Meet the 2023 Festival International de Louisiane Official Visual Artist
Festival International de Louisiane announced Lu Wixon as the Official Visual Artist for Festival 2023. Wixon has been coming to the Festival since the 80s and has created countless memories over 30 years at the festival.
Festival International was created in 1987, and Lu Wixon attended her first festival a year later. Wixon recalls attending the festival with her children, best friend, and her kids, with dreams of someday becoming the festival's visual artist.
Wixon grew up in Lafayette attending high school and college. After relocating to South Carolina in 1993 with her husband and children, she continued to attend the festival each year as an attendee, creating over a decade of memories with family and friends. In October Wixon received a phone call asking to be the 2023 Festival International’s Official Visual Artist.
Her biggest inspiration for the 2023 festival visual is the musicians and her love for music. "If you saw my poster it's mostly musicians, I love the costumes, I love the different instruments, and artists like Sona Jobarteh, who plays the Kora, will be performing at the festival this year but just to think about the Kora being a gourd someone found a way to make an instrument out of is amazing." Wixon, states that music is a way to unite people so it inspires her through everything.
In the past Wixon was an art teacher for 27 years teaching over 600 students a week while continuing to paint and exhibit. At this time, she recalls receiving the phone call and having to explain, "This was a very important part of my artistic self, and I have a lot of inspiration for this" said Wixon.
Wixon and her husband have been to over 31 festivals together, the painting features a photo taken by a friend of her and her husband dancing at the festival. The painting showcases various artists dating back to when Wixon would attend the festival in previous years and sketch while watching the festival. The painting also showcases artists that are currently a part of the lineup this year.
Whoojoo Stained Glass Gallery is where the painting is currently on display until April 14th then it will go to auction. Craig McCullen known as Whoojoo, states, "This painting is kind of like the history of the festival because it's of the people from beginning to the end."
The festival's 2023 pin and posters are based off of Wixon's painting she created to represent the festival. These pins and posters are a vital element for the festival's fundraising efforts. Burt Durand turned Wixon's painting into the poster, and are collector items that attendees love to get each year to preserve memories.
"I just love the festival so much, and the fact I got to create the poster is a dream come true," said Wixon. She looks forward to possibly being the official festival artist for future festivals someday. LuWixon.com is where you can purchase the painting currently, and Festival International's website features the pins and poster that are available for purchase.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Lu Wixon announced the Official Visual Artist for Festival 2023.
