Louisiana Learning and Leading Award at the State Convention.

Sable Thibodeaux has been painting with Laura for five years now. She loves every minute she spends painting. Sable has studied under other teachers, but she feels Laura is the best. She considers Laura both a teacher and friend. Students all have a good time at her studio in Milton.

About the Art Teacher: Laura Elizabeth LaBorde

Laura has been painting since she was a young child growing up in Aberdeen, Scotland. Laura lived most of her life in Scotland where she attended college and received degrees in art and art history. She moved to Lafayette 18 yrs ago and continued her education with two very well known local artists Laura now teaches several different types of art classes to people from ages 5- 90 yrs. She also teaches senior citizens at the Green House in Lafayette and several other types of art classes at her home studio in Milton.

Laura has three daughters who live in Lafayette, Mandeville, LA and Scotland. She resides with her husband, Mike, and when not teaching art classes she enjoys gardening.

Carousel of Art 2010

Carousel of art 2010 is scheduled to for March 20th and 21st .

The "Arts in the Park" weekend is scheduled for March 20th & 21st. For more information or if you wish to be part of the Carousel, a vendor or performer, or offer help serving on a planning committee, please call Tony Mayard at 337-898-4114. or cell: 337- 254-5967.

Our arts and craft show offers a wide range of both crafts and fine art items that are handmade by local artists. We also have some vendors offering early spring plants and herbs. We invite schools and church groups to participate in fund raising projects and we also invite local caterers to provide food booths. We will have an Antique Car Show from 9AM - 3PM on Concord Street on Sunday , March 21st.

Booths 09

Bird Houses/Bird Feeders/Crab Grabbers/Whirligigs and Dust Pans-by Odis J. Lounsberry;

Quilts of various sizes/Table Runners/Placemats/Pillow covers/Boiling Mits-by Ann McKee;

Sweet Dough Pies /Candy -by Bernice F. Bernard;

Jewelry - by Lucy Baker;

Fleur-de-leis paintings with Madonna and child, etc. by Joan & Mack Stromer;

"Picklefish" jewelry designs by Elaine Dill and Christy Bass;

Silver jewelry and pearls by Joan Musemeche of Castle Artisans;

Hand made jewelry featuring freshwater pearls by Michele Dore' of Dore' Designs;

Jewelry - by Nancy Schuessler;

Wooden Furniture, rockers, swings, trash cans, duck boxes etc. by Henry B. Ardoin;

Rosaries, bracelets, religious items by Eldine Benoit;

Bar-B-Que pork chops, sausage po-boys and Nacho & Cheese by Rick's Bar Que;

Blankets, bonnets, hair bows and pillowcase dresses by Angel McGuire of Angel's Zipperfoot;

Glass Birdfeeders made from antique glass bowls and dishes by Greg Davis;

Hair bows, crocheted hats, pacifier holders and blankets by Tami Moore;

Wallets, fleece blankets, outdoor furniture and flower boxes by Marlene Dunbar;

Painted Pillowcase Dresses and Jewelry by Dee Smith;

Joella LeBlanc of Nu Nu's Creole Traditions will have Sliced cake, Pecan Candy and Pork Stew;

Get a fabulous face painting by Carole O'Neil of Fantasi Faces;

Phyllis Fruge of Courtlyn's Corner will offer Glass and wood beaded Children's Jewelry and glass block Christmas Decorations;

Margie Dupre will offer baby blankets, burp pads, pillowcase dresses, Christmas items and more;

Linda T. Allen offers candles, bath salts, framed crosses and aroma beads;

Luciana A. Livings offers handmade children's clothing;

Elizabeth Owens will have candles, homemade jams, jellys, and diaper wreath sets;

Jessica Thomas will have prints, hand finished textured prints;

Nancy Schuessler offers jewelry;

Ted Baudoin offers a fine selection of canvas reproductions of his original oil paintings;

AHS Band Boosters will have bar-b-que burgers and chips;

Gerald Bourque will offer jewelry;

Also on Exhibit:

The Ravages of Rita

the forgotten Hurricane

A Photographic journey through Vermilion Parish in the days and months following Hurricane Rita. This exhibit was assembled by Charlene Beckett of Abbeville Main Street Program and is a cross-departmental partnership among: Abbeville Main Street, The Office of the Lieutenant Governor through the department of culture, Recreation and Tourism, division of Historic Preservation, Division of the Arts, and Office of the State Museum.