The summer is off to a good start after both Summer Arts Camp and Men Who Cook at River Oaks delivered record numbers this year. Summer Arts Camp was sold out again for the third year in a row and has proven to be one of the most successful art camps in the area. Men Who Cook was a raving success as well, with tickets sold out in advance and a record number of participants, visitors and funds raised. Thank you Central Louisiana for your dedication to River Oaks Square Arts Center and the arts in our community!

Congratulations goes out to the 2015 Men Who Cook and Men Who Mix Champions:
1st Place: Team Los Amigos (Tony Martin, Daryl Terry, Chad Bordes & Representative Lance Harris) for their “Buena Chile” w/ El Pepino Jalapeno Margarita also featuring Cajun Hot Dogs and Smoked Boudin.
2nd  Place: Team 3 Lucky Guys (Darryl Monroe, Todd Leleaux & Sherman Fookes) for their Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Jalapeno and “The Recipe”.
3rd Place: Team New Dynasty (Dr. Bradley Kirzner & Patrick Cunningham) for their creation “Brie-Licious”
Crowd Favorite Award: Team Maid 2 Geaux Outlaws (Brodie Paul, Vance Taylor & John Taylor) for their Signature Brisket.

Always aiming for higher goals, River Oaks needed an equally stellar set of exhibits to celebrate  a successful summer, and none other than the Annual Resident Artist Exhibit would do the job. Over 40 resident artists will be on display, representing the amazing amount of talent that makes River Oaks such a community asset. “With such a plethora of artists being displayed during this annual show, visitors are certain to see a variety of mediums ranging from ceramics to mixed media, oils, acrylics, collage, glass and more,” says Rachael Dauzat, Executive Director.   Join us for the exhibit opening reception on Friday, July 10th from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. This event is free and open to the public. The Resident Artists exhibition will also feature two additional shows by Curiel and Furrate.

“Organic Matters”, featuring River Oaks resident artist Rhonda Reap-Curiel, will be on display in the Galerie des Amis. Reap-Curiel’s work centers mostly around mixed media and glass fused creations.  “My contemporary work allows me to be free from restraints, to sling paint, to create what only exists in my mind’s eye. It’s an opportunity to explore new techniques, new materials, new ways of seeing. It’s a chance to challenge the voyeur and to stimulate inner feelings, evoking some type of response from the viewer.”

“Lighten Up”, featuring Alexandria native and current Baton Rouge resident, Sharon Brown Furrate will be on display in the Stokes-Harris Gallery. A painter since 2008, Furrate is a Louisiana artist best known for her use of color and Louisiana themes.  Furrate discovered her love of painting after she began taking studio art classes in Baton Rouge.  Her abstracts have been showcased in House and Home Magazine.  In this, her first exhibition at River Oaks, Sharon will feature her original works of Louisiana themed imagery as well as her figurative abstracts, sure to bring the Stokes Harris Gallery to life via color.

All three exhibits will be on display from July 10th through August 15th, with the opening reception on Friday, July 10th from 5:00pm to 7:00pm.   All three shows are sponsored by Dr. & Mrs. Babson Fresh.

In August, look for the Inaugural Mini-Resident Artist Exhibit that will feature over 150 works of art from students of River Oaks Summer Arts Studio. “The talent of these young artists amazes both camp staff and artists alike. I can see it refine over the years as campers return. We could probably call it the ‘future resident artists’ exhibit—it is a great experience in the making,” says Aubrey Bolen, Artistic Director of River Oaks. The Summer Art Studio Mini Resident Artists reception will be held on Saturday, August 15th from 4:00pm to 5:00pm. This event is also free and open to the public.   “River Oaks looks forward to displaying works from so many young, talented artists in this, our first annual student show.  One piece from each student has been selected by Staff/Instructors from the summer camp program and all work will be on display in a formal gallery setting,” says Rachael Dauzat, Executive Director.   We hope to see parents, grandparents, family members and friends of River Oaks at this unique event.