Southeastern NEWS
Southeastern Louisiana University
Public Information Office
SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
Date: 3/6/96
Contact: Christina Chapple 5
FINE ARTS AND AZALEAS BLOOMING MARCH 22-24
HAMMOND -- Hammond will celebrate that vibrant local symbol of Spring -- the azalea
-- with a March 22-24 festival focusing on the arts.
The Azalea festival, coordinated by Southeastern Louisiana University's Cultural
Resource Management Program and Department of Visual Arts, will feature azalea sales and
displays, art exhibits and dance.
Azaleas and dance: The whole "blooming weekend" begins March 22 with
Southeastern Dancework's spring concert at 7:30 p.m. at Vonnie Borden Theatre.
The concert will feature 10 works choreographed and performed by SLU dancers,
graduates and special guests. Tickets are $5 general admission, $2 students and senior citizens.
The concert program includes Dana Brewer's "Optional Features," a humorous modern
dance which has been selected for performance in May at the national American College Dance
Festival at Washington D.C.'s Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The concert also will
feature choreography by Keith "Skip" Costa of Loranger, George Traylor of Ponchatoula, Marcie
Futrell Thames of Amite, Terri Graham of Baton Rouge, Darie Jordan of Kenner and Frank
Harper Brown of New Orleans.
In addition to the choreographers, dancework members are Heather Brown, New
Orleans;
Misty Burns, Harvey; Kelsy Chambers, Baton Rouge; April Christian, Slidell; Stacie Dauterive,
New Orleans; Julie Efferson, Baton Rouge; Alice Fanto, Kenner; Nicole Fassbender, New
Orleans; Jeanne Labourdette, Chalmette; Stacy McLain, Ponchatoula; Julie Murry, New Orleans;
Laura Read, Belle Chasse; Gina Ritter, Milwaukee, Wisc.; and Bridget Talamo, New Orleans.
Those who enjoy doing the dancing themselves can attend the Azalea Tea Dance,
featuring tea, jazz and an exhibit of azalea inspired art by Northshore artists on Saturday from 6-
9 p.m. at SLU's Clark Hall Gallery. At 6:15 p.m., danceworks members will perform "The Wind
Rises" in Magee Circle in front of the Gallery.
Azaleas for sale: During the day on Saturday, Azalea enthusiasts can shop for the
beautiful bushes at the Morrison Azalea Plant Sale beginning at 8 a.m. at Shadow Creek, 10296
Highway 190, the home of former U.S. Congressman James H. and Marjorie Morrison, west of
Hammond. They can also purchase azaleas at the exotic azalea exhibit and sale at the
Hammond train depot, 300 N.W. Railroad Ave. The sale and show is sponsored by the Louisiana
Chapter of the Azalea Society of America and will take place from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Azaleas for viewing: Those who want to see azaleas can look to their hearts' content
at the azalea gardens at the Louisiana State University Agriculture Extension Service
research station, 21549 Old Covington Hwy. The gardens will be open March 18-24 from 8:30
a.m.-4:30 p.m. Azaleas will also be in bloom at Zemurray Gardens, 23115 Zemurray Garden
Drive (off Hwy. 1064). Zemurray is open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and admission is $4 adults, $3
seniors and children 12 and under.
On Sunday, Congressman and Mrs. Morrison will open their gardens for the annual
Shadow Creek Garden Tour from 1-5 p.m. For refreshments and the tour, admission is $6
adults, $1 children 12 and under. Tickets for the event, an annual benefit for the Hammond
Cultural Foundation, will be available at the gate on Hwy. 190 near Albany.
Azaleas and art: On Saturday, Gallery Menette, 221 W. Thomas, will host a
botanical print exhibit and Accents for Your Home, 113 W. Thomas, will show botanical
fountains, sculpture by Wayne Morgan, ironworks by John Perriloux and paintings by Maria
Lyles. The exhibits will be open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. At the Hammond Cultural Foundation's
Levy Building, 217 E. Thomas, you can see sculpture by Paulo Dufour and Nolan Lefort. Levy
Building hours are 1-6 p.m.
Azaleas and literature: On Saturday, Southeastern professors will present an
"Azalea Day Poetry and Prose Seminar" at the Hammond Cultural Foundation from 9 a.m.-4
p.m. The $20 registration includes lunch. Call the HCF, 542-7113, to register or for information.
Participants are Larry Gray, drama; Norman German, fiction; Christine Mitchell, non-fiction, and
Jack Bedell, poetry.
Azalea Festival brochures are available at participating organizations and the Hammond
Chamber of Commerce. For additional information, call Don Marshall, 549-2193.
-SLU-