Curator proud to host artist’s ‘obsession'
Lafayette museum to showcase works of sculptor Auguste Rodin
by R. Reese Fuller
September 16, 2003

LAFAYETTE – Mary Henderson can’t believe the Rodin exhibit is finally here in Lafayette.

“It’s an absolutely stunning exhibition,” she said. “The city of Lafayette is really privileged to have a show of this caliber.”

The traveling exhibit, “Rodin: A Magnificent Obsession: Sculpture from the Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Foundation,” consists of 72 pieces of art created by French sculptor Auguste Rodin, who is best known for his sculpture “The Thinker.”

On Saturday, the exhibit rolled into Lafayette, and nine people unloaded the art from a tractor-trailer into the Lafayette Natural History Museum and Planetarium.

Henderson, the museum’s administrator, said the exhibit will open to the public Sunday.

Henderson also said that there’s still plenty of work to be done before the show opens to the public, but that thankfully, all of the preparation has gone according to plan.

“It’s been going beautifully,” Henderson said. “They’ll finish the exhibit work on Friday afternoon.”

On Saturday evening, the museum will offer a sneak peek of the exhibition when the Lafayette Natural History Museum and Planetarium Association throws its annual Fall Gala.

“We need people to turn out and support the museum and planetarium by attending this function,” Henderson said.

In addition to the preview party, Henderson said, the museum plans to stay open late on the evening of the Second Saturday ArtWalk in October.

The museum also is working on a day-long symposium about Rodin scheduled for November.

“We also want to present a workshop on the lost wax-casting process,” she said.

“So, we have a couple of different things planned,” Henderson said. “There’s also a film that accompanies the exhibition that we will be running. So, when people come in to see the exhibit, they can also see a film about Rodin and his work.”

The University Art Museum of UL Lafayette is presenting the exhibit at the history museum and planetarium.

The exhibit continues through Jan. 4.

Want to go?

Lafayette Natural History Museum and Planetarium Association will host its annual Fall Gala at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, at the museum. Tickets are $50 per person. The exhibit opens for the public Sunday. Tickets will be $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $5 for children over 3.