NCLAC's Holiday Arts Tour

Join the North Central Louisiana Arts Council (NCLAC) on November 18-20th for an exciting arts-filled weekend.

NCLAC’s 14^th Annual Holiday Arts Tour will highlight more than 50 artists at businesses, galleries, and studios throughout Lincoln Parish. The Tour will feature paintings, pottery, jewelry, and other designs created by regional artists, as well as live music by local favorites Sara Sullivan, Cain Budds, General Patterson, and Monty Russell.

Festivities will begin Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. with an Art Crawl through downtown Ruston. Tour sites will also be open Saturday, November 20 from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

One exciting addition to this year’s Holiday Art Tour is “Sprout Sunday” which will feature demonstrations and multidisciplinary projects for children at participating studios.  Education Coordinator Jessica Slaughter said; “Sprout Sunday will be a way for children to feel involved with the Holiday Arts Tour. While parents are browsing the studios, their children will have the opportunity to learn about artistic processes and media.”  

Two studios slated to participate are Follette Pottery and Stitchville.  Kent & Libby Follette will offer “sunfaces” a hands on project for children to embellish a clay sun.   Stitchville owner Allie Bennett will demonstrate drop spindle spinning with alpaca wool.  Children will get to experience a spinning wheel in action.  When asked why she wanted to participate in “Sprout Sunday” she responded “Fiber arts is a lost form that is resurfacing and it’s a positive thing for kids to start learning different skills and expand their knowledge base about the definition of art”.  

When asked what makes the tour different than traditional gallery setting, Executive Director Leigh Anne Chambers said, “The Holiday Arts Tour is an opportunity for community members to not only purchase artwork but meet the artists that create them.  It allows a unique chance for the artists and viewer to communicate in an informal setting.”

Returning artists who open their private studios to the public include M. Douglas Walton, Hooshang Khorasani, Paul and Kathy Smith, and Kent and Libby Follette. At the same time, visitors will encounter new artists such as Joey Slaughter, Geri Taylor, Christiane Drieling, and Casey Parkinson just to name a few.

In addition both Louisiana Tech University and Grambling State University will be participating in the tour.  Executive Director Leigh Anne Chambers said; “student work provides variety in content, subject matter, media, and prices”.  Both Tech and Grambling students’ artwork can be found in the School of Art building on Tech’s campus. 

So join us for this year’s Holiday Arts Tour, “Homegrown”. You can pick up a Tour brochure, which serves as a comprehensive guide, at the Dixie Center for the Arts in downtown Ruston. More information is also continually posted on NCLAC’s Blog: www.nclac.wordpress.com.

This year’s Holiday Arts Tour is supported by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council and administered by the Shreveport Regional Arts Council.