Pelicans On Parade

ARTISTS

Artist Progress Reports:
David Fox - Naomi Cruse - Deanna Meche - Carey Hamburg - Darlene Marr

OUR LIVING JEWEL - DAVID FOX

Artist David Fox has a long history with the Acadiana Arts Council. For over two decades, Fox has worked with the council on countless projects, panels, arts grants for teachers, artist-in-residence programs, and after school arts programs for Acadiana's youth. David served on the Arts Council's Board of Directors for several years, and has been a Bright New Worlds Artist since the program's inception in 1978. In addition to being a practicing scultpor, Mr. Fox is also a full-time teacher at the W.D. Smith Career Center.

Last year, David was commissioned by the Lafayette Parish School Board and
the Acadiana Arts Council to design the pelican icon that would be used as the mascot for the P.A.C.E. program. This prototype would be used to create the mold for fabrication of the birds. His beautiful pelican was inspired by nature and wildlfe artist Walter Anderson.

David also worked with his students to create a logo for the PACE program.
Several students worked on a variety of ideas and submitted beatiful final
designs. The chosen logo, created by Mandy Bourgeouis, incorporated the pelican into its' design.

David submitted several pelican designs to Pelicans on Parade. This particlar design, "Our Living Jewel," is a mosaic tile piece, sponsored by Mike's Tile & Carpet. Students in David's class at the Career Center are seen here applying broken tile to the piece. Several teens have agreed to volunteer during the summer to help complete the pelican.

We are all looking forward to seeing this "gem" of a pelican nesting somewhere in Acadiana in the near future.

NAOMI CRUSE

Pelican Title: "Blaze"

Blaze has the distinction of being the first pelican to be produced. This bird was designed by Naomi Cruse, a high school student at the Lafayette Charter High School. Naomi collaborated with artist Edward deMahy to complete the pelican. The project was funded through a Very Special Arts of Louisiana "Artist-in-the-Classroom" grant to the Lafayette Charter High School. Prinicpal Kenneth Douet says "The grant opportunity was excellent, but the process and product were amazing! Creating this object d'art, which has been placed in various public places for display has raised self-esteem of the students who were involved, and heightened awareness of public art in the community."

DEANNA MECHE

Pelican Title: "Lou Cultura"
Sponsored by: Coach USA

This design represents flags from countries around the world. Deanna has learned much about each country in the process of painting this pelican, and she hopes that teachers and students can use her pelican in geography and social studies projects. The match of sponsor Coach USA, was perfect, as the bus tour company reaches throughout the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Other designs include "Sauce Picquante," and "Atchafalaya".

CAREY HAMBURG

Pelican Title: "Heads or Tails?"
Sponsor: Dr. F. Jay Culotta

Carey has used the pelican in a very innovative way. He submitted several designs, two of which utilized the "posterior" of the pelican as the focal point of the piece.