GEORGE RODRIGUE'S GENEROSITY LIVES ON

GEORGE RODRIGUE
an artist who gives back

from google image for the purpose of art advocacy

Louisiana Artist who became famous as a pop artist with his Blue Dog Paintings.  This year George died due to the effects of an ongoing  battle with cancer.  He left a wonderful legacy in his paintings and creative genius, but also for a generous act of philanthropy. 

 George Rodrigue was a bear of a man with a huge heart.  He grew up in Cajun country and new the struggles of poor people who strived for more, but did not always have the opportunity.  Louisiana is not a rich state, nor is the education system an extremely progressive one.  

As George succeeded in art, he wanted to give back to all the children who like himself needed a chance to have art programs offered in their community.  Every year his foundation supplies art materials to schools across Louisiana.  He also helped to raise monies for children's hospitals across the country by donating art to help for art auctions for funding.  

George Rodrique Foundation of the Arts

I admire artists who realize that in giving back we create a more humane world and in promoting art for children and in turn we build individuals who will contribute in a positive way to this world.  
We will miss you George, but your foundation lives on.  

Wendy Rodrigue, George's wife, continues the foundation in his memory
Wendy is the second from the left.

I urge you to consider contributing to the George Rodrigue foundation.  Please click here for the link to the foundation.

THE BLUE DOG WILL LIVE ON

George Rodrigue 

A wonderful artist and fine man just left the bonds of this earthly plane.  His art foundation helped thousands of Louisiana children have art supplies for art education programs. He also donated to children's hospitals in gifts of his work.  It is with great sadness we say goodbye to George Rodrigue. If you do not have a chosen charity please consider the George Rodrigue Art Education Foundation.  Our thoughts go our to his family during this sad time and holiday season.  May the seeds he sowed grow many an artist and creative thinkers in the schools of Louisiana.

from google for art education only

“I realize more today than ever, that Europe had to experience the Dark Ages in order to have the Renaissance. Art reinvents itself by people who go though things that they may not understand at the time. There’s always hope that new generations will discover new things that eventually propel society forward.”

“For lack of a better word, I feel now a renaissance in the way I look at things and in the way the Blue Dog looks at me.”

New Orleans Warehouse District, Glass and Print Studio, and famed artist George Rodrigue

We had a wonderful experience in the warehouse district of New Orleans today.  We went to the Glass and Print Studio where one can view a gallery of the over 100 artists that participate.  On site over 10 artist work in the hot room blowing and turning glass and others on the large presses turning out wonderful artist made prints.  The public can go in to the hot room and observe the actual process of glass blowing.  Every time I watch someone blow glass I am impressed by the skill and strength it takes.  It is a complicated process of heating, adding glass, turning, reheating, add color and reheating again and again.  One must be patient and be able to put up with the constant heat.  But it is a magical process as well.

Warehouse Art District of New Orleans/photo by Elizabeth Gordon

After leaving the glass and print studio I wandered down the street and happened into George Rodrigue's Youth Art Development Foundation.  My eye was drawn to a plaque with an oak tree with a color pallet on it and a glass door that said Youth Art Development.  
Being a teacher of the arts, and an art advocate I had to know more.  What I discovered was a wonderful successful artist who is also a humanitarian with a deep desire to give back to others using his fame and success as a well known artist.  Thanks to the Education Co-ordinator Mandy's generosity of time and patience is answering all my questions we received a thorough understanding of George Rodrigue's outreach programs for young people in the state of Louisiana and his desire to use his art to help people everywhere.  

Plaque Outside George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts

I would like to break this down into parts for you and more than one post.   First I would like you to know about the print and glass studio and a young artist who uses live cacti in sculpture.  Then I would like to do a separate post on George Rodrigue his art and foundations.  So we will do a three part series for you.  The longer I am in New Orleans the more I find to write about.