Louisiana Cultural Vistas launch this Wed., Jan 16

Spend Wednesday night celebrating the launch of the latest issue of Louisiana Cultural Vistas, the somewhat stodgily named yet solid in-house magazine of the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities. The LEH will be throwing a party beginning at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 16, at its headquarters (938 Lafayette St.) in honor of the occasion.

The current issue of Louisiana Cultural Vistas features a cover story about Shreveport native William Joyce, whose work in film and publishing has earned him accolades such as the 2008 Louisiana Writer’s Award and the 2012 Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. The event Wednesday will feature a screening of The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, the short that won Joyce the Oscar, as well as presentations by two LCV contributors. David Rae Morris, an Englishman-cum-New Orleanian, will discuss the research he conducted for his story about the education of African-American teachers in Louisiana, which appears in the current issue, and LCV associate editor Ron Thibodeaux will read from his recent book, Hell or High Water: How Cajun Fortitude Withstood Hurricanes Rita and Ike. Abita will provide the free booze and the Taceaux Loceaux food truck will be parked out back (not free).

As you probably know, the LEH is one of the most important organizations in the state in terms of supporting the ongoing dissemination and discussion of Louisiana’s historic and current cultural environment. Among many other things, including publishing Louisiana Cultural Vistas, they operate the KnowLA online encyclopedia, publish books such as A Unique Slant of Light: The Bicentennial History of Art in Louisiana, and host events such as The Mayors of New Orleans series (2009 – 10). So we’ll forgive them for their magazine’s stodgy name. Respect.