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ARTIST FEATURE:
Randy Frechette,
“Frenchy”
by Suzanne Landry Holzman
 Our featured artist is spirited, passionate
and creative, live music & event painter, Randy Frechette,
aka "Frenchy". Frenchy
is in our artist spotlight because of his passion for Louisiana
music and culture and a soft heart for Louisiana’s wetlands. He
flew out for the Saints vs. 49ers game last year in San Francisco
and attended the 2010 Bay for the Bayou Benefit, a music show and
auction with over 20 Louisiana musicians and a variety of artwork
from Louisiana artists. He painted the show, live, and is raising
money for Louisiana's wetlands by donating 60% of the proceeds
of this featured, special giclée to For the Bayou for wetland restoration.
Read More->
CHEF SPOTLIGHT:
Justin Simoneaux of The Boxing Room
by Merriman Mathewson
 For
The Bayou was fortunate to have Chef Justin Simoneaux of Boxing
Room partner with us to donate a portion of their proceeds from
their ‘soft opening’ dinners. Justin, 28, hails from coastal
Lousiana (Raceland) where he grew up hunting and fishing. "We
were brought together by seafood boils, crab, crawdads, shrimp," he
says. "My whole family was always surrounded by food, being from
the South." He started working in restaurants at 15, and by 18,
he moved to the Bay Area to attend the California Culinary Academy
(CCA). Read More->
MUSICIAN FEATURE:
Craig Klein
by Linda Seabright
 Craig
Klein, trombonist extraordinaire with New Orleans
brass funk rock band, Bonerama, has a lot
of his plate. Actually he always has a pretty full calendar.
In addition to a schedule with the band that will take him
to St. Louis, Kansas City, Omaha, Shreveport and New Jersey
these next few months, Craig is a tireless advocate for the
bayou and the wetlands. When the opportunity presents, you'll
see him tearing it up onstage in a variety of venues and fundraisers,
such as the recent Bay for the Bayou event in September, where
he performed along with fellow members from Bonerama. He's
also involved with the Air Traffic Control Education Fund,
a San Francisco-based non-profit that helps provide musicians & managers
who want to be engaged in social change the resources and backing
they need to make it happen. They regularly put on retreats
in New Orleans and Craig is now happy to partner with them and REM
on the group's latest album. Read More->
MUSICIANS & ARTISTS
MUSICIANS
Tab Benoit,
Stanton Moore,
Anders Osborne,
Zachary Richard,
Voice of the Wetlands All Stars,
Zigaboo Modeliste,
Jumpin Johnny Sansone,
Clarence Bucaro,
Big Chief Monk Boudreaux,
Waylon Thibodeaux,
George Porter, Jr.,
Johnny Vidacovich,
Dr. John,
Cyril Neville,
Ivan Neville,
Trombone Shorty,
Roy Rogers,
Bonerama,
Linkin Park,
Dave Jordan,
JUICE,
Ben Viguerie,
Joe Conte,
Josh Garrett and The Bottomline,
Honey Island Swamp Band,
Brothers Goldman
ARTISTS
Aaron Mort: www.boonieblues.com
Michelle Pentz, Artist: michellenicolepentz@gmail.com
Walter Williams: www.mrbill.com
Bryan LeBouf: www.bryanleboeuf.com
James Michalopoulos: www.michalopoulos.com
Darlene Eschete, Photographer: www.bayoubellephotography.com
Caroline Allison: www.carolineallison.com
Ellen Burgin: www.ellenburgin.com
Amanda Hughen: www.amandahughen.com
Amy Nelder: www.amynelder.com
Diego Lukezic: www.diegolukezic.com
Max Ryan: www.maxryan.com
Tim Parsa: www.timparsa.com
Peter Fair
Helen Robichaux
Cindy Matherne, Photographer
Dolly Duplantis, Poet
Nell Campbell, Photographer
Ryan Dugas, Artist
WRITERS
Captain Wendy Billiot: www.wetlandbooks.com
CHEFS & RESTAURANTS
Brennan Family Restaurants: www.brennanfamilyrestaurants.com
Gaynell Rogers: www.gaynellskitchen.org
SONNET TO
WETLAND PRESERVATION
by Dolly Duplantis
Wetland beauty-nature's creation sublime.
Temptress veiled in a tranquil atmosphere.
Oh, glimmering Eden, subject to time!
Cypress trees thriving in dwindling meres,
Birds feathering in weeping, mossy trees,
Alligators swimming in waters clear,
Lavender lilies bedecked with fat bees-
Bounties in nature so precious and dear.
As cottonmouth unwittingly skitters on,
Searching for food and a cool place to nest,
Instinctive rhythms continue along
Unaware of dangers that could arrest.
Listen you keepers of this special place,
Err not in judgment lest you erase. |
