Cirque du Lake, a downtown street festival on Fri, July 24, 4 pm to 8 pm, produced by the Agora Borealis, Iarchitecture, Vintage Design and Bears Fairfield

"Lake Street businesses are about to celebrate a successful year since opening last Summer," proclaims Katy Larsen. "Friends of The Agora Borealis, Iarchitecture, Vintage Design Group, LLC, and Bears on Fairfield will flood the streets Fri, July 24, for an evening of local music, art, and food. There will also be a Cash Bar. Otherwise it is a free event."

Hwy Lions
Ole Whiskey Revival
Everett St Jazz Ensemble

Ki' Mexico
Grill of the Dead

Camellia Coffee
Simple Cotton Candy
Good Granoly
Fleur De Creme Gourmet Ice Creams

Magic, street and balloon art by Spinner Entertainment/The Fusion Studio
Face Painting by Lynn Laird
Ribbon Dance
Fortune telling (Astrology) with Rachel Stuart-Haas

Vessel Vintage
Widows & Orphans
Wired & Sassy, Llc - Artisan Jewelry
Bayou Glass Arts - Stained Glass Jewelry and New South Books
The Lab Rats
Von Ray (Latasha Henderson-Robinson & Dennis Robinson II)
Stacy Medaries
Just Ask Creations- Custom Designed Jewelry & Accessories by Lauri
Pastry Moon
Jane Ryder Millinery
Zombee Candle and Coven Co.
X&O Designs
Stillwell Woodworks
Fabulous Felt (Dorene Kordall) and Richard Kordal
Man Made Soap
Brian Buckner Photography
Bertha Harris
Whootails (Candie Chatham)

Bike Shreveport
NORLA

Official after party at Bears on Fairfield.

Shreveporters open calendars to add Highland Jazz and Blues Fest on Sat, Sept 19, noon to 5 pm

"Highland Jazz and Blues Festival headliner, Papa Mali, is bringing Big Chief Monk Boudreaux from New Orleans along with a few other special guests for an All Star Super Jam," says Kelly Rich about the 2015 fest on Sat, Sept 19, noon to 5 pm. Additionally, look for zeitgeist food and existential acts in abundance on the 2 stages.

Launched in 2003, the Festival has grown from a handful of bands and a crowd of 500-1,000 to a gathering including two stages, ten bands, posters, t-shirts, food and art sales, and 10,000 music fans in Highland area’s hilly Columbia Park. The annual Festival is a gift to the community from the Highland Area Partnership doing business as the Highland Jazz & Blues Festival Presented by Twisted Root.

Proceeds from poster, t-shirt, and beverage sales, donations, and sponsorships are used to bring the Festival back each year.

Highland Jazz & Blues Festival, PO Box 44292, Shreveport, LA 71134.

Pan-playing island lad Gordon Nurse cooks Carib style on Tuesdays at Bears Fairfield, Shreveport

Says the inimitable chef and musician Gordon Nurse: "Caribbean! Nite! @ Bears @ 1401. Fairfield. $2 Tuesday Specials. Great Caribbean Faire! And the amazing M.C. Behind D. bar! La D. D. Lah D. Dah. B. Irie music. Irie Vibe."

Food highly recommended. Live music, too.

Paintings, sketches, prints and smiling artist-types: Shreveport-Bossier Studio Tours on Sat, June 27, 10 am to 5 pm

The Common Culture Week Studio Tour of portraits, landscapes, skulls, boars and bats is a collaboration of the Shreveport Regional Arts Council (SRAC), Bossier Arts Council (BAC) and the Highland Open Studio Tour Sundays (HOSTS), says Pam Atchison. It is designed to stimulate sales of art.

"Over 60 artists will open their studio doors to showcase their work. Bike, walk or drive the Tour for free or," says Atchison, "Hitch A Ride with SRAC. Join a customized collectible artist tour! Box Lunch & Drinks provided. Party at the exclusive Artist & Collector wrap-up."

Ride, lunch and after party: $50.00/ person.(318) 673-6500 to reserve your seat in a driving tour of over 40 miles of Shreveport Bossier.

One place collectors are welcome in South Highlands is the house and studio of Talbot Hopkins and Robert Trudeau, 912 Monrovia St. See the 8X10 oil above, Les Poires d'Or ($650), and more like it by Talbot. 318 272 6045.

Art and you and purchasing or trading art so that you have more original work in your environment; an essay by Robert Pincus

Art and You.

Robert Pincus, arts writer and author from San Diego, offered these thoughts about collecting art at a symposium sponsored by Shreveport Regional Arts Council.

Hope you will read his words. They resonated well with Talbot and myself, avowed artists as well as collectors.

Then, if you are moved at all, go spend a few more dollars on a another piece of art. Yes?



At top: "Pink Hammer," pen and inks, 2014, Robert E Trudeau. To be seen and sold Sat, June 26, during the Artist Studio Tour at 912 Monrovia St, Shreveport, or by messaging 318 272 6045. Inspired by Clyde Connell's papier mache-encrusted art hammer. It is subtitled, Pray to God but Hammer Away.

Also at 912 Monrovia St on the Sat tour will be oil paintings by Talbot Hopkins Trudeau. And you can enoy a visit to her charming garage-apartment studio.

Biology and Art Exploration Program for kids at Rainforest Art Foundation, 710 Travis St, July 9, 16, 23 and 30

The Biology & Art Exploration Program is the latest at Rainforest Art Foundation, 710 Travis St, downtown Shreveport.

"Our first program of the Biology and Art exploration is designed for kids aged 3-10 (however all ages are welcome) and will be taking place on Thursdays in July (excluding July 2). This is a free program that includes 5 different stations as part of a different theme each week designed to help kids use both the right and left brain to master concepts in art and science," says Ashley Purland.

"We are looking for sponsorships for BAEP Summer 2015," continues Purland. "We are asking local businesses to donate $50 to go towards supplies for one of the days. Your sponsorship would get recognition for your business on social media, our website, our donor tree in our building, and on site for the day."

July 9 - Butterflies and Blending July 16 - Animals and Abstraction July 23 - Camouflage and Composition July 30 - Plants and Perspectives

More:(318) 518-2975.

Photo Talbot Hopkins.

Tchai, Louisiana Dance Collective, Twang Darkly, DJ Lomax, Airheart: performance artists at Municipal Auditorium on Tues, June 23, 6 pm - 10 pm

Performance artists will take the historic stage at Municipal Auditorium, Shreveport, on Tues, June 23, says Pam Atchison, in a Common Culture Week showcase sponsored by Shreveport Regional Arts Council.

From spoken word by Willetta to modern dance from Inter City Row Modern Dance and Louisiana Dance Collective, to musical groups Airheart, Twang Darkly and Tchai, the range of acts presenting brief samples of their work is like okra to souffle'.

The evening opens with Destiny: Hope, a comic chamber opera about Miley Cyrus written by talented composer Costas Dafnis. The evening will close with remarks and a Best Of award to be given by San Diego arts critic Anne Marie Welsh.

$10. All ages.
In the photo above: Medjaisle Williams, member of the Art in the Hood All Stars, performing with Tchai on June 23.

Performance Showcase schedule of acts.

Trevarri Huff-Boone presents evening of jazz and blues at Crystal Stairs Restaurant, 601 Texas St, on Sat, July 11, 7:30 pm

One of Shreveport's most capable jazz performers is Trevarri Huff-Boone, a 20 year-old who is studying music at Loyola University, New Orleans. While a tenor sax is his constant companion, he plays flute and composes on piano. Trevarri has performed at shows and churches across Shreveport since he was a child; he graduated from Caddo Magnet HS.

His show is Sat, July 11, at 7:30pm (doors will open at 7), at Crystal Stairs Restaurant, 601 Texas St.

"You will hear some of Trevarri's favorite songs, ranging from Jazz (think Coltrane and Davis) to R&B. All ages are welcome at the concert and it will also be recorded," says Kawanya Huff. This summer Tre' has performed in the Jazz Series at the noted New Orleans music venue Howlin' Wolf, at the Good Times Fest in Shreveport and numerous private events.

He will perform briefly on Tues, June 23, at Municipal Auditorium. As part of the art collective Tchai he will be blowing tenor in the Performing Arts Showcase produced by Shreveport Regional Arts Council.

Information on Tre: 318-572-0058 or 318-573-0422.

Blayne Weaver directs River City Rep's production of Sam Shepard's True West June 24 - 28 at East Bank Theater, Bossier City

Blayne Weaver, a Bossier native who is a highly-charged movie actor-director-writer, also loves the stage. It is fair to say that expectations will be high for an evening of wild Sam Shepard drama when Weaver releases Logan Sledge, Youree McBride, Jr, Shawn Dion and Candace Higginbotham into the mythical desert of True West.

See more on Weaver at River City Rep.

River City Rep at East Bank Theatre 630 Barksdale Blvd

June 24-25-26-27 at 7:30 pm; June 28 at 3 pm.

Mature language alert.

Tickets, $35, 20, 10. Online tickets. Box office: 318-868-5888 Mon - Sat, 11am - 4 pm.

Well. Seems the True West script is online.

Is the Agora Borealis the most visually prodigious shop in Shreveport? See numerous artists' work on sale in June; Tues - Sat, 10 am to 6 pm

At the Agora Borealis, 421 Lake St, proprietor and art enthusiast Katy Larsen says, "numerous artists have reduced select artwork 15-50% off for the month of June. Come in soon to snag these hot deals while they last."

Addy Art All reproductions 50% off
Joshua Chambers All monoprints 50%
Bayou Glass Arts - Stained Glass Jewelry All rings 20%
Todd Maggio select foam notepads 20%
Su Stella "Rainy Day" postcards 20%
Kate Rhea Hesson is offering Free lip balm with purchase of Any Zombee Candle or Coven Co. (limited supplies)
Three Sisters Gallery- Blair Knicely Nefsky paintings All assorted prints 20% OFF and pillows 30%
Just Ask Creations- Custom Designed Jewelry & Accessories by Lauri All copper & wire jewelry 15%
Robert E Trudeau framed and unframed prints 50%
Pastry Moon assorted soaps 15% OFF when you purchase 3 or more AND textiles 30%
Marijo Brown All up-cycled vintage slips 20%
Sarah R. Herman All home decor 20%
Rachel Stuart-Haas All hand-painted plates 15%
Brian Buckner Photography ALL photgraphy 15%
Redi Custom ALL hats 50%
Wired & Sassy, Llc - Artisan Jewelry All men's tie pins 50%
Hooshang Khorasani / Hooshang Studio All Prints AND Postcards 15%
X&O Designs ALL Mobiles 25%
Whootails by Candie Chatham All hand sewn creations 15%
Jane Ryder Millinery All hats 15%

Agora B: sale continues Jun 6 - June 30.
Tues - Sat, 10 am to 6 pm. (318) 268-3011.

Harmonies and energy from Lafayette-based quintet Givers at Bears Shreveport on Thurs, June 4, 10 pm

One of the Bayou State's most vibrant bands, Givers are based in Lafayette.

Their summer tour takes them to Wakarusa and other big fests but on Thurs, June 4, they perform upon the boards at Bears Fairfield.

Online Tickets $13.

Givers jammin' with blinggy rhymer in London.

Farmers Market and music under oaks at Provenance Community on Thursdays, 4 - 7 pm, and Sat, June 20, 7 am to noon

Farmers Markets at Provenance Community for Summer 2015 feature fresh produce and meats from farmers all around Louisiana, East Texas, & Southern Arkansas, handmade crafts, local art, ready to eat food, and much more, says Sarah Lowder. Live Music at each market and Face Painting (Saturday only).

The markets and concerts will take place in an outdoor park in the Provenance neighborhood, which offers a beautiful outdoor setting with many trees. These events are Free and Open to the public.

Thursday Farmers Markets (4-7pm) & Concerts (5-8pm)
May 14: Windstorm
May 21: Beaux Atkins
May 28: Hwy Lions
June 4: Haley Brooke
June 11: Shreveport Green's FEAST
June 18: Christina Langston Band
June 25: Ukulele Gumbo

Saturday Homegrown Farmers Market (7am – 12noon) June 20: Live Music by Beaux Atkins

Photo Johnny Bridges.

Rewriting the story of Shreveport via film: The Shape of Shreveport series debuts at Strand Theater on Thurs, June 4, 7 pm

What stories will be told by the filmmaking team assembled by Will and Jim Broyles in the Shape of Shreveport series, making a debut on Thurs at the Strand Theater?

It is "a 20-episode series about the inspiring, encouraging, and sometimes mysterious history of Shreveport."

"We have involved many local historians, musicians, and experts to help tell the stories that shaped the Red River area," says Jim Broyles. The first four 15-minute episodes will air at the premier, touching on topics like the yellow fever epidemic, the cultural significance of the Louisiana Hayride and Shreveport's role in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s social and political prominence.

The Broyles brothers are aiming at a production "at the level of a History Channel series," says Jim.

Scions of a local family successful in business, the Broyles are well educated, well traveled and deeply invested in the present and future of Shreveport. "We're starting a conversation about our town with these films," says Jim. "So we can understand where we're coming from and think about where we're going."

Tickets: $20. An all ages event, there will be kids' activities and history book signing prior to the movies. All proceeds go to the Strand. BTW, seating is reserved. Strand tickets: 226 8555.

Lush, green Highland presents lush, blue art: Highland Open Studios Tour on Sun, June 7, 11 am to 4 pm

"Getting ready to open my studio‬ on Sunday," says artist Su Stella. "Come by for a henna tattooooooo, new art, or paint a gourd... We open at 11 and will sell art until 4."

She adds, orientationally, "Start the tour at 436 Topeka in Shreveport; pick up a map and enjoy a ramble across the fascinating neighborhood called Highland."

"Six locations this month. Meet artists in their studios and see and/or buy art," says artist Kathryn Usher. "It's a self guided tour. Drive, walk or bike. Maps are available at each location."

Historic Highland neighborhood is an official Louisiana Cultural District; there is no sales tax for original art purchases.