On Sunday, August 17 at 2 PM, join the West Baton Rouge Museum for a film screening of Ancestral Artistry: The Influence of Africans and Creoles of Color on Louisiana Architecture, a 58-minute documentary film produced by the non–profit Louisiana Architecture Foundation (LAF).
Ancestral Artistry: The Influence of Africans and Creoles of Color on Louisiana Architecture explores a centuries-old legacy rooted in craftsmanship, culture, and resilience—a story that begins over 300 years ago with the arrival of enslaved Africans in French colonial Louisiana. These individuals brought with them not only strength and endurance, but deep knowledge in building trades like carpentry, masonry, iron smithing, and plasterwork. Their skill shaped the physical and cultural landscape of Louisiana. Over generations, these trades were passed down through families and communities, evolving into a distinctive architectural identity that sets Louisiana apart from other parts of the United States. These traditions took root in a place unlike much of America—a colony and later state that fostered a significant population of free people of color, many of mixed African and European descent. For these Creoles of Color, the building trades were more than a means of survival; they became a path to wealth, independence, and social mobility in an era when African-descended people faced severe restrictions across much of the country. This film intertwines historical context with the present-day stories of New Orleans craftsmen who are working to keep these endangered traditions alive. Places across the state featured include New Orleans, Natchitoches, Donaldsonville, and Pointe Coupée Parish. The film also follows three master artisans—Jeff Poree, Darryl Reeves, and the late Teddy Pierre—as they share their personal journeys, creative practices, and visions for the future. Each man has dedicated his life to preserving the delicate techniques and cultural memory of their ancestors, despite the mounting challenges of an aging workforce, lack of apprentices, and increasing disconnection from manual trades.
The Louisiana Architecture Foundation (LAF) supports this work as part of its broader mission to connect the public to the architectural profession. LAF promotes public awareness, engagement, and appreciation of architecture’s role in shaping our communities.
This FREE program is being offered to the public in celebration of three Creole exhibits currently on display through mid-October which include Kont Kréyol-yé (Creole Folktales), radbwa ê tiré tik-layé: The Art of Jonathan Mayers, and Creole Reframed.
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