Museum presents Hunt Slonem, Works from Albania Plantation Aug 22 — Sept 24

SHREVEPORT, La. — The exhibition by Hunt Slonem, Works from Albania Plantation opens the season at the Meadows Museum of Art on August 22.

The exhibition will be on display through October 24 and is free and open to the public. A calendar of events including a visit to Shreveport by the renowned New York artist is part of the exhibition and program schedule.

Works by Hunt Slonem from Albania Plantation features approximately two dozen of the artist's works currently located in Jeanerette, La., at Albania Plantation which is owned and has recently been restored by Slonem. Although the plantation has not previously been open to the general public, plans are underway to develop a trip to South Louisiana for the purpose of visiting the plantation.

Born in Kittery Maine, Slonem spent his childhood traveling with his military family. On his travels, he studied art in both Mexico and Nicaragua where he was deeply influenced aesthetically and culturally. Slonem continued his studies in visual art at Vanderbilt and Tulane Universities before moving to New York City in 1972 where he first used Nicaraguan holy cards as subject matter.

In the 1980s, Slonem began using hatch marks to build patterns of repeat images of flora and fauna from the natural world, much of which is indigenous to Central America. The exhibition on display at Meadows Museum of Art is comprised of works from this period and includes images of parrots, endangered species birds, monkeys, butterflies and rabbits as well as number of free-standing sculptures of exotic flowering plants and animals.

Zama Dexter, Board Member of the Friends of the Algur Meadows Museum, agreed to Chair the Exhibition Committee that helped develop the 2010-2011 schedule and put the Hunt Slonem exhibition foremost on the list. "It's simply a marvelous opportunity for Shreveport to have these works by Hunt Slonem," said Dexter. "Slonem is an outstanding contemporary artist who also has deep ties and interests in our state, in its culture and in its history. We could not be more delighted with this exhibition opportunity."

As part of the calendar, the Friends of the Algur Meadows Museum will host a Members' Exhibition Preview on the evening of Saturday, September 11, 2010. Following the Members' Preview, the community is invited to visit the Meadows Museum of Art on Sunday, September 12, 2010 at 2:00 PM when the artist will address the Shreveport-Bossier community.

For more information about this and other Meadows Museum exhibitions, events and programs, call the Museum Business Office at 318.869.5040.
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This exhibition has been organized by the Meadows Museum of Art at Centenary College of Louisiana in cooperation with the artist, Hunt Slonem and Mr. Earl Bailey of Charenton, La. The printing of educational and informational materials for this exhibition has been supported by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, a State affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, and by the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau. The Museum receives general operating support with funds from the City of Shreveport. The Museum receives annual support from the Friends of the Algur Meadows Museum. The Museum seeks and receives funding and support from both public and private foundations and other sources on a project-by-project basis.

Calendar of Events

* Sunday, Aug. 22
1 — 4 p.m.
Exhibition opens for viewing by the public

* Saturday, Sept. 11
Friends of the Algur Meadows Museum
Exhibition Preview
5:30 — 7:30 p.m. in the museum galleries
Hors d'oeuvres and libations

* Sunday, Sept. 12
Artist's Gallery Talk
2 — 3 p.m. in the museum galleries
Light refreshments

* Sunday, Oct. 24
4 p.m.
Exhibition closes to the public

About Centenary College of Louisiana

Centenary College is a private, four-year arts and sciences college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Founded in 1825, it is the oldest chartered liberal arts college west of the Mississippi River and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Centenary is one of 16 colleges and universities constituting the Associated Colleges of the South and has been recognized as "One of the Best 371 Colleges" by the Princeton Review and one of "America's Best Colleges" and one of "America's Best Private Colleges" by Forbes.com. In 2008 Centenary College celebrated 100 years in Shreveport and Bossier City.