Laugh, Letter and Paint

Marlen Waters’ exhibition “Laugh, Letter, and Paint” is an exploration of color, spirit, paint and self-discovery using watermedia and calligraphy on paper and canvas.  The exhibit is being held at the Old Post Office Museum in Winnsboro and will be up through March 6.  An Opening Reception of wine and hors d’oeuvres was recently held to introduce Mrs. Waters’ art to the community.  Kay LaFrance Knight, museum director stated, “This is a wonderful exhibit full of life and color!”

Former Executive Director of the Dixie Center for the Arts in Ruston, Marlen Waters is a talented professional artist who has studied privately with renowned artists including M. Douglas Walton, Denys Taipale, Thomas Ingmire, Sheila Waters, Mark Van Stone and Julian Waters.

Marlen is also a master calligrapher and has studied the arts of calligraphy, papermaking, bookbinding and paper conservation at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia College of Art, Chicago College of Art, Lake Forrest College and St. Johns University.  She has studied calligraphy with the Queen of England’s scribe, Donald Jackson, as well as other internationally known calligraphers.  She has owned and operated her own graphic art company (Waters and Associates) since 1979.

In addition, she has completed many credit hours in the School of Art at Louisiana Tech University, and she has taught watermedia and calligraphy workshops through various venues including the Continuing Education programs at Louisiana Tech University and Grambling State University and Ruston Parks and Recreation.  Her work has been selected for inclusion in multiple juried and group exhibitions throughout our region.  She is an active member of the North Central Louisiana Arts Council and the River Gallery in West Monroe as well as a roster artist with the Shreveport Regional Arts Council.  Mrs. Waters is a graduate of Louisiana Tech University in Medical Technology and has an MBA from Tech in Marketing.  She and her family live in Ruston.

The Winnsboro Post Office, built in 1936 at 513 Prairie Street, in Winnsboro’s historic downtown district, has been renovated into a museum, aptly named the Old Post Office Museum.  While the building features many new amenities, such as new lighting and a new front door, much of the building remains the same, from the gold post office boxes down to the original wood floors.  It now houses not only the museum, but also the offices of the Winnsboro-Franklin Chamber of Commerce, Winnsboro Main Street, Franklin Economic Development Foundation and the Franklin Parish Tourism Commission.  Besides a museum and offices, the upstairs portion boasts a conference room, as well as two extra rooms where art classes can be held.  The museum has hosted art from internationally known artists such as George Rodrigue of Blue Dog fame and Louisiana folk artist, Clementine Hunter.  The museum has exhibited local and regional artists such as Margaret Mays Ellerman, Korey Burns, Caroline Youngblood, Murrell Butler, Loretta Owens, Burg Ransom and Charlie Heck just to name a few.  The next exhibit during the well-known Catfish Festival will be an exhibit of photography and artifacts from Louisiana’s Poverty Point.

The museum is open 9-5 Monday through Friday and admission is free.  For more information visit www.oldpostofficemuseum.com.  For more information about Marlen Waters and her work, visit www.marlenwaters.com.  All Waters’ artworks displayed are for sale.  Part of the proceeds will help fund the Old Post Office Museum.

    Photos are courtesy of Monica Huff of the Franklin Sun and Darden F. Gladney.