NEW ORLEANS – The George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts (GRFA) and New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute (NOCHI) announced today the limited-edition release of Rodrigue’s “Louisiana ArtWorks” piece, all hand-signed by George Rodrigue. The prints were originally created in 2003 by Rodrigue to benefit the art studio complex, Louisiana ArtWorks, and the design depicts the building formerly occupied by ArtWorks located in New Orleans’ Warehouse District as well as the only instance from Rodrigue’s Blue Dog series featuring a New Orleans streetcar. In 2018, NOCHI purchased the Louisiana ArtWorks building depicted in the artwork and soon after opened their headquarters in the location on the corner of Howard Avenue and Carondelet Street.
Now, in a unique partnership between NOCHI and GRFA, all “Louisiana ArtWorks” sales will benefit the cultural missions of both charitable organizations. Prints are now available to purchase at www.georgerodriguefoundation.org.
“We’re celebrating the connection between old and new, re-discovering a beautiful piece many years after Dad created it, that can now pay tribute to both New Orleans’ wonderful art and a historic building now occupied by NOCHI,” said GRFA’s Executive Director, Jacques Rodrigue.
“Additionally, we’re thrilled with the partnership which gives back to an organization that supports the restaurant and hospitality industry, one of the city’s hardest-hit business sectors during the pandemic.”
“Louisiana ArtWorks,” 2003
Silkscreen on paper
19 x 20 in. (image size, 15 x 15 in.)
Hand-signed numbered edition of 500 by George Rodrigue.
Bears the Louisiana ArtWorks logo in lower-left corner.
Price: $1,500* (unframed) + shipping & handling.
*Price subject to change without notice.
The COVID-19 worldwide pandemic has greatly affected both GRFA and NOCHI. GRFA’s ongoing work with Louisiana A+ schools and mission to work to motivate and engage students through the arts has been put on hold, as many schools have switched to virtual learning, making the use of arts within the curriculum extremely difficult. GRFA has been unable to host fundraising events and was forced to cancel the awards luncheon for its annual Arts and Songwriting Scholarship Contest.
Since COVID-19, NOCHI’s private events, hospitality education and hands-on enthusiast cooking classes (which normally act as primary revenue streams for the organization) have been unable to thrive. NOCHI enrollment is down as a result of new challenges in the hospitality industry, and many students and alums are having to quickly adapt to face constant industry changes and fight for their careers during a period of uncertainty for job stability and living wages. NOCHI has worked to pivot during the pandemic, offering a regular schedule of livestream cooking classes for the public and private groups, participating in a citywide COVID-19 meal assistance program to deliver meals to neighbors in need, and developing an online training (HOSP) for foodservice best practices during COVID-19.
“Every day, we feel lucky to call NOCHI’s beautiful space home,” said NOCHI Executive Director Leah Sarris. “It’s such an honor to see it captured in George Rodrigue’s one-of-a-kind artistic style. This piece is a reminder of New Orleans’ resilient art and culture, and proceeds from its sales will enable us to reinvest in this city we love so dearly.”
For more information or purchase a “Louisiana ArtWorks” print, please visit http://georgerodriguefoundation.org/.
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