Artist gives White House a Cajun Christmas touch
HOUMA, La. — Folk artist Paula Lapeyrouse put a little piece of south Louisiana in the White House this month, as she joined hundreds of artists across the country in decorating the presidential Christmas tree.
Lapeyrouse, a client of the Houma-based Terrebonne Association for Retarded Citizens, or TARC, traveled with two guests to Washington, D.C., for a reception honoring the artists.
“They had a big tall Christmas tree up to the top, to the ceiling, with red, white and blue balls,” Lapeyrouse, 52, said.
The one she crafted was “hanging on the bottom. I saw it. It was pretty.”
Lapeyrouse was invited to create an ornament by U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon, D- Napoleonville.
Each Congressional member was asked to select an artist to represent their district by decorating an ornament for the White House’s tree. Past themes included the national parks or the Nutcracker Suite ballet by Tchaikovsky. This year’s theme, chosen by First Lady Laura Bush, is a “A Red, White and Blue Christmas.”
The bright colors and strong strokes Lapeyrouse uses in her Cajun-themed paintings caught the eyes of Melancon and his staff, Melancon said.
Melancon said Lapeyrouse’s selection was especially meaningful because his mother helped establish the Assumption Parish Association for Retarded Citizens.
“It was not only the product but the background of where the product came from,” Melancon said.
“How many people do you know can say, ‘I’ve got a Christmas ornament hanging on the White House Christmas tree?’” Melancon said. “Her selection brings positive attention to the groups like TARC and helping our local citizens.”
Jody Stacoffe, Melancon’s scheduler, said she’s been a Lapeyrouse fan for years and she takes credit for nominating her work. Originally from Acadia Parish, Stacoffe said she commissioned Lapeyrouse to paint an interpretation of a Mardi Gras scene.
The artist’s unique perspective on Cajun culture inspired the ornament.
“Paula being a folk artist, she painted a big red, white and blue crab, shrimp and a crawfish,” said Erica Null, a TARC employee who accompanied Lapeyrouse on the trip. “It was definitely in her style.”
Lapeyrouse practiced on a few other ornaments before sending her final work in October. Not knowing where on the tree the silver ball was displayed, Null said it took a long time to find because of the number of people and the number of decorations on the approximately 15-foot tall tree.
“All the ornaments were very beautiful and representative of each territory,” Null said.
Null, Lapeyrouse and Alison Filce, TARC’s director of residential services, arrived in Washington on Dec. 1, taking a long sightseeing trip that night. Before an artists’ reception, the threesome visited monuments and the national Holocaust museum. They toured the Capitol building and met with Melancon’s staff.
“Paula really enjoyed the trip,” Null said. “It was her first big trip like that. She was star struck the whole time.”
Lapeyrouse also found inspiration in the glass windows and long hallways of her hotel, she said. She also plans to paint the White House itself, a work she intends to give the president on a return visit.
“I liked being in the big city, D.C.,” Lapeyrouse said. “It’ll give me a chance to go back.”
katc.com/Global/story.asp?S=9515059
December 13th, 2008 by Ragin Cajun /
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