Thank you again to the City of New Iberia, Louisiana, for honoring George Rodrigue! The Memorial Park is near completion! Story and image via Dwayne Fatherree of The Daily Iberian:
“The site for the sculpture that will serve as the calling card of the George Rodrigue Park on Main Street is being readied for its new tenant. The sculpture, an eight-foot tall, tricolor representation of Rodrigue’s famous Blue Dog, will be mounted in the circular planter at the entrance to the park.”
The new park is to be located at 211 East Main Street in the New Iberia historic district. This pocket park will celebrate Rodrigue’s long career as a gifted artist, community leader, arts advocate and philanthropist.
Rodrigue set out to paint Louisiana as he knew it by visually interpreting the landscape and the rich history of the Cajun people. Later in his career his Blue Dog paintings captured hearts and minds around the world. Rodrigue remained an advocate of the arts and arts-education throughout his life and dedicated himself to inspiring the next generation of artists and educators through his foundation, the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts.
“Dad was not only a painter, but also a true community leader in his native Louisiana,” said Jacques Rodrigue, son of the artist. “He always said that if he wasn’t from New Iberia that he probably would not have ever painted in the first place. My family and I are grateful to everyone involved in this memorial park project.”
