Louisiana
National art critic discusses Critical Mass 12, northwest Louisiana arts
SHREVEPORT, La. (Arklatex Today) – National art critic, Lauren Smart explains the importance of art criticism and her role in the upcoming exhibition, Critical Mass 12.
Ahead of Critical Mass 12, northwest Louisiana’s critic-judged art exhibition, Critical Mass manager and art critic, Lauren Smart spoke to ArkLaTex Artistry about northwest Louisiana’s art, Critical Mass 12, the importance of art criticism, and how to become an art critic.
Related>> https://www.arklatextoday12.com/2024/04/18/critical-mass-12-showcases-130-northwest-louisiana-works-art-literary-performances/
Smart’s role in Critical Mass 12 was to pick out the critics for each of the categories, this year the event will only host visual and literary. The critics will judge the entries in those categories and select a winner who will receive five thousand dollars in awards and commissions. She takes on the role of the previous lead critic, Robert Pincus, who resided for many years over the exhibition and selected her during Critical Mass 3.
The critics selected this year are Lucia Simek, visual, and Kendra Greene, literary.
About Lauren Smart:
Lauren Smart has been writing about art for about 15 years in locations throughout the United States, but mostly in her hometown of Dallas, Texas. Now she lives in Los Angeles and teaches journalism, an art criticism class, and ethics and reporting at Loyola Marymount University.
Smart explains that Critical Mass is one of her favorite events to be involved in. Her goal for this year is to think more broadly about what an art critic is.
“I feel like criticism is the first historical record of what’s happening there,” Lauren Smart explains criticism can record art in communities.
Smart says that from a journalistic perspective, art criticism is the first draft of the story that the artists are telling, and putting it to print so we can have it in the future.
“We think of the review as the news, like here’s what happened, here who was there, here are the artists making work that we saw, what was in their art,” Lauren explains how criticism is much like reporting the news. “Then the layer of criticism that is one step beyond reporting in a more traditional sense, here’s what we thought of the art.”
“Some of the best conversations are about creation, art, and stories, and that’s what I really think criticism is, is just another conversation about that art, it comes in a more public way,” Smart explains what criticism is. “But I think for artists that are serious about their art, they want people to come see it.”
What is her opinion of the art in northwest Louisiana?
Smart is asked this question a lot by the critics she’s picking, they always seem surprised the location is Shreveport, not New Orleans.
“No, yea, Shreveport, trust me,” Smart tells them.
If Shreveport struggles in art, it’s because art only evolves if people take it seriously, purchase it, talk about it, and write about it.
“I think the art in northwest Louisiana is as good as anywhere else, and I think that people are operating at a shockingly high level for the smallness of the community,” Lauren says. “And I’ve loved watching artists I’ve met, I’ll see them on a wall in a gallery in Dallas, and I’m like, yes of course!”
Smart explains that there is something specific about the region.
“I’ve been trying to put it to writing, I don’t have the words yet, but there is something specific to the region too,” Smart says.”I think thats what is really cool about getting out of your art bubble, is seeing the regionality in art.”
How to become an art critic?
“Just do it,” says Smart.
This always surprises her students, but this was the same advice that was given to her by a mentor, Mark Lowry.
According to Smart, go to the theatre or gallery as much as you can. Write down what you think about it, try to understand how to categorize it, try to understand it in relation to other things you’ve seen or read about, and just go and write.
“The more you see, the more context you have, the more you can bring to your writing,” says Smart.
Critical Mass 12 is free to view and will on display in Artpace, 710 Texas Street, Shreveport, until June 18. Don’t miss the chance to see the amazing work of talented artists in NWLA.
Copyright 2024 KSLA. All rights reserved.
Louisiana
Mall of Louisiana Boulevard Project enters next phase under MOVEBR program
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — A major traffic improvement project is moving forward near one of Baton Rouge’s busiest shopping areas.
The MOVEBR program has officially broken ground on the railroad underpass phase of the Mall of Louisiana Boulevard project, a key part of the city’s effort to improve mobility and safety for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists.
The $38 million project is the latest phase in a multi-step plan to ease congestion and enhance flood control in the area. Fred Raiford, East Baton Rouge Parish’s director of Transportation and Drainage, said the project is designed to give commuters more options and reduce bottlenecks near the Mall of Louisiana.
“We just feel like it’s a good connector to be able to tie the interstate in Perkins and provide more opportunity for drivers to use the vehicles to go where they want to go in that general vicinity,” Raiford said.
Phase One included the Backcourt Drive Bridge and the Dawson Creek twin bridges. This new phase focuses on building a railroad underpass and pump station, a critical addition to keep traffic flowing and reduce flooding during heavy rain.
Raiford said once this stage is complete, crews will move into roadway construction and signal installation.
“Our next phase will be the actual road construction, and the last thing is to look at putting the traffic signal at Perkins and the Mall of Louisiana Road,” he said.
Previously known as the Picardy-Perkins Connector, the Mall of Louisiana Boulevard project is being developed in coordination with the Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) Railroad to safely separate vehicle and train crossings. Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sid Edwards said it’s a major step toward modernizing local infrastructure.
“I think this roadway is going to be a fantastic asset for our parish, for today and for the future,” Edwards said.
Once completed in roughly three years, the four-lane roadway will feature a 10-foot-wide shared-use path connecting to BREC’s Trail at Dawson’s Creek, along with a privacy wall to buffer nearby neighborhoods.
Officials said the Mall of Louisiana Boulevard project is another milestone in MOVEBR’s mission to reduce congestion and create safer, more accessible routes throughout East Baton Rouge Parish.
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Louisiana
Louisiana Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for Nov. 8, 2025
The Louisiana Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Nov. 8, 2025, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from Nov. 8 drawing
03-53-60-62-68, Powerball: 11, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from Nov. 8 drawing
3-2-6
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from Nov. 8 drawing
5-6-0-2
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 5 numbers from Nov. 8 drawing
5-6-4-4-0
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Easy 5 numbers from Nov. 8 drawing
06-17-22-30-35
Check Easy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lotto numbers from Nov. 8 drawing
16-17-19-23-30-31
Check Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
All Louisiana Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at Louisiana Lottery offices. Prizes of over $5,000 must be claimed at Lottery office.
By mail, follow these instructions:
- Sign and complete the information on the back of your winning ticket, ensuring all barcodes are clearly visible (remove all scratch-off material from scratch-off tickets).
- Photocopy the front and back of the ticket (except for Powerball and Mega Millions tickets, as photocopies are not accepted for these games).
- Complete the Louisiana Lottery Prize Claim Form, including your telephone number and mailing address for prize check processing.
- Photocopy your valid driver’s license or current picture identification.
Mail all of the above in a single envelope to:
Louisiana Lottery Headquarters
555 Laurel Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70801
To submit in person, visit Louisiana Lottery headquarters:
555 Laurel Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70801, (225) 297-2000.
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.
Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Louisiana Lottery.
When are the Louisiana Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 5: Daily at 9:59 p.m. CT.
- Easy 5: 9:59 p.m. CT Wednesday and Saturday.
- Lotto: 9:59 p.m. CT Wednesday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Louisiana editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Louisiana
Louisiana high school football final scores, results — November 7, 2025
The 2025 Louisiana high school football season continued on Friday, and High School On SI has a list of final scores from this weekend.
Louisiana High School Football Scores, Results & Live Updates (LHSAA) – November 7, 2025
A.J. Ellender 31, Morgan City 6
Acadiana 21, Carencro 14
Albany 46, Bogalusa 28
Ascension Catholic 54, East Iberville 16
Ascension Christian 25, North Iberville 24
Assumption 14, South Terrebonne 16
Barbe 70, Sam Houston 49
Beekman 86, Madison 58
Belaire 30, Baker 7
Belle Chasse 55, Kenner Discovery 0
Bonnabel 35, Riverdale 12
Bourgeois 38, East St. John 20
Breaux Bridge 22, Livonia 19
Brother Martin 31, Holy Cross 3
Brusly 6, Istrouma 0
Caldwell Parish 47, Vidalia 0
Calvary Baptist Academy 51, North Caddo 6
Carver Collegiate Academy 36, Fredrick Douglass 14
Catholic – N.I. 42, Houma Christian 8
Central 48, Scotlandville 7
Church Point 49, Ville Platte 6
Covenant Christian Academy 49, Central Catholic 6
Covington 14, St. Paul’s 34
De La Salle 49, Livingston Collegiate Academy 23
Delta Charter 32, St. Frederick 29
Denham Springs 54, St. Amant 26
Destrehan 49, Thibodaux 26
East Ascension 35, Walker 20
East Feliciana 58, Northeast 14
Episcopal 48, Capitol 0
Erath 40, Abbeville 12
Eunice 64, Washington-Marion 50
Evangel Christian Academy 55, Parkway 27
Ferriday 46, Rayville 6
Franklin 22, Delcambre 14
Franklin Parish 61, Tioga 22
Franklinton 41, Archbishop Hannan 17
Green Oaks 58, Magnolia 6
Gueydan 28, Highland Baptist Christian 10
Hammond 35, Ponchatoula 28
Haughton 58, St. Louis Catholic 34
Haynesville 47, Glenbrook 0
Homer 49, D’Arbonne Woods 42
Jeanerette 60, Hanson Memorial 0
Jena 52, Buckeye 0
Jennings 27, Westlake 6
Jewel Sumner 21, Amite 7
John Ehret 27, West Jefferson 0
Jonesboro-Hodge 30, Cedar Creek 0
Kaplan 28, St. Martinville 20
Kentwood 44, Central Private 14
Kinder 48, Avoyelles 6
Lafayette 41, Sulphur 14
Lafayette Christian Academy 13, Lake Arthur 0
Lafayette Renaissance Charter Academy 25, Ascension Episcopal 24
Leesville 56, LaGrange 24
Liberty 30, Woodlawn-B.R. 21
Lincoln Prep 51, Arcadia 28
Loreauville 15, West St. Mary 14
Loyola College Prep 28, Northwood 27
Lutcher 42, South Lafourche 3
Mamou 58, Pine Prairie 0
Mandeville 42, Fontainebleau 20
Mansfield 28, Many 10
McDonogh 35 56, Eleanor McMain 18
Metairie Park Country Day 42, Collegiate Academy 0
Minden 42, Southwood 0
Natchitoches Central 27, Benton 13
Neville 31, Alexandria 14
Newman 28, South Plaquemines 0
North Webster 31, Bastrop 0
Northlake Christian 57, Independence 15
Northwest 45, Iota 14
Patterson 28, Donaldsonville 19
Pickering 15, Plain Dealing 6
Pine 48, Springfield 12
Rayne 42, Crowley 27
Red River 54, Oakdale 18
Richwood 36, Carroll 14
Ringgold 40, Bolton 0
Riverside Academy 1, Crescent City Christian 0
Rosepine 40, East Beauregard 34
Ruston 49, West Monroe 44
Sacred Heart 42, Berchmans Academy 6
Salmen 28, Chalmette 24
Slidell 42, Northshore 3
Southside 65, New Iberia 7
St. Augustine 55, John Curtis Christian 28
St. Charles Catholic 24, Archbishop Shaw 0
St. Helena College and Career Academy 34, Pope John Paul II 24
St. James 63, Berwick 0
St. John 35, White Castle 6
St. Martin’s Episcopal 46, Varnado 28
St. Mary’s 58, Lakeview 0
St. Michael 52, McKinley 0
St. Paul’s 34, Covington 14
St. Thomas More 55, North Vermilion 7
Terrebonne 52, Central Lafourche 25
Teurlings Catholic 36, Northside 6
The Willow School 12, Abramson 8
University Lab 42, Port Allen 6
Vinton 21, DeQuincy 17
Washington 40, Woodlawn-Shreveport 14
West Feliciana 48, Tara 0
West St. John 46, Centerville 0
Westminster Christian Academy – Lafayette 20, Vermilion Catholic 19
Winnfield 20, Lakeside 6
Wossman 29, Peabody 20
Young Audiences Charter 36, Patrick Taylor Science & Tech Academy 0
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