In preparation for Arts Evening on Saturday, March 19, 2022, the City of Slidell is announcing that several streets in Olde Towne Slidell will be closed to traffic during this event.

The street closings will take effect on March 19 from 12:00 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 100 artists and arts organizations that will be on display at over 30 locations throughout Olde Towne during Arts Evening, plus live entertainment from 10 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, March 19 from 12 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.

It’s back! Arts Evening returns to Olde Towne Slidell on Saturday, March 19, from 5 to 9 p.m.

One of the largest cultural festivals on the Northshore, Arts Evening features over 100 artists displaying their works at over 40 locations in Olde Towne Slidell. In addition to the artwork, their will be live entertainment; antique, boutique and unique shopping; fine and casual dining and surprises on every corner of Olde Towne.

“It’s been three years since we have been able to have Arts Evening and I know that our citizens are ready to celebrate!” said Slidell Mayor Greg Cromer. “Bring your family and friends and join us for fantastic artwork, live entertainment, shopping and dining in Olde Towne Slidell. It’s going to be a great evening!”

For a complete list of participating artists and businesses, please visit the City of Slidell’s website at MySlidell.com. The Arts Evening brochure will be posted several days before the event.

 

Congratulations to Nancy Pratt, the Arts Evening 2022 Cover Artist. “Her Rhapsody” has been selected as the winning submission for the Arts Evening 2022 Poster.

Nancy will be at Green Oaks Apothecary during Arts Evening, one of the largest and most celebrated cultural festivals on the Northshore. The event will feature the works of over 100 artists and art organizations at 40 locations throughout Olde Towne Slidell, live entertainment from bands and entertainers, casual and fine dining at local restaurants and antique and boutique shopping.

Nancy Pratt is a multimedia artist and teacher, dance instructor and choreographer, and event coordinator who currently resides on the Northshore of Louisiana. Art mediums include acrylic on canvas, stenciling, collage, photo projects, painted clothing and shoes and holiday headpieces/fascinators-she loves mixed media! She has had the fortune of being selected to do a mural for the City of Slidell as part of the Celebrate Slidell series which is located at the STFPD1 Headquarters. Fancy Nancy was also asked to do a floral remembrance mural for Bella Style Salon which you can see on the exterior of their Olde Towne location and where you can also find her art on walls of the interior too.

Her latest body of work, reflected in the chosen Arts Evening poster, starts with a base of vintage sheet music collaged and painted on canvas, then covered with a portrait of a celebrated music artist in liquid acrylic and sealed for protection. The series is called “Rhapsody in Hues.” Inspired by music icons, the title “rhapsody” meaning: an effusively enthusiastic or ecstatic expression of feeling. And “hues” describes each painting having their own monochromatic colors; all the colors (tones, tints, and shades) of a single hue. She works from her home studio, showroom and through Etsy but plans on having a local shop in the near future. See more art & ArtByNancyPratt Etsy shop info at thefancynancy.com. Stay updated with the latest headpiece classes, adult workshops and children’s summer camps on her website and social media outlets: Fancy Nancy Pratt LLC.

The Arts Evening festivities take place on Saturday, March 19, 2022, from 5 to 9 p.m. in Olde Towne Slidell. Signed prints of the Arts Evening poster will be sold during the event.

“I am honored to be selected as the Arts Evening poster artist for 2022. During the past few years since our last event, I’ve grown and evolved so much as a person and an artist. Through play, practice and persistence, I’ve developed a new body of work, ‘Rhapsody in Hues,’ that I am eager to share at Arts Evening,” said Pratt. “I am so thankful for the love and support from my family, local community and loyal customers that I appreciate this opportunity to represent Slidell and share my passion for art and culture.”

The City of Slidell, the Olde Towne Arts Commission (OTAC) and the City of Slidell’s Commission on the Arts are proud to announce the upcoming Arts Evening exhibition, “George Dunbar: A Retrospective” opening on Friday, March 18, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Slidell Cultural Center at City Hall.
This is the first solo exhibition for Mr. Dunbar, Slidell’s premiere artist. His work is in the collections of the British Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Whitney Museum, as well as prestigious galleries from New York to New Orleans. The Retrospective exhibit will include quintessential works from his private collection, including rare pieces from his early decades and recent figurative works.
“Mr. Dunbar is a world-renowned artist and we are honored that he is displaying his works here in his hometown of Slidell,” said Slidell Mayor Greg Cromer. “George was an integral part of creating the Slidell Commission on the Arts and the city’s Cultural Affairs Department, designing the gallery for the original Slidell Cultural Center, and creating a rich cultural atmosphere here in Slidell. I know that our citizens are grateful for the numerous artistic contributions that he continues to make in our community.”
Guests will have the opportunity to meet the artist at the opening reception. The exhibit will also be open during Arts Evening from 5 to 9 p.m. on March 19.
The Slidell Cultural Center is located at 2055 Second Street in Olde Towne Slidell. The exhibit will remain on display through April 22. Gallery Hours are Mondays through Fridays, from 12 to 4 p.m. To view the exhibit during gallery hours, call the Department of Cultural & Public Affairs to make an appointment at (985) 646-4375. Admission is free.
For more information about George Dunbar, please visit his website at GeorgeDunbar.com and his site at Callan Contemporary at callancontemporary.com/artists/george-dunbar/biography.

The City of Slidell is hosting a Public Meeting for a proposed skate park in Slidell on Wednesday, March 9, from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Slidell Municipal Auditorium Meeting Room, located at 2056 Second Street in Olde Towne Slidell.

“We’ve heard you loud and clear, Slidell!” said Mayor Greg Cromer. “I have talked to many skateboarders in our community over the last several years about a skate park, and we are exploring different options for a skating facility in Slidell. We want to hear from the skating community about what features they would want in a skate park. I encourage everyone to join us for this public meeting.”

For more information about the Slidell Skate Park Public Meeting, please contact the Department of Cultural & Public Affairs at (985) 646-4375.

 

Calling all artists!

The City of Slidell, Louisiana is looking for artists to participate in the 26th annual Arts Evening cultural festival on Saturday, March 19, 2022. It is free for artists to participate.

Artists who wish to participate can download the Arts Evening Artist Registration Form from the city’s website, www.myslidell.com. Artists will also have to opportunity to submit digital images for consideration of having their work featured in Arts Evening publicity. Submissions should be sent to acarollo@cityofslidell.org.

Deadline for forms and art submissions is Monday, March 7, 2022

The City of Slidell and Olde Towne Slidell Main Street will host a Public Meeting to discuss a Master Plan for Olde Towne Slidell on Thursday, February 17 starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Slidell Municipal Auditorium.

Philip Walker, principal of The Walker Collaborative, will present at the meeting. He has been an integral part for the master plan for cities such as Covington, La.; Fairhope, Al.; and Natchez, Ms. For more information, please visit www.walkercollaborative.com.

 

 

Keep Slidell Beautiful and the Slidell Tree Board will host their annual Tree Giveaway on Saturday, February 5, starting at 8 a.m. at Fritchie Park.
Like the last several years, this will be a drive-through giveaway. The public should remain in their vehicles at all times. Trees will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Only one tree is allowed per vehicle. 
For more information, please contact the Department of Parks and Recreation at 985-646-4371. For information about City of Slidell news and upcoming events, you can sign up for our email news list on our website at www.myslidell.com or visit the  “City of Slidell, Louisiana” on Facebook. You can also follow Keep Slidell Beautiful on Facebook.

City of Slidell Mayor Greg Cromer, State Senator Sharon Hewitt and State Representative Mary DuBuisson are pleased to announce that the City of Slidell will receive $3.1 million to invest in water and drainage infrastructure as part of the Water Sector Program Grant from the State of Louisiana.

“This funding is needed for the residents of Slidell to help prevent overflows in certain areas throughout the city after inclement weather,” said Mayor Cromer. “I would like to thank Senator Hewitt, Representative DuBuisson, and all the members of the State Legislature who made this funding possible for the City of Slidell.”

A $10 million dollar rehabilitation to the existing Slidell Wastewater Treatment Plant is currently underway in the City of Slidell. The additional grant funding will allow the city to build a large and efficient 2.5 million gallon equalization tank along with making other improvements.

“When people ask me about what keeps me up at night, I always respond that it is the deterioration of our state’s water and sewer systems,” said Senator Hewitt, District 1. “These are basic services that citizens expect and deserve, yet tend to get overlooked when budgeting with limited funds. Funding water and sewer improvement projects in St. Tammany has been a priority of mine and I’m pleased that the State and the City of Slidell have been able to collaborate on a critical project. Slidell residents deserve a reliable sewer system. This project is a major step forward.”

The proposed improvements at the Slidell Wastewater Treatment Plant aim to implement more efficient wastewater service by preventing overflows and consistently treating wastewater to the requirements set forth by state standards.

“I am so happy to share this great news!” said Representative DuBuisson, District 90. “The City of Slidell and St. Tammany Parish have both received money from the State for Water Sector projects that will be used for much-needed repairs. Our citizens deserve to have clean, safe water, and I am pleased to have been a part of the Legislature that approved this funding.”

 

Chief Chris Kaufmann

Slidell Mayor Greg Cromer invites the public to join him for the tenth annual Mayor’s Community Prayer Breakfast, presented by Community Christian Concern, on Friday, January 28, 2022, at 7:30 a.m. in the Slidell Municipal Auditorium. Tickets are now available for $20.

This year’s guest speaker is Chief Chris Kaufmann, St. Tammany Parish Fire District 1. Chief Kaufmann was appointed Fire Chief in 2014 and under his leadership, Fire District #1 has received international accreditation, the only one in the State of Louisiana. Chief Kaufmann also gives back to the community, serving on numerous boards and organizations in St. Tammany Parish.
“Chief Kaufmann is an essential part of Team Slidell and he does an incredible job for the citizens of Slidell and St. Tammany Parish,” said Mayor Cromer. “I would like to invite everyone in our community, regardless of their faith, to attend this special event and hear the Chief’s message. This is a community event and everyone is welcomed.”
The Slidell Municipal Auditorium is located at 2056 Second Street. Doors will open at 7 a.m. and the event will begin at 7:30 a.m. Seating is limited.
Tickets to the community breakfast are now available online at www.eventbrite.com. Tickets are also available at Community Christian Concern at 2515 Carey Street and the East St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce at 1808 Front Street (cash or checks only). Tickets will be available for purchase at the door.
For information about this event, please call the Mayor’s Office at (985) 646-4333 or visit the Eventbrite ticket page.
For the latest city news updates and information about upcoming events, visit the City of Slidell’s website at MySlidell.com and follow the “City of Slidell, Louisiana” on Facebook.