Regional mythologies and human reactions to natural disaster will be among themes explored as part of the Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum’s 2018 spring season.
The season will begin on Friday, Feb. 23, with a public reception and free viewing from 6-8 p.m. A private preview for museum members will be held from 4-6 p.m.
Two new installations will open in February. Two others have been in place since last year.
- “Bill Viola: The Raft” is a 10-minute film commissioned for the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. Nineteen actors and stunt people are subjected to a representation of nature’s physical forces with a blast of water from a high-pressure hose. The piece is intended to visually depict reactions to disaster. “The Raft” will be in place from Feb. 3 to May 12.
- “Lynda Frese: Holy Memories & Earthly Delights” will feature over 60 photographs and paintings by the professor emerita at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. The installation represents 40 years of work that examines many themes and subjects, including pottery and Jungian notions of the subconscious. The exhibit will be on display from Feb. 17 to May 19.
- “Tina Freeman: Artist Spaces” captures studio practices of 20 contemporary artists based in New Orleans. Photographs of their workspaces are paired with examples of their work. The exhibition includes painting, sculpture and photography on loan from the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, from New Orleans-based photographer Freeman’s personal collection, and from artists’ studios. It will run until May 5.
- “Spotlight on Francis Pavy” showcases the work of the Lafayette native and UL Lafayette graduate. He earned a bachelor of fine arts degree in 1976. His work has been exhibited throughout the U.S., and in Asia and Europe. The exhibit features “Lake Arthur Lotus,” a large-scale collage. Wood-carved blocks Pavy used to create the piece are also displayed. The exhibit will end July 28.
Programs on many Wednesday nights will continue to be scheduled from 5-8 p.m. at the museum. Free programs include book readings, conversations with artists, dance performances, film screenings, fiction readings, live music and workshops. Many programs complement permanent or visiting exhibits.
Guided group tours of the Hilliard University Art Museum are available. Tours for elementary of high school students can be geared to educational themes.
The museum features 11,000 square feet of gallery space and is the largest exhibition space between Houston and New Orleans. It houses a collection of 18th- through 21st-century European, Asian and American art. In addition to its permanent collection, the museum offers changing exhibitions of regional, national and international art.
The museum is at 710 E. St. Mary Blvd., on the UL Lafayette campus.
Hilliard University Art Museum admission is $5 for adults, $4 for adults over age 62, $3 for students between the ages of 5 and 17, and free for children younger than 5 years old. UL Lafayette students, faculty and staff members can visit the museum for free with their University ID card.
To learn more about the museum, exhibits, and programs, visit or call (337) 482-2278.
Photo: Bill Viola. The Raft, 2004. Courtesy the artist and James Cohan Gallery, New York.