WBR comes alive with colorful brush strokes

• By ROXANNE C. HARE
• Special sections editor
• Published: Jun 14, 2009

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If heritage, culture and enrichment are what you seek, look no further. One needn’t travel far from West Baton Rouge Parish to experience those things.

The West Baton Rouge Museum – with its historic preservation buildings, permanent exhibits and artifacts – is an integral part of the community.

In addition to permanent exhibits, the museum also acquires rotating exhibits and organizes educational activities for both children and adults.

Although those activities happen year round, the summer is shaping up to have an array of options.

Kicking things off is “The Four Seasons: Watercolors” exhibit, which begins today at 2 p.m. with an opening reception.

Painted by five artists from the Louisiana Watercolor Society, the collection offers a glimpse into what can be seen in the windows of a famous French Quarter hat shop.

“It’s a really cool collection because they went to New Orleans and did art that was inspired by fashions in the windows as it changed over the seasons,” said museum Director Julie Rose.

The exhibit reflects each artist’s vision of the world as told through the mannequins in the store. It is described as being beautiful, humorous, eerie and enigmatic.

The focus on painting at the museum is not limited to the watercolor exhibit.

The museum also will sponsor a “Paint Out!” on June 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The public is invited to join professional and amateur artists and paint outdoors among the gardens and historic buildings at the museum.

“There are a lot of neat opportunities to paint outside,” Rose said. “People can come and set up their easels. It’s just a really fun day.”

Continuing with the painting theme, the museum also has activities geared toward children, such as “Monet in the Garden: Children’s Watercolor Workshop” on July 19 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Registration is required, and there is a $5 materials fee.

Also, for the adults, there is a program called “Wine and Watercolors: A Relaxing Evening of Artistic Expression” on July 22 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Registration is required, and the event is free.