Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin and the Friends of LSEM announce the opening of an extraordinary art exhibit of three regional artists, Karen LaBeau, Maria Markell and Ron Smith.  The K-M-R -We Are Art Exhibition of abstract oil paintings and nature photography will open on Sunday, January 12, 2020 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. with an artists’ reception.  Light refreshments will be served. 

According to Ron Smith, who paints realistic landscapes of Belcher in North Caddo alongside linear abstract images inspired by music, “My art is not only a reflection of my past or present, but a combination of both.  My experiences are brought to life through my art, which evolves constantly.”  

“It was a hurricane and five feet of water that mostly made Karen LaBeau an artist. She moved with her family to Shreveport and it is the stories of her life that make up her colorful abstract paintings.”

Moving from North Carolina to Shreveport, Maria Markell is a trained Artist and Photographer. She received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Art from Wingate University.  “My love affair with photography began when I was a small child. After receiving my first camera for my 9th birthday, I would run around and photograph everything. These days I enjoy creating images that show subjects that may have gone unnoticed in our fast-paced world.”

The K-M-R Exhibition will be on display  in the West Wing Gallery from January 12, 2020 through Saturday February 29, 2020.