Connect with us

Louisiana

Heart of Louisiana: Melrose

Published

on

Heart of Louisiana: Melrose


BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – An almost 200-year-old plantation in central Louisiana isn’t solely a nationwide historic landmark, nevertheless it turned an artist colony that impressed a well known Louisiana people artist.

Whenever you look carefully on the work of famend people artist, Clementine Hunter, you see the cotton fields, the cabins, the large home, and the distinct constructions of Melrose Plantation.

“Clementine got here to this plantation across the age of 16 to be a employee within the subject. The cotton fields. She recorded like her complete life,” stated Betty Metoyer, household historian.

Clementine Hunter’s paintings displayed at Melrose Plantation(Dave McNamara)

Melrose has deep roots within the Creole historical past alongside Cane River. It was based within the late 1700s by Claude Thomas Pierre Metoyer, who fell in love with one in every of his slaves.

Advertisement

“He met Marie Therese Coincoin, a former slave who was born in Natchitoches in 1742. He leased her to be his maid and prepare dinner and so they lived collectively for nearly 20 years, and so they had 10 kids,” stated Metoyer.

Betty Metoyer, who works within the plantation present store is an eighth-generation descendant of this Creole household.

She says when her ancestors ended their relationship, Marie Therese acquired 18,000 acres, and her kids ran the plantation till the time of the Civil Conflict, however a brand new proprietor, John Henry, began a brand new chapter at Melrose. There was an attention-grabbing change right here at Melrose within the early 1900s, the daughter-in-law of the brand new proprietor of the property determined to this plantation into an artist colony, Ms. Cammie, as she was identified, was college-educated and cherished the humanities.

“Artists and writers. We had photographers. We had, uh, a naturalist like Carolyn Dorman, who was the primary feminine within the nationwide forestry service. We had weavers. We had all kinds of various craftsmen right here. They might keep right here for so long as they like, so long as they had been nonetheless working,” stated Adam Foreman, a tour information at Melrose Plantation.

And that’s when Clementine Hunter, who picked cotton as a baby after which labored because the plantation prepare dinner, was launched to portray.

Advertisement
Clementine Hunter
Clementine Hunter(Dave McNamara)

“She noticed these artists producing all this lovely work, and one artist threw away a twisted tube of paint. Clementine picked the paint out the rubbish and painted her very first paint in on the inexperienced window shade,” stated Metoyer.

“Author, Francois Mignon acknowledged her expertise. He’s the one who inspired her all through the years,” stated Metoyer.

Clementine Hunter lived in a easy home at Melrose for many of her grownup life. She painted scenes of pecan choosing within the plantation’s orchard, baptisms within the Cane River, and even herself with a paintbrush and canvas. And thru her artwork, we get a novel glimpse of life at this historic Cane River plantation.

For extra data on Melrose Plantation, click on right here.

Click on right here to report a typo.

Copyright 2022 WAFB. All rights reserved.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Louisiana

Letters: State should invest in training mental health providers

Published

on

Letters: State should invest in training mental health providers


Most of Louisiana is classified as a mental health professional shortage area, leaving countless families — especially children —without access to critical mental health services. According to the National Survey of Children’s Health, over half of children in Louisiana who experience mental health challenges do not receive the care they need. This is a staggering number given that this study estimates that 30.3% of children ages 3-17 have at least one emotional, developmental or behavioral health disorder. This unmet need has far-reaching consequences, affecting school performance, family stability and community safety.

Addressing this gap starts with investing in higher education programs that train the mental health professionals our state desperately needs. Universities such as the University of Louisiana Monroe, Louisiana State University Shreveport, Louisiana Tech University, Grambling State University, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, McNeese State University, Northwestern State University, Southeastern Louisiana University, University of New Orleans, University of Holy Cross, Tulane University, Nicholls State University, LSU and others play a vital role in preparing skilled counselors, psychologists and social workers.

However, the current capacity of mental health training programs is not sufficient to meet the growing demand. We are facing another potential budget shortfall in Louisiana that could impact higher education. Without adequate funding and resources, these programs may struggle to equip students with the expertise and experience required to enter the workforce.

Investing in these programs is not just about addressing today’s challenges — it is about safeguarding the future of Louisiana. By increasing the number of trained mental health professionals, we can improve outcomes for children and families, reduce the strain on emergency services and foster healthier, more resilient communities.

Advertisement

It is time to prioritize the mental health of our state by supporting higher education programs that make a difference. Together, we can build a brighter, healthier future.

MATTHEW THORNTON

chief executive officer, Center for Children and Families, Inc.

 



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Louisiana

Stabbing death reported at Louisiana prison

Published

on

Stabbing death reported at Louisiana prison


(KTAL/KMSS) – A dispute that resulted in an inmate’s death is under investigation at a Louisiana state prison, according to the Department of Corrections.

DOC Director of Communications Ken Pastorick said the incident happened at Southern Correctional Center in Tallulah, Louisiana, and caused the death of Teldric Boyd, 31.

A new release said that around 3:25 a.m. on Monday, Boyd was allegedly stabbed in the neck with a shank by fellow inmate Austin Dean, 33. Correctional center staff is said to have immediately responded and rendered first aid, and then Boyd was brought to a local hospital, where he died at 5 a.m.

More Louisiana News

Advertisement

Madison Parish Sheriff’s detectives booked Dean, who they say admitted to stabbing Boyd after an argument the two men had Sunday night.

Boyd was serving a 14-year sentence for various convictions, including racketeering, aggravated battery, two counts of a felon in possession of a firearm, and drug offenses in Rapides Parish.

Dean was serving a 25-year sentence for manslaughter in Rapides Parish and a five-year sentence for aggravated assault on a peace officer; those sentences are to run consecutively.

The investigation is ongoing.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Advertisement

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.



Source link

Continue Reading

Louisiana

50 Cent Faces Opposition From Louisiana Senator After Buying More Property In Downtown Shreveport

Published

on

50 Cent Faces Opposition From Louisiana Senator After Buying More Property In Downtown Shreveport


50 Cent is at odds with one Louisiana lawmaker who’s taking issue with his growing real estate in Shreveport.

Advertisement

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s growing real estate portfolio in Shreveport, Louisiana, is facing resistance from a state lawmaker urging city leaders to exercise greater caution when selling or leasing city-owned property.

The hip-hop mogul responded to a recent news article that revealed Louisiana state Sen. Sam Jenkins Jr.’s concerns about him buying more property in Downtown Shreveport after he bought three new properties last week.

“Sam Jenkins must not want things to turn around in Shreveport,” 50 Cent captioned an Instagram post. “Who would not do a deal to wait for a imaginary deal to come 😳? Or maybe he lacks faith in me. What do you think?”

Jenkins is expressing serious concerns about an excessive concentration of city assets being controlled by a single entity, particularly 50 Cent and his expanding G-Unit Studio empire. Since May, the rapper has invested over $3.7 million in cash to acquire 10 privately owned buildings and vacant lots in Shreveport, located on Texas Street, Spring Street, and Commerce Street.

Last week, 50 Cent added three new properties, including leases on Millennium Studios, the former Expo Hall/Stageworks, and interest in the Red River entertainment District under the Texas Street Bridge. While the Millennium Studios deal “has been made and should be honored,” Jenkins, a Democrat, told The Shreveport-Bossier City Advocate, he is urging the city to “pump the brakes a little bit. Let’s try to see what else is out there.”

“I’m just simply saying, let’s just be careful how far we go and begin to look at some performances based upon what we’ve already pledged or promised to do,” Jenkins said.

Advertisement

In October, Jenkins wrote to Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux outlining his concerns. He also expressed a willingness to meet with 50 Cent to discuss strategies for improving Shreveport’s economic future.

However, 50 Cent took to Instagram again to let Jenkins know he doesn’t like his “tone” and is not interested in meeting with him to discuss his continued investment in Shreveport.

“I don’t understand why this man thinks I would come talk to him after he set this tone,” the rapper wrote. “Don’t hold your breath buddy. 😆”

The “Get Rich or Die Tryin’” rapper followed up with another Instagram post aimed at Jenkins where he declared his plans to stay in Shreveport.

“Tell Sam I said, whether he like it or not, I’m coming to Shreveport LOL 👀ALL ROADS LEAD TO SHREVEPORT 🎥,” he wrote.

RELATED CONTENT: JPMorgan Chase Sues Customers For Exploiting Viral ATM ‘Infinite Money Glitch’

Advertisement





Source link

Continue Reading

Trending