Plaquemine Bank Hosts 36th Annual Art Alert, Announces Show Jurors

Staff report
| Post South

Plaquemine Bank will organize the 36th edition of the Plaquemine Bank.^e annual Art Alert Art Show on October 30th and has issued a call for artists.

The Art Alert Art Show is open to all residents of Iberville and West Baton Rouge Parishes. The show is open to children under 10; children 10-13; young adults 14-18; and adults 18 and older (including both professional and non-professional artists).

Each artist may submit a maximum of two works, which have not previously participated in this competition, in a two-dimensional format.

In each category, first, second and third prizes of $100, $50 and $30 are awarded, respectively. Those who receive an honorable mention receive $15. A “Bankers Choice” category also earns $15 prizes.

“Every year we look forward to hosting the ART ALERT Art Show and discovering the talent of our community,” said Stephen Panepinto, Chairman and CEO of Plaquemine Bank.

“We are blessed to have so many talented artists in our region,” said President Jason Freyou. “This art event represents community banking. We not only appreciate all the arts, but we invite everyone in our community to join us in this celebration.”

“Our entire staff is involved. We are excited to announce that our show judges will be Stacey Casso and Chryl Corizzo.”

Born in Louisiana, Chryl Corizzo began taking art classes at the Baton Rouge Fine Arts Academy in Baton Rouge at age 12. She later assisted at the academy with classes for children as a teenager, and by the time she graduated from high school, she was selling most of her original work in the Baton Rouge area.

Corizzo continued her art during and after her college years, honing her skills and completing many original works, both commissioned and commercial. She now resides in Mandeville and worked as an assistant art instructor at the Mandeville Baton Rouge Fine Arts Academy.

Several of her paintings were composed and painted while sailing on the scenic Tchefuncte River, in Lake Pontchartrain, the Rigolets, and along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, in addition to her travels throughout the United States and abroad. She uses a variety of techniques, including pencil, pastels, watercolor, acrylic, oil, and egg tempera. Her work has been accepted and exhibited in shows sponsored by the Louisiana Watercolor Society, the National Acrylic Painter’s Association, the New Orleans Art Association, and the St. Tammany Art Association, as well as the Mississippi Watercolor Society and the Louisiana Artist Guild’s River Road Show.

Corizzo was selected as the poster artist for the Madisonville Wooden Boat Festival in 2005. She is a signature member and board member of the Louisiana Watercolor Society and currently teaches beginner and advanced classes at Abbey Art Works in Covington.

Stacey Casso is an accomplished local artist from Louisiana. With a passion for art that began at the age of seventeen, she has dedicated over four decades to honing her skills and bringing her creative visions to life. In the late 1970s through the early 1980s, Casso studied with renowned artist Larry Casso at the Baton Rouge Fine Arts Academy. Under his tutelage, she learned a variety of artistic techniques, beginning with pencil, charcoal, and pastel, then moving on to watercolor. This extensive training allowed her to develop a versatile skill set and a deep understanding of various media.

In 1981, she began a new chapter in her artistic journey when she and her mother, Lucille Uffman, opened an art gallery and framing shop. This venture not only provided Stacey with a platform to showcase her own artwork, but also allowed her to support and promote other talented artists in her community. Along the way and for the past 42 years, she has run a successful framing business while continuing her passion for painting.

Casso’s inspirations come from the charming rural landscapes, vibrant birds and delicate flowers found in Louisiana. Her artwork captures the essence of her surroundings, whether that be the spirit of New Orleans, the excitement of our sports teams or a stroll along the Casso’s art has gained worldwide recognition and admiration, with her pieces sold to collectors worldwide.

In addition to canvas paintings, she is currently exploring new artistic endeavors by creating hand-painted boots, handbags, wallets, and also revisiting painting on cypress, slate, and other materials. This expansion into different media highlights her versatility and willingness to continually push the boundaries of her creativity.

Artworks can be submitted to Plaquemine Bank from October 14 to 25.

Plaquemine Bank will be hosting a reception in the lobby to honor all participating artists. This reception is open to the public and the celebration begins at 4:00 PM on October 30th.

Plaquemine Bank and Trust Company is a full-service community bank founded in 1968. For more information, visit www.plaqbank.com.