Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Rita Mann - ORAG Artist of the Month/April 2010

Rita Mann, a native of West Monroe, LA, is the Ouachita River Art Gallery’s featured artist for the month of April. Rita specializes in watercolor, however, in the last few years, through taking workshops that ORAG offers to everyone, Rita expanded her skills to include acrylic and pastel mediums. Her featured exhibit, Adventures in Pastels, will showcase pieces from her new pastel collection.

Rita has always had an interest in art, which started early in life as her parents took the family on drives in the country to see the flowering native Louisiana flora. Influenced by this varied color, Rita was inspired to begin painting. Encouraged by her brother, she enrolled in a summer watercolor course at the local university. She has taken numerous workshops from some of America’s most talented, nationally acclaimed artists. A member of the Ouachita River Art Gallery for the last 17 years, Rita is also a signature member of the Mississippi Watercolor Society, a member of the Louisiana Watercolor Society and the Hoover Watercolor Society in Shreveport, LA.

Although Rita is well traveled, her colorful artwork reflects her passion for North Louisiana and all its beauty. She has developed her own personal style, which is colorful, but delicate. She likes to share her love of nature with everyone and says, “I love to try to capture on a piece of paper the beauty God has created.” This exhibit is one worth seeing.

The Ouachita River Art Gallery, 308 Trenton Street, West Monroe invites you to come see Rita’s show during the month of April. The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. Gallery member’s work can also be seen at ORAG’s extension gallery located in the lobby of Ouachita Independent Bank/Bankers Mortgage Plaza at 18th and Louisville in Monroe. Call 322-2380 for more information.

Rita Mann - Artist of the Month/April 2010


Member News!

At the 53rd annual spring exhibition of the Hoover Watercolor Society in Shreveport, Louisiana, Mary E. Jones won a Fredrix Company Merchandise Award (honorable mention), Anne R. Eberle won a Fredrix Company Merchandise Award (honorable mention), and Joyce Beauvais won the Dr. H.B. Wright Memorial Award (5th place). Donna McGee was juried into the show as well. The juror was Laurin McCracken of Fort Worth, Texas.

hanging art at OIB

Every time ORAG hangs a new show in the gallery (every two months), they also hang a show at Ouachita Independent Bank (OIB). The public can view artwork at OIB during regular banking hours. Pictured here are ORAG members (top left) Anne Eberle, (top right) Emily Brodnax, (bottom left) Mary Elizabeth Jones, and (bottom right) Jane Dixon.