Upcoming Exhibits

Wandering Spirit: African Wax Textiles (March - May 2021)

The West Baton Rouge Museum will receive Wandering Spirit, curated by Gifty Benson and organized by ExhibitsUSA, this spring. The exhibit will showcase the history and significance of wax prints in African culture and society. More information can be found here.

Centered Around Culture: Quilts by Cely Pedescleaux  (March - May 2021)

The story quilts of New Orleans artist Cely Pedescleaux will be featured at the West Baton Rouge Museum in the spring of 2021. Cely was inspired at an early age by family members who were seamstresses. Her colorful multi-layered quilts reflect various styles of crocheting, beading, and tatting that she learned from these women. Her contemporary quilts have been displayed in France, Italy, and China as well as museums and cultural centers around Louisiana. The exhibit runs from March 6 to May 30.

Evangenalia:  Evolution of an Icon (May - October 2021)

Wildly popular well into the 20th century, the poem Evangeline, A Tale of Acadie, written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1847, inspired artists, musicians, filmmakers, and entrepreneurs alike.  All traded on the image of the poem’s heroine, Evangeline.  This exhibit examines the changing appearance of the iconic character through the paraphernalia produced since her inception.  It also explores the evolution of Acadian and Cajun identity through her ever-shifting and controversial persona.