Baton Rouge, Louisiana—Bunnies are curious, mischievous. They scamper about, hiding in plain sight, and are simultaneously timid and high-spirited. Throughout the early 20th century, authors and artists personified bunnies into beloved characters—Bugs Bunny, the animation created by a production company, Peter the Rabbit, the storybook rogue imagined by Beatrix Potter, and Rabbit, Winnie-the-Pooh’s faithful companion invented by A.A. Milne, who modeled the character after his son’s beloved stuffed toy. Bunnies are truly inspirational.

As a child, New Orleans artist Alex Podesta, dressed in a fuzzy, footed set of pajamas, and imagined himself as a rabbit, taking on the characteristics of his favorite cartoon hero—Bugs Bunny. Armed with Bugs’ wit, self-confidence, and keenness, Podesta went on adventures of his own, both real and imagined. As an adult, the artist captures his childhood innocence and fascination with the world through meticulously modeled sculptural self-portraits. The fantastical tableaux reference the artist’s inner thoughts, desires, and memories. While whimsical at first sight, the existential scenes become darker upon further examination. We get a sense of loneliness, isolation, and the loss of childhood wonder as adulthood inevitably takes over our lives. Some Boys, a Few Bunnies, and One Lousy Unicorn: Sculptures by Alex Podesta will be on view at the LSU Museum of Art in Baton Rouge, Louisiana from October 13, 2022–March 26, 2023

Meet the artist Friday, October 14, at 6:00 p.m. at the LSU Museum of Art. Enjoy art activities, gallery games, and refreshments. Free admission.

Alex Podesta was born in North Carolina. He received a bachelor of arts from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond and a master of fine arts from the University of New Orleans in Louisiana, permanently relocating to the state upon graduation. Podesta’s sculptures have been exhibited nationally and internationally, featured in periodicals such as ARTnews, Oxford America, ArtPapers, and the Washington Post, and are in numerous public and private collections.

On view at the LSU Museum of Art: October 13, 2022–March 26, 2023

Visit LSU Museum of Art’s Facebook and Instagram pages @lsumoa regularly for program announcements and exhibition updates. For more information: www.lsumoa.org

LSU MOA thanks the generous donors to the LSU MOA Annual Exhibition Fund for making this exhibition possible: Louisiana CAT; The Imo N. Brown Memorial Fund in memory of Heidel Brown and Mary Ann Brown; The Alma Lee, H. N., and Cary Saurage Fund; Charles "Chuck" Edward Schwing; Robert and Linda Bowsher; Becky and Warren Gottsegen; LSU College of Art + Design; Mr. and Mrs. Sanford A. Arst; and The Newton B. Thomas Family/Newtron Group Fund.

ABOUT LSU MUSEUM OF ART
LSU Museum of Art seeks to enrich and inspire through collections, exhibitions, conservation, and education, serving as a cultural and intellectual resource for the University, Baton Rouge, and beyond.

LSU Museum of Art is supported in part by a grant from the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, funded by the East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President and Metro Council. Additional support is provided by generous donors to the Annual Exhibition Fund, members, and community partners. Supported by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council. Funding has also been provided by the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support provided by Art Bridges and Junior League of Baton Rouge. Thank you to the following sponsors of Free Friday Nights and Free First Sundays at LSU MOA: Louisiana Lottery Corporation and IBERIABANK, a division of First Horizon, for sponsoring free admission and Louisiana CAT for sponsoring programming.

VISITOR INFORMATION
The museum is located in downtown Baton Rouge at 100 Lafayette Street on the Fifth Floor of the Shaw Center for the Arts. General admission is $5 each for adults and children age 13 and over. Admission is free to university faculty and students with ID, children age 12 and under, and museum members. Active duty military members, first responders, and their families receive free admission with ID as part of the Blue Star Museums program. Valid during normal operation hours, show your EBT card and photo ID at the admissions desk and receive free admission for up to 4 individuals. Come back anytime, there’s no limit to how often you can visit through Museums for All. Museum Hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thursday and Friday 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday 1-5 p.m.; and closed on Mondays and major holidays. Free admission occurs on the first Sunday of each month and every Friday night from 5-8 p.m. For more information: visit www.lsumoa.org, call 225-389-7200, and follow the museum on social media @lsumoa for exhibition and program updates.

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