Summer programs at the Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum include everything from French cooking classes to bilingual yoga sessions.
The University Art Museum will offer a range of events to complement four summer exhibitions, and to honor the region’s French heritage.
“We are curating programs, including many weekend activities, that will highlight the joie de vivre that is so integral to our culture,” said Jolie Johnson, the museum’s marketing and membership manager.
“French Language Hour” will be held from 10-11 a.m. each Wednesday from June 7 to Aug. 9. Attendees are encouraged to speak in French during a viewing the “Pierre Bonnard: Landscapes from Le Cannet” exhibit.
It will feature 24 works from the collection of the Musée Bonnard in Le Cannet, France, Lafayette’s sister city and the artist’s home. The exhibit is the first time Bonnard’s work has been displayed in Louisiana. It won’t be on display anywhere else in the U.S. this summer. “Landscapes from Le Cannet” opened May 27, and will run until Aug. 12.
“Toddler Time” is set for three Wednesdays in June, July and August. The event will be held from 10-11 a.m. on June 7, July 5 and Aug. 2. Parents will be able to bring their children to story times led by a kindergarten teacher. Children will also be able to participate in art projects and learn basic French vocabulary. Guided museum tours will be available following each day’s program.
“Yoga in the Galleries” will be held on three Saturdays, June 10, July 8 and Aug. 12. Sessions led by certified instructors will be held in French, from 10-11 a.m., and in English, from 11 a.m. to noon. The event is free, although donations of $10 to $20 are suggested.
“Bordeaux, Brie, et Bonnard” will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, July 7, and Friday, Aug. 11. A private viewing of the Pierre Bonnard exhibit led by LouAnne Greenwald, director of University Art Museum, will include wine, cheese and pastry. Tickets are required.
“French Cooking Class” will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, July 20. Four course cooking classes will be offered at The Kitchenary in the Oil Center. Tickets are required.
“Play Day: The Art of Recycling” will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 15. It will feature art projects and games for children with found and recycled materials. It will be led by Amie Rogers, the museum’s summer artist-in-residence. Representatives of Lafayette Consolidated Government and No Waste Louisiana will coordinate educational displays and presentations about sustainability and green initiatives.
A reception for the public to kick off the summer season will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, June 9. A private preview of summer installations for museum members will be held from 4-6 p.m. that day. Both are free.
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 obtain media kits with high-resolution images and more information, contact Johnson at (337) 482-6060. To learn more about the museum, exhibits, and programs, visit hilliardmuseum.org or call (337) 482-2278.