Students re-imagine famous paintings in new exhibit
This Friday, a Calcasieu Parish School Board art exhibit reflecting on the nature of artistic inspiration and parody will open in the Gibson-Barham Gallery at Imperial Calcasieu Museum, 204 W. Sallier St.
The opening reception for “Ctrl + C” is from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 14.
“Ctrl + C” is inspired by the keystrokes that allow one to copy and paste on a computer. ICM Interim Director Ashley Royer said the theme was chosen to encourage students to explore appropriation and parody in art, allowing them to find influence in existing works while developing their creative voices.
“The shortcut ‘Ctrl + C’ is widely recognized for copying, which ties into the creative process of learning, borrowing, and building on existing ideas,” she said.
“This theme encourages students to think critically about the line between imitation and originality — challenging them to reinterpret, parody, and transform existing works into something fresh and meaningful.”
The exhibition features more than 125 artworks by elementary, middle and high school students, as well as some teachers.
Each piece is a reimagining of classic famous artworks. From a painted Lego “Mona Lisa” to a Snoopy version of “The Swing” by Jean-Honre Fragonart, audiences can expect to see familiar pieces from new perspectives.
The reception is free and open to the public.
The exhibition is open through April 5.