For Immediate Release
MATTIE KELLY ARTS FOUNDATION PRESENTS "BLUE DOG & BOURBON ON THE BAYOU" FEATURING WENDY RODRIGUE ON OCTOBER 11
Artful Dining Fundraiser to Benefit MKAF and Its ArtsReach Initiatives
DESTIN, FLORIDA – (Sept. 5, 2024) Step into the magical world of artist George Rodrigue's "Loup-garou," or Blue Dog, at the upcoming Blue Dog & Bourbon on the Bayou event hosted by the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation (MKAF).
This special Artful Dining fundraising event, presented by Churchill Oaks and NTS Interiors by Marisol Gullo Interiors, will be held in the club house at Churchill Oaks in Santa Rosa Beach on Friday, Oct. 11, at 6 p.m.
The evening will begin with an al fresco cocktail hour poolside, featuring live music and creative cocktails crafted by Better Together. Art lovers and foodies will have the unique opportunity to meet and view original artwork from art advocate and author Wendy Rodrigue's private collection, offering an intimate glimpse into the vibrant and whimsical creations of her late husband, George Rodrigue.
Before dinner, guests can browse and bid on a silent mobile auction featuring original art, fine wine, travel excursions, wellness packages, and more. Following a bourbon cocktail-paired seated dinner, curated by Bijoux Wine + Spirits chef/co-ownerJack McGuckin and Christine Tarpey of Better Together Beverage, a thrilling experiential auction lot pulled from Wendy’s private collection will be auctioned live, adding to the evening's excitement.
MKAF CEO Demetrius Fuller expressed his excitement, saying, "We're thrilled to invite everyone to this special evening at stunning Churchill Oaks, where you can meet the incredible Wendy Rodrigue, enjoy fantastic food and music, and support a truly deserving creative cause."
Born and raised in Cajun Country, Louisiana, U.S.A., artist George Rodrigue portrayed on his canvas what he feared was his dying heritage — including its land, people, traditions, and mythology. As he often explained, he sought to “graphically interpret the Cajun culture,” preserving it in the face of a progressive world.
Rodrigue’s art studies at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles spawned one of the greatest success stories in American art. In the early 1990s his Blue Dog Series, based on the French-Cajun loup-garou legend, catapulted him to worldwide fame, while his dark Renaissance-like landscapes developed into robust modern masterpieces.
Since George’s death in 2013, Wendy, a native of Fort Walton Beach, has championed the artists’ life through the Life & Legacy Foundation. She tours the country sharing the George’s story and artwork.
To make a tax-deductible donation or provide a corporate sponsorship; or for more information about becoming a MKAF member, visit www.MKAF.org or call (850) 650-2226.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Follow this link to a photo gallery.
ABOUT MATTIE KELLY ARTS FOUNDATION
Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation (MKAF), a non-profit arts organization with a mission to champion arts and culture for all. Since its inception in 1995, MKAF has inspired more than 420,000 children in more than 100 schools and partner agencies. Through its community education initiative ArtsReach, dynamic programming serves K-12 students, people with special needs, and the military community along the Emerald Coast. As a presenting organization, MKAF’s Concerts in the Village series showcases the Southeast United States’ most vibrant performing artists and bands to more than 15,000 patrons each spring. More than 100 artists convene in Destin each fall for the Festival of the Arts — one the preeminent arts festivals along the Gulf coast. MKAF has long partnered with multiple regional non-profits and school districts in the communities that it serves to ensure access to the arts for all.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Zandra Wolfgram
Director of Marketing & Communications
(850) 218-8805