Terrebonne Fine Arts Guild celebrates 50 years

Verda Mae Pugh
December 26, 2012
Three silent films, with live music
January 2, 2013
Verda Mae Pugh
December 26, 2012
Three silent films, with live music
January 2, 2013

Its mission is to promote art and art culture in Terrebonne Parish – and for 50 years, the Terrebonne Fine Arts Guild members have been working to do just that.


Over the years the guild has grown from a women’s group whose 14 members simply wanted to paint together and met in members’ homes to a nonprofit organization that owns and operates an art gallery showcasing local original artwork and serving as a learning center.

It has about 50 active members who plan and conduct workshops and keep the art gallery open to the public. Another 25 members enjoy “friend” status but are not involved in day-to-day decisions of running the organization or art gallery.


The opening of an art gallery in 1980 was a turning point for the organization, says Sue Junot, who joined the organization in its first year and remains a member. Initially housed in the old East Park Elementary School with the support of the Terrebonne Parish School Board, it later moved to Lee Avenue through a donation by the Saia family. Today the gallery is located at 630 Belanger Street in Houma, in a house donated by the late Ms. Dora Ferber.


It is the art guild’s venue for workshops for adults and children, art shows and other activities. On any day, visitors can find for purchase quality original artwork by area artists. Subject matter and medium vary – from landscapes to florals to abstracts, and from acrylics and oils to drawings, as well as some sculpture and jewelry. Artist prints, note cards and gift certificates are also available.

“With all of the growth in Houma, you would think there would be a lot of people looking to buy art,” Junot says. “I don’t see that.” She says the guild needs to continue to heighten the awareness of the public about the artistic talent found locally, so they don’t drive to New Orleans to buy original artwork. “It’s amazing to me we’re not really selling paintings right and left.”


While Downtown Art Gallery 630 is a bit of an overlooked asset for decorating home or office, some of its other activities are a little higher profile – particularly for parents of school-age children.


“We were one of the first groups that gave art classes for children (and) promoted art in the schools,” says President Jerelyn Richard, “particularly since they don’t have art classes in the (elementary) schools anymore.”

Each year, the organization encourages schools in Terrebonne to conduct their own student art competitions, for which the guild will supply a judge. Blue-ribbon winners are invited to a parish-wide school competition at Downtown Art Gallery 630.


About 28 schools participate and approximately 400 children’s artworks are on display for one week, with an open house conducted this year on March 3. Blue-ribbon winners from that competition are awarded free art lessons in June.


“We’ve had a few very successful shows with the children,” Junot says “They’re growing too (as artists). They’re not just copying comic books and Disney figures – they’re doing real art.”

“Our summer art program is a shining star,” Richard says. Conducted over a four-week period annually in June and July, the low-cost program allows approximately 120 children to paint in oils and watercolors, learn to draw and sculpt in clay.


The guild’s encouragement of children’s art extends to a small scholarship, Richard says, awarded to a graduating senior who plans to major in art at a Louisiana college or university.


But the guild’s activities also feature members teaching workshops on new painting techniques, as well a workshop taught by an artist with a wider reputation. The public is welcome to enroll in the workshops which have covered a wide range of media and subjects, including oils, watercolor and acrylic painting; pastels; pen and ink drawing; calligraphy; batik; and clay and copper fabrication sculpture.

The public is also urged to participate in two other large events conducted by the art guild – its annual Spring Art Show and Art After Dark.


“The Spring Art Show has brought a lot of artists from all over the state to participate,” Richard says. “We always get people coming in from New Orleans, Lafayette, Baton Rouge” as well as smaller towns in the area. The competition, slated March 17 to April 9, is expected to draw about 50 artists showing 175 to 200 paintings, competing for ribbons, cash, and merchandise and purchase awards.

On Sept. 7, about 45 artists’ work will be showcased at an estimated 25 venues in downtown Houma during Art After Dark, a free celebration of art in the community that includes the Houma-Terrebonne Community Band playing in the courthouse square and other musical acts playing near other exhibits.


“Now in its 14th year, Art After Dark tends to showcase local artwork as well as emerging businesses in the downtown area. The object is to support the arts and help revitalize the downtown area,” says Karen Kelly, art guild treasurer and Art After Dark organizer. “It’s wonderful to see a few thousand of people walking around the downtown area enjoying the arts on Saturday night.”

At the urging of the Houma Downtown Development Corp. businesses, a springtime Art After Dark was held twice but discontinued due to scheduling conflicts and lack of funding.

For members’ engagement, the guild conducts tri-monthly competitions on select themes that encourage artists to expand their knowledge and try new ideas and techniques in their paintings. To help promote members’ work, 10 are highlighted annually, each with their own month-long exhibits. January features Thibodaux artist Jean Ayo, who uses watercolors to share her culture and life experiences with others.

“Seeing color react, gradate and blend on a surface is exciting, stirs a passion and fosters a desire to communicate this to the viewer through my paintings,” says Ayo, a licensed social worker who also taught at Nicholls State University. Exhibiting work at the gallery prompted Ayo to review how her work has evolved over the past few years. “I think it helps everyone to come together and see what others are doing,” says Ayo, who was a member of the guild in the 1980s, then rejoined in 2007.

Ayo hosts a reception for her exhibit from 3-5 p.m., Jan. 13, at the art gallery.

The art guild has recently been enjoying an influx of new members, a trend officers would like to see continue. For an organization that began as a women’s group and has primarily met during the daytime, the guild is making efforts to attract younger members with careers who enjoy creating and supporting art in their spare time. It has held one evening meeting and plans more in the future to accommodate working people’s schedules.

“I think we can expand our horizons to include photography, textile art, sculpture,” Richard says, although space limits accommodation of those mediums in the Spring Art Show. But the photography competition – the first one held in November – was a first step in expanding mediums highlighted. Richard says the competition was very successful with good participation by area photographers.

“There are lots of artists” in the area, Richard says, and neither medium nor level of expertise determines membership eligibility. “I would like for them to come see and try us out,” she says, and get involved in the guild’s programs and help shape the workshops offered.

For more information about Terrebonne Fine Arts Guild, visit www.TFAG.org or call 851-2198.

The Terrebonne Fine Arts Guild, whose gallery is located at 630 Belanger St., is celebrating its 5th anniversary with a public reception Jan. 27.

Katherine Gilbert-Theriot | Gumbo Entertainment Guide

Mickey Guillory, Terrebonne Fine Arts Guild first vice president, discusses art and artists with Alvin Dominique Jr., of Gheens, and Jonas Dominique, of Houma Young Professionals.

Katherine Gilbert-Theriot | Gumbo Entertainment Guide

Jean Ayo is the art guild’s artist of the month in January. She hosts a reception for her exhibit from 3-5 p.m. on Jan .13. 

Katherine Gilbert-Theriot | Gumbo Entertainment Guide

Ayo’s paintings share culture and life experiences through watercolors.

COURTESY PHOTO