Honoring Ralph

Like the Steel Magnolias, laughter through tears is one of our favorite emotions. A cornucopia of emotions was on display last night when ACGBR Board Chairman Ralph Bender received the city’s prestigious Golden Deeds award. The Marriott’s packed ballroom was filled with family, friends, co-workers and representatives of the numerous nonprofits Ralph has served since he and lovely wife Edi made Baton Rouge their home many years ago. Keynote speaker D-D Breaux asked Edi what were a few of Ralph’s most endearing quirks, admitting everyone knew about the bow tie. 
“She said, Coach, EVERYTHING about Ralph is quirky!,” shared Breaux, prompting one of the evening’s biggest laughs. Another came when Mayor Sharon Weston Broome gave him the key to the city … “I know you’re going to try and use this.” These were two of oh so many funny and touching moments – the absolute best coming from Ralph himself. 
And, in true Ralph fashion, he had his cash prize from the Inner Civic Council, which presents the award along with The Advocate, split between three nonprofits who currently benefit from his leadership – ACGBR, Manship Theatre and YMCA. Thank you, Ralph, for ALL you do for community!

Forty Under 40

Congratulations also go to ACGBR board member Em Cooper, top left, Baton Rouge Symphony Executive Director Eric Marshall and Baton Rouge Film Commission Executive Director Katie Pryor on being named to Business Report’s Forty Under 40 class of 2022. We’re proud you’re all part of the Arts Council family!

Perkins Rowe Arts Fest

Looking for something fun to do this weekend?
Come join the fun that is Perkins Rowe Art Fest, a collaboration with the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge. The arts market features local artists exhibiting their crafts, canvases, jewelry and more! There’s also live music and activities for every member of the family. Hours are Saturday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. For a complete lineup of performances, click below.

Symphony Week Finale

We’re rolling out the welcome mat here at the Cary Saurage Community Arts Center as a string quartet from the Baton Rouge Symphony takes over the Shell Gallery in a free, pop-up, noon concert on Friday, wrapping up a series of performances around town. Come join us!

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Jazzy Germaine

This fall’s round of the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge’s Jazz Listening Room performances kicks off Nov. 15 with New Orleans’ own Germaine Bazzel, who’s been performing since graduating from Xavier University. Now 90-years-young, she has collaborated and performed with the likes of Red Tyler, Peter "Chuck" Badie, Victor Goines, George French, Ellis Marsalis, Emile Vinnette, Larry Siebert and David Torkanowsky, along with her band Germaine Bazzle & Friends.
The concert gets underway at 8 p.m. here at the Cary Saurage Community Arts Center.

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MusicPerformanceArtCommunity

Jan. 12, 2023

7-10 p.m.

Cary Saurage Community Arts Center

233 Saint Ferdinand St.

Don’t miss the GROOVIEST party of the year celebrating the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge’s 50th Anniversary. Enjoy Live Music, Art & Design, Food, Vintage Libations & More at MPAC! Click below for tickets and more information.

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Sip And Spin

Our Sip And Spin: Pottery Wheel Throwing Class is a HUGE hit! So much so, that classes with instructor Quaja Bell have been scheduled through this time next year. The evening is a perfect Date- or Friends-Night-Out, with Quaja guiding attendees through methods of centering and shaping clay on the potter's wheel in a fun, relaxed environment. Classes are Thursday nights from 6:30 – 8:30 at the Cary Saurage Community Arts Center, 233 Saint Ferdinand St., with the next session starting Dec. 7. 
Classes are filling up fast, so click below and sign up soon! Cost is $100 and includes seats for two people, required tools and two drink tickets per person. Must be 21 or older to consume alcohol. ID required for verification. 

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Events

BR Symphony’s American Classics

Nov. 10, 7:30 p.m.

River Center Theatre

Guest conductor Chad Goodman takes up the baton for the kickoff performance of BRSO’s orchestral series featuring violist Vadim Gluzman in Leonard Bernstein’s Serenade, After Plato's Symposium. The evening’s program also includes Bernstein’s Three Dance Episodes from "On the Town" and Gershwin’s An American In Paris.

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KINETICS

Nov. 11, 7 p.m.

Baton Rouge Gallery

The gallery’s fun and fast-paced live art auction returns with more than 30 original works of contemporary art by its artist members up for bids. The bidding for each piece, regardless of size, media or artist, opens at $100. 
A portion of the evening's proceeds will go directly to the local and regional artists that make up the gallery's artist member roster.

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R.E.S.P.E.C.T

Nov. 11, 7:30 p.m.

River Center Theater

Celebrate the Queen of Soul at this Aretha Franklin tribute concert as you travel her journey of love, tragedy, courage and triumph via such hits as Natural Woman, Think, I Knew You Were Waiting for Me, Chain of Fools and, of course, Respect.

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THE ADDAMS FAMILY

Nov. 11-20

Theatre Baton Rouge 
Peek in as Morticia and Gomez deal with daughter Wednesday’s new boyfriend - a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family. The antics as the ADDAMS’ host a dinner party for the boyfriend and his “normal” family will keep you on the edge of your seat. Directed by Clay Donaldson, the PG-13-rated play stars Albert Nolan, Adrienne Bolotte Thornton, Matthew Lass, Mallory Commander, Caleb Broussard, Maddy Lewis, Lily McGill, Lance Parker, Jonathan Thomas, Tara Nixon, Brooke Couvillon, Tiara Spann, Corinn Hovis, Carley Magette, Elizabeth Gatz, Rebecca Smith, Alex Arnold, Kolby Griffin, Molly Kate Skupien, Noah Catalanotto, Kole Munson, Marshall Elliott, Hunter Nastasi, and Jose Rivera.

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Wine & Roses Rambler

Nov. 13, Noon-2 p.m.

LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens
Friends of LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden invite you to ramble through the roses!
Stroll through the gardens as you savor gourmet hors d'oeuvres and desserts, fine wines and specialty cocktails. Enjoy live music from the Civic Orchestra of Baton Rouge, a wine toss and a fabulous surprise raffle. Fanciful garden party attire is encouraged! 

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The Pout Pout Fish

Nov. 13, 2 p.m.

Manship Theatre
This is what happens when you pair the colorful illustrations and singsong text from The Pout Pout Fish book series with puppetry and musical theater. Come along on Pout Pout’s emotional underwater journey to reach his home again.

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Exhibitions

LSU Museum of Art exhibits

Two exhibits open at the LSU Museum of Art Nov. 17. One is Mediterranea: American Art from the Graham D. Williford Collection featuring 71 works created by American artists who visited or studied in areas included in the Grand Tour tradition during late 19th and early 20th centuries. A lecture by Mark White, executive director of the New Mexico Museum of Art and original curator of Mediterranea, and reception are Dec. 1 at 6 p.m.

The second exhibit is Volterra featuring photography by Kevin Benham, assistant professor of landscape architecture at LSU. The photos capture the ecology of mosses, lichens and other vegetation growing on the calcareous rock formations of an ancient theater built in the Augustan Period during the 1st Century BC. On view alongside Benham’s photographs is the short film Pasqua, which explores a contemporary view of the traditional bi-yearly migration of sheep or cows from the highlands to the lowlands and back. An artist talk with Benham is Jan. 27 at 6 p.m.

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Art Guild Holiday Show

Nov. 10 - Jan. 12

Studio in the Park, BREC’s Cedarcrest Park
Deck the Walls is the theme for this year’s show featuring holiday-themed works by members of the Art Guild of Louisiana. Vote for your favorite for the People’s Choice Award.

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Lecture & Reception with Lydia Blackmore

Nov. 10, 6-7:30 p.m.

LSU Museum of Art/3rd floor 
Join Lydia Blackmore, Decorative Arts Curator at The Historic New Orleans Collection, as she shares details on the lively and profitable Louisiana ceramics trade during the 1800s as part of the museum's H. Parrott Bacot Visiting Scholars Sries.

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Art Show And Sale

Nov. 12 & 13

Studio 9170, 9170 S. Choctaw Dr.
Check out original works by artist members and maybe cross off a few names on your holiday shopping list.

Appreciation Wine & Cheese

Nov 18, 6 p.m.

Elizabethan Gallery
Join Liz and company for a sip and bite as they say thanks to clients old and new. This special celebration is part of Mid City’s fabulous, fun White Light Night art festival.

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This week on AC 23

Join host Pam Bordelon as she visits with Baton Rouge filmmakers Jency and Aaron Hogan, who are getting ready for the Louisiana premiere of their debut film, Days of Daisy, Dec. 4 at 6 p.m. at the Manship Theatre. Get the inside story on how this labor of love came to fruition. Click to view the trailer and click below for ticket info. 

The AC23 podcast airs every Sunday morning at 6:30 on 96.1 The River and 102.5 WFMF and at 7:30 on WJBO Newsradio 1150 AM/98.7 FM.

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