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.
BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – With hurricane season approaching, the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority is bringing the community together to prepare before a storm forms.
“We can’t stop disasters from happening. We can’t stop hurricanes from happening. But what we can do is equip our communities with the resources that they need to prepare for these storms ahead of time,” said Jayda Morris, CPRA outreach manager.
The agency hosted an event featuring interactive storm simulations and a full model of the Mississippi River.
“If you do it now, like on a sunny day like today, you’re ready to go for the rest of the season,” Jay Grymes said.
El Niño may reduce storms, but Louisiana still at risk
State Climatologist Jay Grymes said an El Niño pattern may reduce the number of storms in the Atlantic but warned against a false sense of security.
“In those 25 years, Louisiana, some part of the state has been impacted by 29 storms. That’s one a year, regardless of El Niño. So that should tell you something,” Grymes said.
He said the bigger concern is storms that can form in the Gulf with little warning.
“If we’re going to get a storm, it very possibly could be one that bubbles up in the Gulf and doesn’t give us five or seven days to track it coming our way. It gives us 40 hours to get ready for a landfall. So it’s imperative that you go ahead and do it now,” Grymes said.
Preparation goes beyond stocking water
Preparing now includes walking through yards, checking trees, and knowing whether everyone in the family can survive two weeks without power.
PhD students with the LSU College of the Coast and Environment gave the community a virtual reality experience that puts users inside a storm.
“If they wear the goggles or play with the Apple Vision Pro, they can understand how high will the flood be, and they can know how dangerous is the hurricane scenario,” said Yixuan Wang.
The VR simulation uses real historical data to show users what compound flooding looks like in New Orleans and surrounding areas. The goal is to make the science real for people who can’t picture what a flood map means.
“It’s just to let you understand the environment. We will add the audios, the different sound of the wind and the storm. And you can see how tense of the rainfall around you,” Wang said.
Organizers said the event is about making sure that when a storm threatens the area, families already know their plan.
Information from the event is available on CPRA’s website. Hurricane season runs through Nov. 30.
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BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – Louisiana homeowners can get financial help to upgrade their roofs and ensure they can better stand up to strong storms.
According to the Louisiana Department of Insurance, registration for next Louisiana Fortify Homes Program lottery opens at 8 a.m. on Monday, June 1. The registration period will stay open through 5 p.m. on Friday, June 19.
Under the latest round of the program, 3,000 grants of up to $10,000 will go out. After applying, homeowners will get placed into a lottery and will be randomly selected.
There are many specific benefits of having a roof upgraded through the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program. Officials said the roofs have stronger shingles that can protect against hail up to two inches wide, sealed roof decks to help prevent water damage, and stronger edges to keep wind from getting underneath.
Homeowners with a fortified roof can also get a certificate to receive a discount on insurance premiums.
“At the end of the day, this program is about more than just roofs,” said Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple. “It is about protecting families, it is about strengthening communities, and it is about putting Louisiana in a stronger position—both physically and economically—to face the challenges ahead.”
Only people living in Ascension Parish, Livingston Parish, Assumption Parish, Tangipahoa Parish, Acadia Parish, Calcasieu Parish, Cameron Parish, Iberia Parish, Jefferson Parish, Jefferson Davis Parish, Lafayette Parish, Lafourche Parish, Orleans Parish, Plaquemines Parish, St. Bernard Parish, St. Charles Parish, St. James Parish, St. John the Baptist Parish, St. Martin Parish, St. Mary Parish, St. Tammany Parish, Terrebonne Parish, and Vermilion Parish are eligible to apply for the latest round of the program.
People living in a newly built home, mobile home, or condominium are not qualified.
For a detailed list of eligibility requirements, click here.
If a person registered for the program previously, he or she must do so again. The person will also need to provide the following information:
- A homestead exemption on the primary residence.
- A policy of insurance that provides wind coverage for the primary residence.
- A flood insurance policy on the primary residence if it is in a special flood hazard area.
For more information about applying, click here.
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Watch the latest WAFB news and weather now.
WATCH: Louisiana baseball HC, players talk series win vs No. 20 Coastal Carolina
Hear from UL baseball’s HC Matt Deggs, pitcher Ty Roman and infielder Owen Galt following its 2-1 series win vs Coastal Carolina.
For the second day in a row, Louisiana baseball has its back against the wall in the NCAA Tournament Starkville Regional.
The No. 25 Ragin’ Cajuns (40-24) secured their 40th win of the season and kept their postseason dreams alive by beating Lipscomb 10-4 in an elimination game on Saturday, May 30. Now, the pressure is back on for seventh-year coach Matt Deggs and his squad as they face No. 24 Cincinnati (38-21) in another win-or-go-home matchup on Sunday, May 31 in Starkville, Mississippi.
Against the Bisons, UL used four pitchers, and in total has used seven of its arms so far in tournament play. One of the Cajuns’ fresh arms heading into the matchup against the Bearcats is senior Andrew Herrmann. The lefty made his latest appearance during the Cajuns’ Sun Belt Conference tournament run on May 24.
While the Cajuns come into the match with some momentum, Cincinnati enters the match with a chip on its shoulder after losing its first game of the tournament on Saturday against regional host Mississippi State.
Watch Louisiana baseball vs Cincinnati on ESPN+
What channel is Louisiana baseball vs Cincinnati on?
TV: None
Livestream: ESPN+
Radio: Varsity Network, 96.5 FM
Louisiana vs. Cincinnati will be available live on ESPN+ streaming for the first game of Day 3 of the Starkville Regional. Jack Kizer and Jack DeLongchamps will provide commentary from Dudy Noble Field.
What time does Louisiana baseball play Cincinnati?
Date: Sunday, May 31
Time: 2 p.m. CT
Location: Dude Noble Field, Starkville, Mississippi
The Louisiana vs. Cincinnati game starts at 2 p.m. Sunday at Dudy Noble Field in Starkville, Mississippi.
Starkville Regionals schedule
Friday, May 29
- Game 1: Mississippi State 10, Lipscomb 1
- Game 2: Cincinnati 12, Louisiana 2
Saturday, May 30
- Game 3: Lipscomb 4, Louisiana, 10
- Game 4: Mississippi State vs Cincinnati, 8 p.m. CT
Sunday, May 31
- Game 5: Louisiana vs Cincinnati, 2 p.m. CT
- Game 6: Winner G5 vs Mississippi State, 7 p.m. CT
Monday, June 1
- Game 7: If necessary, TBD
Shannon Belt covers high school sports and the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow her high school and Cajuns coverage on Twitter: @ShannonBelt3. Got questions regarding HS/UL athletics? Send them to Shannon Belt at sbelt@gannett.com.
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