For Immediate Release                                    
November 13, 2008

Opelousas Museum & Interpretive Center Presents Icon Art Exhibit

(Opelousas, LA) – An Icon Art collection, "Icons & Religious Art," by Sylvia Inzerella will open with a preview reception on Thursday, November 20, from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Opelousas Museum & Interpretive Center, 315 North Main Street, Opelousas, LA. 

A native of St. Martinville, Louisiana and a self taught artist, Sylvia Inzerella has lived and worked in Lafayette since 1964.  Around nine years ago, Inzerella began studying what she refers as "a nagging desire for thirty-five years."  She began studying the ancient art of iconography and the techniques used by iconographers many years ago.  "The art is known as "writing" instead of "painting" because each icon tells a story in a universal language, the language of pictures," said Inzerella.  "This is an inspirational exhibit that everyone should come out and see," said Delores Guillory, Director of the Opelousas Museum & Interpretive Center."

According to Inzerella, in early centuries not everyone could read or write and people wanted to spread the story of Jesus, the apostles and saints and the many events that happened over two thousand years ago. Stories were "written" over and over again, and there were very recognizable characteristics in each one.  For example, Saint John the Baptist was always painted with skins as his clothing and disheveled hair.  In fact, the sketch books that were used were passed down from generation to generation so that the stories and images remained the same even until today.

Icons can be mosaics, frescoes, bas-relief or just egg tempera on wood.  "The goal of the iconographer is not to come up with new images but to preserve images that have been passed through the ages," said Inzerella.  "Still iconography is more than just copying.  The goal is to create the image that we already have in a more glorified way," she added.

Today in the Eastern, i.e. Greek and Russian Orthodox Churches, the icons are still written according to strict rules. When Inzerella began her icon writing, she said she  decide to deviate a little from the Eastern rules.  "Although I incorporate water gilding and burnishing with 23k gold leaf,  the homemade gesso made with rabbit-skin glue and calcium carbonate are techniques that I learned by studying the ways of the ancient painters," she said. 

Her style of art incorporates the traditional with the modern in a truly unique look.  In her short career her works have sold from Sacramento, California; Little Rock, Arkansas; Austin, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia;  Reading, Pennsylvania to New York City, as well as statewide.  In addition to being in private collections, her work can be seen adorning the lobby of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Lafayette and in several churches in three states.

The Opelousas Museum & Interpretive Center is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. The exhibit runs through the end of January.   For more information or to schedule a tour, please contact the Opelousas Museum & Interpretive Center at 337-948-2589. 

Melanie Lee
Tourism Director