LSU Museum of Art – not just a gallery

The LSU Museum of Art, located on the fifth floor in the Shaw Center for the Arts in downtown Baton Rouge, opened in March 2005. Since then, it has continually acted to promote appreciation for the arts in Baton Rouge, building and preserving an impressive collection.

On display until Nov. 2 is the exhibit Caroline Durieux: A Radioactive Wit. A native of New Orleans, Durieux created over 400 known works, developed a new printing technique that employed radioactive materials, and refined printmaking technique. Her work is satirical, drawing subjects from her experiences in Louisiana and Latin America. Fellow artist Diego Rivera wrote of her art as “at once politely cruel and charmingly venomous.”

Open to interpretation, what particularly struck me was the interpretive area meant for students. Comments ranging from simple to deeper and darker observations like “brain wash Tuesdays” indicate that Durieux’s work can still have an impact on us today, and that the MOA is encouraging interaction with art rather than simple observance.

While Durieux’s prints appear in museums all over the country, including the Smithsonian and the National Gallery of Art, the LSU Museum of Art contains the largest collection. Here, her teaching legacy lives on through her work. As an instructor at LSU in 1943, she basically built the printmaking section of the Fine Arts Department.

On Halloween day from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. students in LSU’s Department of Theater will improvise scenes from Durieux’s work. Since her work already lends itself to social critique, the result is expected to be a unique collaboration between art, audience and actors.

And remember that the LSU MOA even rents out the facility after normal business hours for galas, receptions or meetings. The view and the building itself are breathtaking. A unique blend of modern lines and architectural details plus a view of the Mississippi River act together to create a spectacular space. Contact Renee Payton, Marketing Director at (225) 389-7206 for more information.

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