'Artrageous' doings bring people downtown

Art and wine connoisseurs communed Thursday night for an Artrageous time at The Frame Shop & Gallery Coffee in Morgan City.
The Artrageous event was orchestrated by Deborah Price and showcased the work of Morgan City artists. Although artist Catherine Siracusa now lives in Franklin, she is a Morgan City native.
At the urging of artist friend Siracusa, Price contacted Cannata’s Store Director Steve Domangue to add wine tasting to the event.
“We were looking to do something different to bring people downtown,” said Price.
Items ranged from paintings to furniture.
Featured artists’ works for the evening were Janet Courtney, Kirk Courtney, Leonard Price, and Catherine Siracusa.
Janet Courtney displayed her prayer block paintings with angels and crosses.
Courtney has been immersed in creativity all her life. Her mother and sisters were seamstress.
Before the passing of her husband, the family created wood art together, especially for the yard during Christmas season.
After her husband died, Courtney expanded her work and spent more time creating prayer block paintings.
“It’s kind of like my hobby. It keeps me occupied,” Courtney said.
“It’s just evolved through the years from one thing to another.”
Courtney’s son, Kirk Courtney, showcased his jewelry creations and home decorations.
Kirk does not claim the title of artist.
“I really don’t consider myself to be an artist,” Kirk Courtney said. “I do recognize the fact that I have certain talents.
“I think it’s probably inherited from watching my mom and grandmothers.”
Courtney has developed a niche creating vintage jewelry. He collects jewelry pieces and adds to them in order to sustain its integrity.
Hand-crafted furniture displays are the contribution of Leonard Price. He’s been creating furniture for 23 years. He also infuses metal into his cypress wall art.
Within the event’s first hour, he had already sold a few furniture pieces.
“There are a lot of people here tonight,” Price said. “I don’t think we’ve ever had this big of a turnout.”
Catherine Siracusa introduced two new series of her mixed media work, “America Tea Time” and “From the Heart.”
“The Prices have been super awesome to me throughout the years,” Siracusa said. “They showcase local artists, Louisiana artists, and that’s what they stick with.
“They truly believe in their hometown. And that’s what I love.”
Lafayette business Republic National sales representative Jeff Monceret provided wine to taste for the evening.
Monceret, new to the wine industry, enjoys educating people at tasting events.
He credits many southern Louisianans with already having a substantial knowledge base on wine.
“It’s an opportunity to have fun, meet a lot people and build relationships,” Monceret said.
New Orleans resident Dorian Theodore, doing some local work in the Morgan City area, passed by an Artrageous flyer posted in the shop’s window.
Returning home for the day, he had an idea to bring his wife, Carolyn, out to the event as a date night.
“I decided just to come back because Morgan City seemed like a nice place,” Theodore said.
As for enjoying himself, he said “absolutely, absolutely, wine and cheese,” alternately raising each hand.
“It’s a great event,” said local artist Vera Judycki. “It’s delightful to see so many people out in support of artists.
The turnout for Artrageous exceeded the expectations of Deborah Price and Siracusa.
“It was a team effort,” Siracusa said.
“People make things happen and they create more enthusiasm so that you can be inclined to create more,” Judycki said.