Prairie Stories: Art and Ecological Restoration on Louisiana’s Prairies

Visit the Acadiana Center For The Arts Sat. 8 Feb. from 4 – 6pm for the opening reception of Prairie Stories.

Nant’a Goodbear and the Tribe have set up a special display to inform & educate about the history and culture of the Canneci Tinné Apache in Louisiana. Many other Artists, Scientists, and Naturalists are participating, and will be on site at the reception to discuss the exhibit and answer questions.

This exhibition takes a look at a variety of stories which intertwine the work of artists, community groups, Indigenous Peoples, and science-led efforts to restore the ecological balance to the area known as the Cajun Prairie.

Featured Artists: Ashlee Wilson, Brandon Ballengée, Caroline Delahoussaye, David Alpha, Elemore Morgan Jr. , Emee Morgan, Jeffery U. Darensbourg , Jillian Godshall, Leah Graeff, LouAnn Moses, Lucius Fontenot, Maaliyah Symoné, Max Alarcon, Nant’a (Chief) Cougar Goodbear, Neil Martin Nehrbass, Phillip Charles Ardoin, Rush Jagoe.

This Main Gallery exhibit runs Tuesday through Saturday (9am – 5pm), from Sat. February 8 – Sat, May 10, 2025

Prairie Stories takes a look at a variety of stories which intertwine the work of artists, community groups, Indigenous Peoples, and science-led efforts to restore the ecological balance to the area known as the Cajun Prairie. Visitors will see the well known landscape paintings of Elemore Morgan Jr., and photography from Lucius Fontenot’s Mémoire de la Boue (Memories of Mud) series. Visitors will see also collaborative projects, some of art and some of science. One such is an art installation between Rush Jagoe and Maaliyah Symoné. Maaliyah explains that, “through her artwork, she reimagines plants not just as subjects or props but as co-creatoThis exhibition invites visitors to explore a rich tapestry of narratives that connect artists, community groups, Indigenous Peoples, and scientific initiatives aimed at restoring the ecological balance of the Cajun Prairie. Attendees will be captivated by Elemore Morgan Jr.’s famous landscape paintings and Lucius Fontenot’s striking photography from the Mémoire de la Boue series.. Additionally, the exhibit features innovative collaborative projects that blend art and science, including a remarkable installation by Rush Jagoe and Maaliyah Symoné. Maaliyah passionately states that her artwork reimagines plants not merely as subjects or props, but as co-creators and storytellers in their own right.

This exhibition will not only highlight the creations of artists but also celebrate the significant contributions of scientists and naturalists engaged in the rewilding of prairie sites. Featured initiatives include the Cajun Prairie Restoration Project in Eunice, Louisiana, the Atelier de la Nature Aurore & Brandon Ballengée’s Eco-Campus in Cecilia, Louisiana, and the Acadiana Native Plant Project based in Arnaudville, Louisiana. These organizations are leading vital efforts to restore the biodiversity of prairie soil and foster positive transformations within the coastal prairie ecosystem.

Thank you to our presenting sponsor Jones Walker, as well as our generous host committee for sponsoring this event: Caroline and Barry Ancelet, Brenda and Alan Broussard, Kathy and Richard Broussard, Chuck Boudreaux, Dr. Mary B. Neiheisel.