As a former student of recently retired University Art Museum Director Herman Mhire, I was disheartened to read R. Reese Fuller's account of past and recent operations at the museum ("Museum Meltdown," Nov. 23). The article presented numerous details about the relationship between the university's president/administration and Herman/UAM as almost entirely factual, often offering little concrete evidence to support those facts other than quotes from the various individuals involved. Since I am not privileged to conversations, e-mails, letters and other private communications between University and UAM staff, donors and supporters, I am unable to comment specifically about the details presented. However, having known Herman Mhire since 1975 when he first arrived at UL, I can attest to his wide-ranging vision, uncompromising determination and ability to inspire and ignite a genuine passion for the visual arts in his students, the larger community and those well beyond UL and the city of Lafayette.
As we all know, there would be no UAM without Herman. I grew up in Lafayette in the 1960s when there was little (essentially no) opportunity to have firsthand experience with works of art. The range and quality of exhibitions that Herman brought to the region ' for years prior to the opening of the amazing new facility ' can neither be underestimated nor overvalued. My own experience working as a student assistant under Herman in the tiny original Fletcher Hall gallery was instrumental in my choosing a profession in the museum field ' and I always give some credit to Herman in my making that decision.
It is thoroughly disappointing that Fuller does not present a more responsible, equally balanced and better-documented article. The Independent owes that to its readers, and especially to Herman Mhire.
David Calhoun and Elizabeth “EB” Brooks are the first two employees of Lafayette Central Park Inc., the nonprofit charged with turning Lafayette Consolidated Government’s 100-acre Johnston Street Horse Farm property into a passive public park. Calhoun was named executive director, and Brooks is director of planning and design.
There will soon be a whole lot of shakin’ going on at Benny’s Sportshack Supplement Depot, a new concept by Opelousas native Benny Nele. Located at 2002 Johnston St., the supplement shop, smoothie bar and café, featuring hot off the press paninis and wraps, plans to open in late May.
This year’s Cool Town issue is all about people who are not native to South Louisiana but made a conscious decision to be here, to be among us, to participate in our culture and contribute to it.
A shelved ordinance transferring $200,000 from a northside drainage project to a south Lafayette development may not break any laws, but it stinks to high heaven.
An effort to restore a shuttered dancehall and document other vacant or razed honky-tonks could serve as a model for saving an endangered species of entertainment.
Lafayette’s gene pool has been host to a long line of eccentric characters who have blurred the lines between crazy, genius, disturbed and curiously entertaining.
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