Arts & Artisans

Grand Coteau

Artists, Musicians, and Craftspeople

Nancy Brewer Pastry chef.

Jesse Poinbeuf Artist.

Trish Ransom Folk art jeweler.

John Slaughter Photographer.

Sunset

Artists, Musicians, and Craftspeople

Mary Baum Folk artist.

Margaret Brinkhaus Maker of jams, jellies, and herb vinegars.

Christine Hall Quilt maker.

Gerylu Lavergne Basket maker.

Opelousas

Artists, Musicians, and Craftspeople

Hadley Castille Renown Cajun band leader and fiddler.

Rebecca Henry Creole folklorist, most notably in traditional home remedies and medicine, doll maker, and storyteller.

Julie Martin Greeting card and poster illustrator.

Brad Randall Zydeco musician.

David Thistlewaithe Wood carver.

Performing Arts Facilities

Yamatorium – 1863 West St. Landry Street Large building used for many performing arts events and activities.

Museums

Opelousas Museum and Interpretive Center – 315 North Main Street Dedicated to the collection, preservation, and exhibition of artifacts and memorabilia that interpret the history and culture of the Opelousas area. One room is dedicated to Opelousas' role as the capital of Confederate Louisiana during the Civil War. The museum is also home to the Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Festival archives and the Geraldine Smith Welsh doll collection. It also has has an extensive collection of local historical documents and a collection of historical medical records.

Opelousas Museum of Art – 100 North Union Street The museum features local treasures and loan exhibitions from major museums and private art collections. Established in 1997 in the historic Hebrard House.

Jim Bowie Display – Vieux Village, 829 East Landry Street

Fireman's Museum – North Union Street Art Galleries

What Bayou Trading Company – 153 West Landry Street Unique folk art featuring turned wood, hooked rugs, cypress furniture and birdhouses, leaded glass, cloth dolls, paintings, Cajun and Zydeco music, and regional books and cookbooks. Special open houses often include exhibits and demonstrations by local artisans and crafts people, and Cajun music by some of the local masters.

Opelousas Area

Artists, Musicians, and Craftspeople

Vincent Darby – Arnaudville Artist.

Roy Carrier – Lawtell Zydeco musican.

Performing Arts Facilities

Little Flower Auditorium – Pine Street, Arnaudville

Museums

Matt's Museum – McClelland Road at U.S. Highway 190, Lawtell Noted as the “Best in State”, the “museum” features a very eclectic mix of displays and memorabilia, including many items from the Civil War era. Also of note is curator, Edvin “Wash” Matt.

Art Galleries

Darby's Vincent Art Studio – 400 Canal Street, Arnaudville

Art in Public Space

Statue of St. Terrese – St. Francis Regis Catholic Church, 231 Main Street, Arnaudville

Washington

Artists, Musicians, and Craftspeople

Carolyn Billeaudeau Porcelain doll and Christmas ornament maker.

Millie Boudreaux Pianist.

Gwendolyn DeJean Artist.

Clara Darbonne Maker of sun bonnets.

Diane Hall Artist.

Edward Harris, Sr. Split-oak basket weaver.

Elijah Harris Split-oak basket weaver.

June Lowrery Artist.

Celeste Martin Artist.

Ezra Martin Children's wooden furniture maker.

Margaret Mathis Children's handmade clothing maker.

Adner Ortego Fiddle maker.

Joe Soileau Cypress swing and cowhide chair craftsman.
Robert Tinney Artist.

Tizeno Quartet – “Spiritual Materials” Gospel group that records their own music and performs at various functions.

Art Galleries

DeJean's Gallery – 538 North Prescott Street Decorative arts and crafts, art lessons, and coffee house.

Country House – 608 East Carriere Street Includes the Country House art gallery, a pre-Civil War carriage house that was also once a doctor's office.

Krotz Springs Area

Performing Arts Facilities

Melville Civic Center – First Street, Melville

Museums

Palmetto Municipal Building – Louisiana Highway 10, Palmetto Pictorial history of Palmetto and its environs.

Rayne

Artists, Musicians, and Craftspeople

Lee Benoit Cajun French musician.

Performing Arts Facilities

Rayne Civic Center – 300 Frog Festival Drive Nineteen thousand square foot facility adjoining a large recreational vehicle park.

Rayne Depot Square – Corner of Texas Avenue and South Adams Avenue

Museums

Bernard-Bertrand Museum – 1023 The Boulevard

Art Galleries

Prairie Market – 112 North Adams Street Art and jewelry.

Art in Public Space

Frog Murals – Various locations Murals of frogs in all types of natural or playful situations adorn the walls of numerous buildings in Rayne and have become a major tourist attraction. Many are by the internationally renowned muralist, Robert Dafford.

Rayne Area

Artists, Musicians, and Craftspeople

Clara Habetz – Roberts Cove German-American folklorist.

David and Emily Wortman – Duson Nationally known potters.

Museums

Germanfest Museum Collection – Roberts Cove Roving museum featuring a collection of photographs, genealogy, and heirlooms of the German settlers to the area. The Germanfest Association owns the collection and is seeking a permanent museum facility.

Church Point

Artists, Musicians, and Craftspeople

Nolan, Mitchell, and Chad Cormier Cajun French musicians.

Elton “Bee” Cormier – Beaugh Street Church Point Playboys.

Paul Daigle – Pointe Noir Road Cajun Gold.

John Elton Doucet – 2001 Richard School Road Cajun Accordians.

Andrew Jagneaux Accordion maker and player.

Rosie Bellard Ledet Zydeco musician and singer.

Reggie Matte Jambalaya Cajun Band.

Jean Murphy and Tom Norman Cajun French musicians and makers of Cajun Mardi Gras costumes and masks.

Art Galleries

Matte's Woodworks and Craft Shop – 1220 Pierre Part Road

Le Vieux Moulin Fine Arts and Cajun Gift Shop – 402 Canal Street Features unique items created and crafted by area artists and artisans, books on Acadiana, and a variety of Cajun gifts, including jewelry and canes. Owners entertain tourists with Cajun and Gospel music.

Crowley

Artists, Musicians, and Craftspeople

Dave Petitjean Cajun humorist.

Eunice

Artists, Musicians, and Craftspeople

“Nonc” Allie Cajun accordion player and bandleader of Basile Cajun Band.

Julia Allison Garde Soliel maker.

Bersia Ardoin Quilt maker and crochet worker.

Bois Sec Ardoin Musician.

Morris Ardoin Musician.

Mary Bell Wood carver.

Fred Charlie Cajun musician and bandleader of Acadiana Cajuns.

Geno Delafosse Zydeco musician.

Elaine Sittig Dupre Farm produce grower.

Herbert Fontenot Corn grinder and rice huller.

John Willie Fontenot Cajun musician.

Royne Fontenot Violin maker.

Courtney Granger Musician.

J. C. Labbie Cajun accordion player and bandleader of Ses Amis Cajuns.\

Carleen Sittig Landry Crawfish taxidermist.

Ray Landry Cajun musician and bandleader of Ray Landry's Cajun Band.

Rosie Ledet Musician.

Felton LeJeune Musician.

Jessie LeJeune Violin maker.

Georgie Manuel Cajun Courir de Mardi Gras screen mask maker.

Shelton Manuel Musician.

Bobby Michot Cajun musician.

Lawrence Moncla Cypress swing maker.

Chiquita Morton Spinner and weaver.

Greg Mouton Accordion maker.

Pat and Claude Oubre Rosary makers.

Alicia Palmer Cypress figure maker.

Dirk Powell Musician.

Jo Jo Reed Musician.

Joel Savoy Cajun fiddler.

Charles Seale Soap maker.

George Sonnier Cajun musician and bandleader of Cajun Way.

Donald Thibodeaux Cajun musician and bandleader of Cajun Fever.

Emile Thibodeaux Cajun musician and bandleader of Tasso Loop Ramblers.

Kenneth Thibodeaux Cajun musician and bandleader of Cajun Dance.

Debra and Etienne Viator Violin makers.

Moise and Alida Viator Musicians.

Lindzey Young Cajun fiddler.

Museums

Jean Lafitte Prairie Acadian Cultural Center – 250 West Park Avenue Bi-lingual (French/English) exhibits, artifacts, historical photographs, and short films that interpret the history, language, music, and architecture of the Cajuns who settled the prairie area of southwest Louisiana. Programming includes: craft demonstrations featuring accordion making, spinning, quilt making, and fabrication of the unique Mardi Gras costumes of the prairie area; an interpretive musical program featuring local musicians giving lessons and explaining their instruments and the music they play; and, Cajun cooking demonstrations by local volunteers. Administered and operated by the Jean Lafitte National Historic Park and Preserve of the National Park Service.

Eunice Museum (Founded 1984) – 220 South C. C. Duson Drive Located in the old train depot, the museum includes historical memorabilia, photographs, and documents of early life on the Cajun prairie. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Cajun Music Hall of Fame and Museum – 240 South C. C. Duson Drive Photographs, biographies, and instruments of famous Cajun musicians, including one of the first accordions made in Louisiana. In 1995, the Louisiana State Legislature proclaimed the City of Eunice the official site for the Cajun Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Sponsored by the Cajun French Music Association. See www.cfma@br-online.com.

Art Galleries

Dee's Cajun Gifts and Souvenirs – 203 South Second Street A variety of souvenirs and crafts from Cajun Country, including Cajun and Zydeco musical recordings.

I Made This – 205 South Second Street

Poitier's Prairie Cajun Inn – 110 West Park Avenue Wide selection of Cajun crafts, cookbooks, and specialty foods.

Art in Public Space

Prairie Mural – Corner of North Second Street and Laurel Avenue Painted by internationally renowned muralist, Robert Dafford.

Statue of Eunice Pharr Duson – Corner of South Second Street and Park Avenue Dedicated in 1994.

Performing Arts Facilities

Liberty Center – 200 West Park Avenue A restored 1924 movie theater that hosts the internationally known “Rendezvous des Cajuns” radio and television show. The show, often referred to as the 'Grand Ole Opry' of Cajun Country, features Cajun and Zydeco music and humorists. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was included in the Great American Movies Preservation Press Guide published by the Smithsonian Institution. The Liberty Center also enjoys a formal relationship with the Southern Arts Federation (Atlanta, Georgia) with its continuing financial and other support of the Center's initiative to preserve Cajun heritage and showcase cultural events.

St. Thomas More Hall – LSUE Drive Small venue for local productions.

Health and Technology Building – LSUE Eunice Players Theatre.

Eunice Area

Artists, Musicians, and Craftspeople

Mark Savoy – U.S. Highway 190 (East) Cajun musician and accordion maker.

Ann Savoy – U.S. Highway 190 (East) Cajun musician and vocalist.

Mamou

Jamie Berzas Cajun accordion player and bandleader of Cajun Tradition.

Ed Deshotel Singer and storyteller.

Ville Platte

Artists, Musicians, and Craftspeople

Charlene Vizena Quinilty Traditional Acadian-style spinner and weaver.

Performing Arts Facilities

Ville Platte Civic Center – 704 North Soileau Street

Ville Platte Area

Artists, Musicians, and Craftspeople

Roy Chafin – Pine Prairie Country and Blues musician.

Shane West – Pine Prairie Country music performer.

Keisha – Pine Prairie Gospel music singer.

Roger LaBas – Pine Prairie Blueberry grower.

Hosea Thibodeaux – Pine Prairie Wine maker.

Rayford and Dot Fontenot – Pine Prairie Soap and jewelry makers.

Acey Ardoin – Pine Prairie Maker of custom fishing rods and flies.

Barry Guillory – Pine Prairie Horseshoe maker.

Rayford West and J. R. Holden – Pine Prairie Cornmeal grinders.

Murf Campbell – Pine Prairie Ax handle maker.

Ella LaFleur – Pine Prairie Wine maker.

Johnny Fontenot – Turkey Creek Cane syrup maker.

Everett Johnson – Turkey Creek Knife maker.

Rhonda Butler – Turkey Creek Soap and bath salts maker.

Ella Daniel – Turkey Creek Goat cheese maker.

Tommy Compton – Turkey Creek Gunsmith.

Marie Sharp – Turkey Creek Cake maker.

Velma Johnson – Turkey Creek Quilt maker.

Roger LaBas – Turkey Creek Blueberry grower and “Faith Healer.”

Performing Arts Facilities

Chataignier Community Center – Chataignier