PRESS RELEASE

Dec. 9, 2015

For Immediate Release

Contact:

Céline Alis

(337) 365-1540

(888) 942-3742

celine@iberiatravel.com

iberiatravel.com

Iberia Parish Convention

and Visitors Bureau

Plans for George Rodrigue Park in New Iberia

NEW IBERIA, La. --- The George Rodrigue Park committee is pleased to release the plans for a new park to be located at 211 East Main Street in the New Iberia historic district.

This pocket park will celebrate Rodrigue's long career as a gifted artist, community leader, arts advocate and philanthropist.

Rodrigue set out to paint Louisiana as he knew it by visually interpreting the landscape and the rich history of the Cajun people. Later in his career his Blue Dog paintings captured hearts and minds around the world.

Rodrigue remained an advocate of the arts and arts-education throughout his life and dedicated himself to inspiring the next generation of artists and educators through his foundation, the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts.

"Dad was not only a painter, but also a true community leader in his native Louisiana," said Jacques Rodrigue, son of the artist. "He always said that if he wasn't from New Iberia that he probably would not have ever painted in the first place. My family and I are grateful to everyone involved in this memorial park project."

Dan Spiller of Viator & Associates designed the park, which will feature an original 8.3-foot-sided blue dog sculpture made by Rodrigue as well as a mural of his iconic Live Oak tree. A timeline of Rodrigue's life and art career will also be included, along with landscaping, signage, benches and additional parking for downtown attractions and events.

The park will be located at the site of the Masonic Lodge between the Bayou Teche Museum and the Shadows-on-the-Teche plantation home. The lodge burned in 2011 and property owner Landry, Watkins, Repaske & Breaux law firm graciously donated the use of the land for the park.

"We have tremendous support, partnerships and excitement from many entities: The George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts in New Orleans, Viator & Associates, Inc. Landscape Architects, the City of New Iberia, Landry,Watkins, Repaske & Breaux, Iberia Parish Convention & Visitors Bureau and On-Tap and the On-Tap Foundation," said Paul Schexnayder, park creator. "In fact, On-Tap will be donating some of the proceeds from their annual Dragon Boat Race on April 16, 2016 to the park fund."

The committee is currently working on different levels of giving for all to contribute to making the park a reality.

For more information contact the George Rodrigue Park Committee:
Paul Schexnayder, chairman, 337-321-1956
Dan Spiller, Landscape Designer, committee member
Karen Alvarez, committee member
Patrick Theriot, committee member
Randy Haynie, committee member

Or:
Wayne Fernandez, director of development, GR Foundation of the Arts, 504-324-9614
Wess Robison, president, On-Tap Foundation, 337-207-2806
Kreig Breaux, partner, Landry, Watkins, Repaske & Breaux, 337-364-7626
Jane Braud, Main Street manager, city of New Iberia, 337-369-2330
Fran Thibodeaux, executive director, Iberia Parish Convention & Visitors Bureau, 337-365-1540

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George Rodrigue Park Mock-Up- Courtesy of Viator and Associates, INC. Landscape Architects

Images courtesy of Viator and Associates, INC. Landscape Architects

The Iberia Parish Convention & Visitors Bureau is the official parish marketing agency promoting New Iberia, Avery Island, Jefferson Island, Jeanerette, Loreauville and Delcambre as a destination. Marketing programs target leisure travelers, business travelers, media, entertainment industry, and the travel trade including group tour planners, meeting planners, sports planners and special event planners. The bureau operates a parish welcome center located at 2513 Hwy. 14 in New Iberia.

For more information on parish events and tourism assets, call the Iberia Parish Convention and Visitors Bureau at 337-365-1540 or visit IberiaTravel.com

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