Community Calendar

Laymon Godwin, a renowned pedal steel guitar and Dobro musician, from West Monroe, will be one of six tradition bearers across the state to be honored during Louisiana Folklife Month. The event will be held in conjunction with the Downtown Gallery Art Crawl, from 6-7 p.m. at The Palace, 220 Desiard Street in downtown Monroe. Dr. Susan Roach, Louisiana Tech folklorist, will interview Godwin about his experience as a musician in country show bands such as Monroe’s KFAZ-televised Ouachita Valley Jamboree, West Monroe’s Twin City Jamboree, Columbia’s Ward 5 Jamboree, and Ruston’s Wildwood Express and Dixie Jamboree. Following the presentation honoring him as a Louisiana tradition bearer, country musician friends Charles Tullos and Danny Allen will join him to play a short set. The Palace will also feature a guest artist from Ruston, Dianne Springer, showing quilts and selling one-of-a-kind hand painted flower pots and decorated jean jackets (5-9 p.m.). After receiving her MFA in studio art from La. Tech, she developed a national following as a glass beadmaker and jewelry designer. Then she discovered quilting, began designing and creating quilts, and started her own company, Dianne Springer Designs, which sells her own quilt and applique products as well as quilt-related kits and projects.

As we approach the sixtieth anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the Union Museum of History and Art will be hosting an exhibit of historical photographs of the Kennedy presidency entitled “American Visionary: John F. Kennedy’s Life and Times.” For the opening night reception, Dr. Ralph Brown of the University of Louisiana Monroe will serve as the featured speaker.

The Northeast Delta Human Services Authority (NEDHSA) will showcase 14 original works created by artists Inique Harris, Shiketra May White, Drek Davis, Keagan Vaughan, JaCera Francois, and Rachel Madden at the Ruston Artisans Gallery in Downtown Ruston.

This exhibition is part of the agency's "Art Is Medicine" initiative, an integrated health care, evidence-based prevention, communications, and treatment strategy to help serve people with mental health, addictive disorders, and developmental disabilities.

An opening reception on October 19 features the exhibiting artists as well as NEDHSA personnel. Artists will also bring new works of art for sale.

The gallery will open the exhibit to visitors on October 11.

Whether your pet is furry, feathered, or scaly, Alex Ogle will help you create a watercolor pet portrait. Registration is required. Please call 318-327-1382 or email croane@oplib.org to register. Once registered you will need to email Clair a picture of your pet. Beforehand, Alex will sketch out your pet on a 8x10 print, and then she will teach you how to watercolor your pet!

The Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana's 8th Annual Empty Bowls event will be held on Saturday, April 6, 2024 at the Monroe Civic Center. With the all-inclusive event ticket, guests can choose a beautiful bowl to take home as a reminder of all of the empty bowls in our community. We'll have a tasting from 12+ local restaurants, live music, silent auction, and more!