NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University Professor of Art Corbin Covher and NSU alumna Hannah Fulton will join officials for the unveiling of the latest sculpture in the Natchitoches in Bloom series. The unveiling will take place at Susan Harling Robinson Memorial Park at the corner of Pine and Cypress streets at 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb 12. The latest sculpture honors the story and legacy of “Steel Magnolias.”
Natchitoches in Bloom is an ongoing public art project created by the Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission and the Cane River National Heritage Area in partnership with NSU’s School of Creative and Performing Arts.
Covher has been involved with the project since its inception and introduced the idea of placing different types of flower sculptures that hold significant meaning to the city. The first was a poinsettia created by NSU student Emily Dawson located near the Santa House. Last year, a zinnia by Kassi Picou of Natchitoches was unveiled at Beau Jardin. The latest will be Fulton’s interpretation of a magnolia and the flower’s meaning in regards to the movie “Steel Magnolias.”
Fulton is associate professor of design at Louisiana Christian University. After earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic communications at NSU in 2016, she earned a Master’s of Fine Art with a concentration in drawing and painting at Louisiana Tech’s School of Design.
Fulton said her design was about two years in the making. She was inspired, in part, by the stained glass windows in the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.
The next flowers in the Natchitoches in Bloom series are a tulip and Louisiana iris.