Take a look at all of the art galleries free to the public in Shreveport and Bossier City

Meredith G. White, Shreveport Times
·4 min read

Shreveport and Bossier City have a lot of art and culture to explore, and the easiest way to do that is to visit one of the local art galleries. The R.W. Norton Art Gallery, the Bossier Arts Council and the Shreveport Regional Arts Council all have incredible works of art on display.

Whether you're into fashion, impact art, animation or photography, there is something for everyone in these exhibitions and makes for the perfect day out exploring them all.

The R.W. Norton Art Gallery

The R.W. Norton Art Gallery spring exhibit BLOOM! opening reception Friday evening, March 24, 2023.
The R.W. Norton Art Gallery spring exhibit BLOOM! opening reception Friday evening, March 24, 2023.

The Norton's newest exhibit Line, Form, Fashion! The Art of Style will have its opening reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31.

This exhibition will feature more than 40 works of fine and poster art ranging from Jane Atché and René Gruau to Michel Canetti and Christian Dior. In addition to these pieces from the museum's permanent collection, five local photographers have been asked to create work inspired by this exhibition to be displayed alongside the museum's pieces.

The featured photographers are:

  • Tray Cooper

  • Britt Elizabeth

  • Ivy B. French

  • James Michael LeBlanc

  • Jennifer Robison

The Norton has other events coming up, including showing Disney's Moana on the front lawn Friday, Sept. 8, and the annual Dot Day at the Norton.

Dot Day at the Norton will return Friday, Sept. 15, for kids aged 3 - 5. The Dot written by Peter H. Reynolds tells the story of Vashti, a girl who begins a journey to self-discovery after she is challenged by her teacher to "make her mark." Celebrate the dot in the Literary Gallery by participating in story time, dot art and a Spot the Dot scavenger hunt. Visit the R.W. Norton Art Gallery website to reserve your spot.

Bossier Arts Council

Currently on display at the Bossier Arts Council is The Artwork of Joan Cole and Exaggerating Nature's Beauty by Jennifer Hendry. The two exhibits will be showing until Sept. 27.

The Artwork of Joan Cole shows how Shreveport artist Cole captures her interest in both realism and abstract. The lure and challenge of abstract has gradually become a passion of hers, and she enjoys exploring lines, colors, forms and textures.

Exaggerating Nature's Beauty was created by local artist Jennifer Hendry, who is a painter who works primarily in oil paint but dabbles in other media. Hendry took things she found beautiful in nature and exaggerated that beauty to the next level because she believes nothing is as beautiful as the real thing.

The BAC will also have several other events coming up in October.

  • Independent film Erupt will premiere Oct. 7 at the East Bank Theatre.

    • This compelling film delves deep into the intricate layers of ambition, crime and the pursuit of power in a relentless world where danger lurks at every corner.

      • The film follows a small-time dealer who begins a relentless pursuit of success and explores his entanglement with the criminal underworld alongside his uncle and cousin.

  • The Theatre of the Mind! on Oct. 3

    • The BAC put out an artist call asking for submissions to draw back the curtains and give everyone a peek into their thoughts as a creative.

  • SBC Zombie Walk 2023: Zom-Beatz on Oct. 14

    • The annual Zombie Walk is back. The Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana will collect canned food donations, and LifeShre Blood Center will be onsite collecting blood donations from the freshest of zombies.

    • There also will be a Macabre Vendor Market, a creative costume contest, door prizes, live music, games, food trucks and more.

Shreveport Regional Arts Council

The Downtown Art Scene reopens starting June 2.
The Downtown Art Scene reopens starting June 2.

Currently on display at Central Artstation is As Is: The Works of Gregory Ellis until Sept. 29. Photographer Gregory Ellis invites you to immerse yourself in a hand-picked collection of 25 photographs that were captured across various locations that offers a wide range of emotions and sensations through Ellis' lens.

At Artspace, CUMULUS by Joe Bluhm is on display until Oct. 21 and allows the audience to take a peek at some of the recent art, story and design of artist, writer and director Joe Bluhm, who made waves in animation and picture books. CUMULUS focuses on the day-to-day of a visual storyteller and how a creator can manage a career in art and film while raising a family in North Louisiana.

Also at Artspace is HUEMANEiTY: The Art of Domonique McLemore. It will be on display until Oct. 21. Dominique McLemore invites you to embark on a profound journey through the introspective expressions he's created. This captivating showcase of "impact art" promises to engage the audience through thought-provoking works that delve into societal, political and taboo themes for the audience to explore their own humanity.

SRAC also hosts Super Saturdays in Caddo Common Park on the first Saturday of every month that features a free exercise class, an arts market, food trucks and kids activities from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

The first Friday of every month, SRAC hosts a Glo Fest at Riverview Park that has a new lightshow on the Bakowski Bridge of Lights as well as live music, arts markets, kids activities, food truck, street performers and more.

All of the events mentioned are free to the public.

Meredith G. White is the arts and culture reporter for the Shreveport Times. You can find her on Facebook as Meredith G. White, on Instagram and Twitter as @meredithgwhite, and email her at mgwhite@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Shreveport, Bossier City art galleries host free exhibits, events