Paintings, literature, photography and taxidermy will be on display this summer as part of four exhibitions at the Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum.
- “Condition Report: Preserving our Community’s Art Collection” provides a look at fragile artwork that is rarely displayed due to condition issues and a window into the museum’s preservation practices. Among the 10 pieces are a botanical drawing by Harriet Joor from the early 20th century; a Thomas Sully portrait from 1812; and a recently restored painting by John McCrady. The exhibit will be displayed until Aug. 13.
- “Creole World: Photographs of New Orleans and the Latin Caribbean Sphere” features over 50 images from the Historic New Orleans Collection taken by photographer Richard Sexton. Some of the photos capture food, architecture and people that are indicative of the city’s distinctive Creole heritage. Others were taken during the artist’s travels to places such as Haiti, Colombia, Argentine, Cuba, and Ecuador. It will be displayed until Aug. 20.
- “Depictions of Louisiana” showcases paintings and literature that are part of the museum’s permanent collection and which date from the mid-19th century to the present. The works interpret Louisiana through artists’ expressions of individuality, belief, space and place. The exhibit will be displayed until Aug. 20.
- “Kate Clark: Mysterious Presence” explores the artist’s work with taxidermy techniques to sculpt human-like faces using the hides of wild animals. The sculptures convey primal similarities between humans and animals, and evoke questions about identity and societal values. It will be displayed until Aug. 27.
University Art Museum features 11,000 square feet of gallery space and is the largest exhibition space between Houston and New Orleans. It houses a collection of 18th- through 21st-century European, Asian and American art. In addition to its permanent collection, it offers changing exhibitions of regional, national and international art.
The museum is at 710 E. St. Mary Blvd., on the University of Louisiana at Lafayette campus.
Museum hours are: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Saturdays; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum is closed Sundays and Mondays.
Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for people over age 62, $3 for students between the ages of 5 and 17, and free for children younger than 5 years old. UL Lafayette students, and faculty and staff members can visit for free by showing their University ID card. Guided tours of museum galleries are available with the price of admission at 2 p.m. each Friday and Saturday.
To learn more about the museum, exhibits, and programs visit hilliardmuseum.org or call (337) 482-2278.
Photo info: Elemore Morgan Jr., Rice Canal Revisited, 1974, acrylic on masonite. (Photo courtesy of Hilliard University Art Museum)