3 minute read
Brushstrokes and Beyond
The Northshore's Art Scene Inspires at STAA.
BY MAGGY CASE-EYMARD, M.A., ART HOUSE COORDINATOR
IN 1958, my great-grandmother, Miriam Barranger, started the St. Tammany Art Association (STAA) with a group of like-minded individuals who had the goal of providing quality art programming to The Northshore. Miriam believed in the power of inclusive spaces centered around artistic ideas, and my goal is to fulfill her vision through supporting local artists both inside and outside of our galleries. In 2025, STAA plans to build on the momentum from its first year back after renovations following hurricane damage by bringing exciting exhibitions and programs to all.
This past fall, in collaboration with Visit The Northshore, STAA and local artist Inga Clough Falterman undertook the daunting project of restoring, preserving and preparing the wall in STAA’s Art Alley for the St. Tammany Parish Community Mural Project. Inga’s mural features a fish-eye image of a pond and its flora and fauna both above and below the waterline. STAA is grateful for the opportunity to work with Visit The Northshore and an experienced muralist like Inga.
On April 12, Spring for Art will Aoffer an eye-catching display of 2D paintings in the Barranger Gallery, along with Cecilia Goett’s large-scale landscape paintings in our Brick Room Gallery. We invite you to join us on the second Saturday of April when we close Columbia Street in Downtown Covington for a full display of art in all its forms! That evening, STAA will provide the public with an opportunity to browse our members' artists’ booths, listen to music, participate in community paintings and visit our opening exhibitions in both the Barranger Gallery and Members’ Gallery.
STAA also plans to host art markets showcasing member artists during every Columbia Street Block Party on the final Friday of the month from March through October. This market is in Art Alley, right next to STAA’s Art House. Moving forward, the community mural will provide a beautiful backdrop for our artists and their work.
This summer, June will consist of our educational Fingerprints Visual Art Camps, Pottery Camps and Young Artist Studios for kids and teens. Throughout the year, STAA provides all ages with opportunities to learn about different painting media, color theory, ceramics, monoprinting, bookbinding and large-scale abstract work. Our educators aim to provide students with informative, productive and inclusive experiences. We also provide resources for young artists to connect with Talented Arts instructors in the St. Tammany Parish public school system, allowing them to gain new insight into art and its possibilities.
We are also excited to announce that in 2025, the St. Tammany Art Association will bring back its acclaimed juried Summer Show to run from July 12, 2025, into early fall. STAA also welcomes exhibition and class proposals from all artists in the U.S. over 18 years old.
Whether it is a proposal for the Barranger Gallery, a feature in one of our Members’ Galleries or a new and exciting workshop, STAA aims to provide opportunities for all. The St. Tammany Art Association is located at 320 N. Columbia St., Covington.
