In preparation for Arts Evening on Saturday, April 15, 2023, the City of Slidell is announcing that several streets in Olde Towne Slidell will be closed to traffic during this event.

Streets will be closed on April 15 from 2:00 to 10:00 p.m. Streets affected include areas of First Street, Erlanger Avenue, Second Street, Bouscaren Street, Cousin Street, Carey Street and Robert Street. Access to the U.S. Post Office in Olde Towne will not be obstructed.

Mayor Greg Cromer invites citizens to come view the works of over 50 artists and arts organizations that will be on display at over 30 locations throughout Olde Towne during Arts Evening, plus live entertainment from 8 different bands, antique and boutique shopping, and casual and fine dining at participating locations.

Citizens should not park within the Arts Evening street closure area on Saturday, April 15 from 2 to 10 p.m. For public safety, bollards will be placed throughout Olde Towne and any vehicles left inside the bollards will not be able to leave Olde Towne until 10 p.m. when the bollards are removed.

For more information about Arts Evening, please visit the city’s website at MySlidell.com or call the Department of Cultural & Public Affairs at (985) 646-4375.

The City of Slidell is honored to host “Slidell’s Big Shot: Zulu Big Shot 2023 Meets Slidell Royalty” a Mardi Gras costume exhibit featuring Zulu Big Shot 2023 Terrance McGuire’s Zulu Big Shot costume. His wife Hyacinth’s costume will also be on display, along with other Zulu memorabilia.

The Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club was formed in 1909 and the Krewe is known for their colorful floats and elaborate costumes. Their signature throw, hand-painted coconuts, are highly sought after each year. Zulu’s Big Shot character was created in the 1930’s by member Paul E. Johnson. The role of the Big Shot is to one-up the King, by throwing more elaborate parties and wearing flashy clothing. The Big Shot is second only to the King.

Mardi Gras costumes worn by Slidell Mardi Gras royalty will also be on display. The costumes are on loan from the Slidell Mardi Gras Museum, from the collection of museum curator Bonnie Vanney.

“Terrance is the first Zulu Big Shot from Slidell and we are honored to have the opportunity to display his costume in the City of Slidell,” said Slidell Mayor Greg Cromer. “I would like to thank Terrance and his family, Bonnie Vanney and the Slidell Mardi Gras Museum, and the staff of the Dept. of Cultural & Public Affairs for putting together this exhibit for our citizens.”

The opening ceremony will be held at 5 p.m. in conjunction with the City of Slidell’s 29th annual Arts Evening, a large art block party featuring artists, live entertainment, fine and casual dining and unique shopping opportunities in Olde Towne Slidell. Both events take place on Saturday, April 15, 5 to 9 p.m. Admission is free.

Slidell Mayor Greg Cromer invites the public to join him on Thursday, February 23, at 6 p.m. for a concert featuring the United States Air Force Band of the West Velocity Jazz Ensemble. The concert will be held at the Slidell Municipal Auditorium and admission is free.

The USAF Band of the West is a musical organization with an outstanding record of achievement. The Airmen assigned to the band are highly-trained professional musicians who have dedicated themselves to serving their country through music.

The USAF Band of the West travels more than 125,000 miles annually and provides hundreds of performances to military and civilian audiences throughout Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and Puerto Rico. The organization is made up of the large ensembles Concert Band, Ceremonial Marching Band, Dimensions in Blue, and three popular music groups, Warhawk, Top Flight, and Velocity. Small ensembles within the unit include Freedom Brass, Gateway Brass, Spectrum Winds, Nightwatch, Mission Winds, and protocol combos. This diversity enables the USAF Band of the West to perform practically any style of music from classical and country to marches and mambos.

The USAF Band of the West has performed for presidents, heads of state, and dignitaries from around the world earning an outstanding reputation among America’s military bands.

The USAF Band of the West has a long lineage in the United States Air Force. The band was created on October 1st, 1941 at Moffett Field, California and moved to Enid Army Airfield soon after. With the birth of the United States Air Force in 1947, the band moved to what eventually became Lackland Air Force Base. The band was inactivated in 1955 but reactivated in 1959. The title “Band of the West” was used for years until May 1st, 1997 when it was granted official status.

The Slidell Municipal Auditorium is located at 2056 Second Street in Olde Towne Slidell. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Download the Salad Days prospectus here

The City of Slidell and its Commission on the Arts are sponsoring Salad Days, a juried exhibition of student artwork featuring St. Tammany Parish students. Young artists, between the ages 5 to 19, are encouraged to enter up to three pieces of artwork for consideration.

JUROR: This year’s juror is Victoria Allen, an editorial illustrator and fine artist. She started painting when she was young and had work accepted into local and regional exhibits, including Salad Days. Her more recent work has been showcased, recognized, and received awards in numerous exhibitions and competitions both statewide and nationally. Allen graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BFA in Illustration from Savannah College of Art and Design, and then worked in New York City as an illustrator with Imaginary Forces. In 2020, she received her Master’s in Mass Communication and Certificate in Strategic Communications from Louisiana State University. She now works as a Social Media & Creative Strategist for TILT advertising agency in Baton Rouge and is also an Adjunct Professor of Visual Communication at LSU Manship. She still freelances as an illustrator and paints in her free time.

ELIGIBILITY: All K-12 students between the ages of 5 and 19 residing in or attending school in St. Tammany Parish are eligible (college students are not eligible). Each artist is limited to three entries. Work will be judged in the following four age categories: A – 5 to 8 years of age; B – 9 to 11 years of age; C – 12 to 14 years of age; D – 15 to 19 years of age. A $50 prize will be awarded to the first place winner in each age category. Each artist who has work featured in the Salad Days exhibit will receive a certificate from the City of Slidell.

ENTRY: Entry in this exhibit is by high resolution color digital photographs only. Digital photographs will only be accepted in JPEG format and are not to exceed 300 dpi. All JPEGs must be submitted via email or a USB flash drive. The digital submission and entry form may be emailed to culturalaffairs@cityofslidell.org or mailed to Slidell Cultural Center at City Hall, P.O. Box 828, Slidell, LA, 70459. Entries can also be delivered in person to the Dept. of Cultural & Public Affairs located at 250 Bouscaren, Suite 304, in the Slidell Technology and Cultural Arts Center. Entries must be received no later than 4 p.m. on Monday, February 27, 2023. Late entries will not be accepted.

Actual work submitted must be as depicted in the JPEG. Photos of physical artwork should not be altered in any way. No substitutions for accepted entries will be allowed. and no more than three entries per artist will be accepted. Submit one JPEG for each two-dimensional artwork and up to three JPEGs for each three-dimensional artwork. The filename of each JPEG must be labeled with the title of work and the artist’s name. Be sure to type or neatly print all information on the entry form. Entry form must include value of each piece for insurance purposes. Work need not be for sale.

NOTIFICATION: Notification of acceptance/non-acceptance will be emailed by Thursday, March 2, 2023. Artists who have not received notification by Friday, March 3, should call (985) 646-4375. 

ART DELIVERY DAYS: Artwork selected by the juror for entry into Salad Days must be delivered to the Slidell Cultural Center gallery, located at 2055 Second Street on the first floor of City Hall on Monday, March 6 from 1 to 6 p.m., or Tuesday, March 7, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Accepted work must remain in the gallery for the duration of the exhibit. The gallery will be open only during these hours. No late entries will be accepted. Special accomodations can be made for extenuating circumstances only with advance permission from the Dept. of Cultural & Public Affairs.

ART PICK-UP DAYS: At the close of the exhibit, artwork displayed in Salad Days must be picked up on Monday, April 24, from 1 to 6 p.m., or Tuesday, April 25, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The gallery will be open only during these hours. Work left 15 days past this deadline becomes the property of the City of Slidell.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This is a juried exhibit. Due to the volume of entries received, not all works will be selected for display. The City of Slidell reserves the right to choose not to display any piece of artwork presented for exhibition in Salad Days.  

ARTWORK REQUIREMENTS: Artwork may be submitted in all media, including digital art and photography. Hanging work must not weigh more that 35 lbs. or exceed 48” in any direction. Work must be original, completed within the past two years, and not previously exhibited at the Slidell Cultural Center. All artwork must be delivered dry. All work must be labeled on the back of the artwork with title, artist’s name, age, phone number and an indication of the top of the artwork. Glass or Plexiglas must cover works on paper. Simple black framing is preferred. Works on canvas are not required to be framed.

HANGING REQUIREMENTS: The Slidell Cultural Center uses a wire system to display all works. Two-dimensional artwork must be prepared for hanging with a secured wire hanger – no claws, hooks or nails can be utilized. Wires or string glued or taped to the work for framing purposes will not be accepted. No work will be taped or glued to the walls. Two-dimensional work that does not meet these requirements will not be accepted. Three-dimensional work must be ready to exhibit. Installation pieces cannot be accepted.

LIABILITY: The City of Slidell will assume responsibility for damage or loss of entries (up to 50% of stated value, or $50, whichever is less) only for the period of time in which the artwork is in the gallery (between Feb. 27 and April 25, 2023). The City will not assume responsibility for work in transit or for work not picked up by the 1 p.m. deadline on April 25. Entry in this exhibit indicates an agreement that the Lender will indemnify and hold harmless the Lendee against any and all claims Lender may have arising from the acts of third parties or acts of God.

QUESTIONS? Please call the Dept. of Cultural & Public Affairs at (985) 646-4375.