Downtown Natchitoches shines a bit brighter today as the second in a series of five art pieces was unveiled in Beau Jardin Monday, November 3. The series, titled “Natchitoches in Bloom”, is intended to celebrate Natchitoches’ history and culture with sculptures of flowers significant to the region. The sculpture unveiled today is of a zinnia and is titled “Ode to Clementine” and is a tribute to renowned Natchitoches folk artist Clementine Hunter whose art often featured this flower. The piece is a collaboration between NSU Associate Professor of Art Corbin Covher and local artist Kassi Picou.

Professor Covher said of the project: “I want to help create a set of sculptures that tell the story of our city better than what one type of flower could say. The sculptures will all belong to the series, but instead of one repetitive sculpture, each flower will be one of a kind and add to the narrative of Natchitoches,” 

The Natchitoches in Bloom public art project was created by the Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission and the Cane River National Heritage Area.