Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

6/01/2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES-New York artist Gilbert Fletcher recently visited the Natchitoches area as he prepared his next exhibition, "Reflections of Cane River's Legacy, Heritage and Culture."

Fletcher will create 20 oil paintings depicting landmarks, historical places, people and families in and along the Cane River National Heritage Area. The project is sponsored by Northwestern State University's Creole Heritage Center, with support from the St. Augustine Historical Society, City of Natchitoches Mayor Wayne McCullen and the Cane River National Heritage Area.

Upon completion of the paintings, the Center will host an unveiling at the New Orleans Museum of Art in June 2005 in conjunction with the Creole Heritage Education Research Society (CHERS) Conference. In October 2005, the paintings will then be on display at the Orville J. Hanchey Gallery on the Northwestern State University Campus.

According to Janet Colson, assistant director of the NSU Creole Heritage Center, Fletcher's visit was the first of several he will make to the area. Fletcher plans to return at different times of the year to capture different seasons and events. While touring the Natchitoches Historic Landmark District, Fletcher captured images of historic buildings and homes. He also took shots of sunrises over Cane River.

Fletcher's work is known in artistic communities around the world. He is well known for his traveling art exhibit "Painted Voices," which features portraits of 20 famous African-American writers such as Langston Hughes, Thomas C. Dent, Alice Walker, Toni Morrison and Maya Angelou. Fletcher was the recipient of the 2003 Creole Heritage Center's Lifetime Achievement Award for his unique documentation of Creole cottages in and around New Orleans.

Creole Heritage Center Project Coordinator Loletta Wynder and Katherine Johnson, program manager for the Cane River National Heritage Area, accompanied Fletcher to the Hanchey Gallery and to a visit with McCullen. Fletcher was also given a guided tour of Melrose and the Isle Brevelle area by Terrel Delphin, board chairman for the Creole Heritage Center. Delphin provided an oral history of the area and explained how he has managed to organize and energize virtually the whole Creole population of Louisiana. This effort has spread across America.

In addition, John Colson, a dedicated Creole Heritage Center volunteer, showed some of the prominent landmarks and historic structures within Cane River and the Cloutierville communities. These tours provided Fletcher with an idea of life along the banks of Cane River, focusing on Creole culture and traditions present today.

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