Mark your calendars and make plans to attend the Meet and Greet reception at 6:00 pm on Friday, July 12, 2024 at the Poydras Center as the artwork of Elaine Erikson and Ronnie Collins is displayed for the Poydras Center Pop Up Art Exhibit. The July event marks the fifth Pop Up Exhibit which is a collaborative project between the Arts Council of Pointe Coupee and the Pointe Coupee Historical Society. The exhibit is sponsored by a grant from the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area.
The community may be familiar with the artwork of Erikson and Collins as both artists have been a part of Treasures of Pointe Coupee for several years now and have frequently received awards for their submissions.
Elaine Erikson was born and raised on Bayou Teche, in the country outside New Iberia, Louisiana. (One of Elaine's pieces is shown to the left. Click here to enlarge the photograph.) As a child, she had an interest in art, but she felt she needed a solid career to be successful and art seemed frivolous and "just for fun." When Elaine retired in 2014 after a long career as a CPA, she knew exactly what she was going to do. She picked up a paint brush and never looked back! Elaine's paintings are very realistic, with a lot of detail. After learning the basics at Delgado Community College, Elaine joined five art guilds, taking advantage of many workshop opportunities, and showing her art in exhibitions. The guilds have been a source of great encouragement. Attending workshops or painting with other artists helps Elaine become a better artist.
She recently won the 2022-2023 Louisiana Duck Stamp Contest, with her painting of a pair of Fulvous Whistling Ducks in a marsh setting. She is the first woman to win in the contest’s 34-year history!
Elaine and her husband Bruce have lived in River Ridge, Louisiana for 30 years, but they purchased a retirement home in the historic district of St. Francisville several years ago. Elaine is active with Arts for All and the Yellow Leaf Festival and has shared her beautiful work with Pointe Coupee through Treasures of Pointe Coupee and as A Wine Down on False River artist in 2022.
Ronnie Collins lives in Jennings, Louisiana and earned a degree from the Art Institute in Dallas. (One of Ronnie's pieces is shown to the right. Click here to enlarge the photograph.) He gave up a career as a commercial artist to follow his passion to paint. He is well known as a mural artist, having painted murals across the country for the past thirty years. Ronnie was selected in 2023 to paint a mural in New Roads for the installation of a piece of public art funded through a grant from the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area. His “Pointe Coupee Proud” mural is painted on the side of MaMama’s Kitchen in New Roads. In addition to painting murals, Ronnie is an accomplished artist who teaches art on Mondays in Jennings and paints prolifically. Ronnie has provided workshops for artists in Pointe Coupee and during COVID hosted a series of online sessions, "One O’clock Wednesdays" which encouraged and inspired artists from all over the country.
The July exhibit will open with the Meet and Greet reception which is open to the public. Elaine and Ronnie’s artwork will remain on exhibit at the Poydras Center until the end of September. Consider bringing family and friends to visit this outstanding exhibit which is open during the normal business hours of the Poydras Center. Contact Mindy LaCour for additional information.
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