Since establishing the George Rodrigue Life & Legacy Foundation, now eight years ago, 2024 included our widest and most effective outreach to date in sharing this unique art and storytelling programming inspired by my late husband, George Rodrigue. I brought original Rodrigue paintings into 49 schools and delivered 110 presentations, reaching 6300 children in six states.
Our twenty adult events included museum openings, community lectures, docent trainings, and fundraisers in New Mexico, Florida, Louisiana, Alabama, Texas and Tennessee. Perhaps most effective were the docent trainings surrounding our six Rodrigue museum exhibitions, wherein staff and volunteers immersed themselves in George Rodrigue’s art and life, and shared their observations and new knowledge with thousands of students and visitors during each exhibition. Please visit our “Feedback” page for reactions from the road. legacyarttour.org/testimonials
Additionally, we premiered the new documentary, "BLUE: The Life & Art of George Rodrigue." BLUE was a tremendous success during premieres throughout Louisiana, but especially as part of the New Orleans Film Festival, where it screened to a full house at the Orpheum Theatre, followed by a special showing at the Contemporary Art Center for 300 area high school students, hosted by the COOL Cooperative. In all cases, panels included family and filmmakers and revealed details from behind the scenes during the nearly two years of production. Learn more about additional premieres in 2025, plus broadcasting and streaming nationwide. Visit legacyarttour.org/2024/10/blue-the-life-and-art-of-george-rodrigue.html
Other 2024 highlights included a gala celebration of George’s 80th birthday at the Bayou Teche Museum in his hometown of New Iberia, Louisiana, as part of the Life & Legacy Foundation’s exhibition, “George Rodrigue: Painting for Myself.” In New Orleans, the annual Founders Ball opened the Louisiana State Museum’s exhibition, "Rodrigue: Before the Blue Dog," on view through September 2025 at the Cabildo on Jackson Square. And in November, I celebrated my 200th school on the Life & Legacy Tour at George’s alma mater, Catholic High in New Iberia. Meanwhile, Douglas and I continued our Rodrigue Video Narratives throughout 2024, filming the history of George Rodrigue’s paintings on site at the Hilliard Art Museum, Santa Fe Community College, and the Cabildo Louisiana State Museum.
Coming in 2025…
January includes exciting student outreach in Mississippi in partnership with the Meridian Public School District and artist Adam Trest, followed in February by our joint presentation in Washington, D.C. for the Any Given Child Conference, hosted by The Kennedy Center. This is a big one, ya’ll. Stay tuned!
March 2
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Four Seasons Rancho Encantado Resort
Join me for the New Mexico premiere of the new documentary film, "BLUE: The Life & Art of George Rodrigue," followed by a panel discussion with the filmmakers. Also available is an elegant dinner by Terra Restaurant at the Four Seasons! I hope you will join me for this special evening benefitting Santa Fe Community College Continuing Education and the George Rodrigue Life & Legacy Foundation.
March 7
Alexandria, Louisiana
The Alexandria Museum of Art
Opening reception and gallery talk for "The River is the Road: Paintings by George Rodrigue." This traveling exhibition is expanded for this AMoA exhibition to include more than fifty original Rodrigue paintings ranging in date from 1968-2013.
*Additional events and student outreach posting soon
April 1-5
Longview, Texas
Longview Museum of Fine Arts
Exhibition, "George Rodrigue: Painting for Myself"
Multiple events, including an ArtWalk, a Family Day, Student Outreach, and the Texas film premiere of "BLUE: The Life & Art of George Rodrigue!" Please join me! Details posting soon.
This year also includes more summer classes for continuing eduction with Santa Fe Community College in New Mexico, a film premiere and student outreach with the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation in Florida, Rodrigue exhibitions opening in Alabama and Louisiana, loads of student outreach, and a few surprises as well. As always, follow www.legacyarttour.org for the latest.
Thank you to everyone who has helped finance these efforts. Although I am still the largest donor to the Life & Legacy Foundation’s programming, I couldn’t do it without your additional donations, exhibition and speaker fees, class registrations and fundraisers. Every bit is appreciated, tremendously. May you be just as blessed in your own lives with people who support and believe in you!
Enjoy life!