The Acadian Cultural Center in Lafayette will host the work of area artist Theon Guillory during February for African American History Month.
Guillory’s work will be on display through Feb. 28. The center is open Tuesday-Friday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday 8:30 a.m. to noon. Both the exhibit and the center are free and open to the public. One of six sites of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, the Acadian Cultural Center is located at 501 Fisher Road in Lafayette. For more information, call 337-232-0789 ext. 201 or visit nps.gov/jela.
Guillory’s work encompasses Louisiana people, landscape, culture, and personal connections. According to Park Guide Angelle Bellard, “Theon’s passion for his culture and community is evident in his artwork. To experience the peace and gentleness of his work is just like having a conversation with Theon himself. A good example of this shows in the backdrop he did that now hangs in the Liberty Theater in Eunice, which shows the peace and serenity of the prairie.”
Guillory resides in Lawtell. He is a self-taught artist who began pursuing his passion for art from a very young age, winning several art contests in elementary school. Guillory began sketching in pencil and pastels, graduated to painting, and then went on to airbrushing. His love for art guided his professional choices; in 2006 he graduated as a draftsman from the T.H. Harris Campus of the South Louisiana Community College System in Opelousas. Guillory continues to educate himself on new techniques as he strives for excellence with his work, and his explorations in new styles and new techniques allow him to choose the right one for each of his works.
The Acadian Cultural Center is managed by the National Park Service as part of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. The center is open Tuesday-Friday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday 8:30 a.m. to noon. The center is closed on federal holidays and Mardi Gras. The film “The Cajun Way; Echoes of Acadia” is shown hourly beginning at 9:00 a.m. with the last showing at 3:00 p.m. Rangers present a short talk at 2:45 p.m. The center also features exhibits and programs on the history and cultures of south Louisiana. Admission to the center and for most center programs is free. Group tours are available by reservation. Call the Acadian Cultural Center at 337-232-0789 ext. 11 or visit www.nps.gov/jela.
