Fontenot’s ‘Lynlilies and Skygazers’ to open Saturday night

During the month of September, visitors to The Gallery in Crowley will find themselves immersed in a magic world of fantastical flowers and whimsical birds, all of which are the creation of Dr. Lyn Fontenot.
The artwork is part of an exhibit entitled “Lynlilies and Stargazers” that will open with a wine and cheese gala from 6 to 8 p.m. at The Gallery Saturday night. The event is free and the public is invited.
Dr. Fontenot, who currently serves as the treasurer of the Crowley Art Association, is no stranger to Crowley art enthusiasts. In March of 2013, she showed nearly 50 works under the title “Inspirational Art.” Viewers of her current show, however, will see wildly different pieces than those included in “Inspirational Art.”
“Lynlilies and Stargazers” includes approximately 30 works of art in a variety of media including oil, acrylic and watercolor.
Dr. Fontenot has quite literally been an artist her entire life and even has a photograph of herself clutching a sketchbook at the age of 2. After graduating from high school in 1960, she attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now UL-L) and earned a bachelor’s degree in interior design. From there she went on to earn a master’s degree in fine arts and a doctorate in art history.
Although Dr. Fontenot and her artwork have been featured in The Post-Signal before, there has never been any mention of the fact that she has no hands. Perhaps it’s because her creativity and success completely eclipse the disability. Perhaps it’s because she, herself, makes it seem somewhat insignificant.
Nevertheless, it’s a part of her story.
In 1990, while in the hospital recovering from an automobile accident, a medical mistake resulted in the amputation of both Fontenot’s hands and feet.
Afterwards, not knowing what would happen, Fontenot requested that hospital personnel tape a ball point pen to her hand and, thankfully, she was still able to draw.
She re-learned how to draw and paint using the stumps of her arms to hold her tools, and even though she has never become completely accustomed to it, she has never stopped.
For folks not able to make it out to Saturday night’s gala, Dr. Fontenot’s “Lynlilies and Stargazers” will hang at The Gallery throughout the month of September.
The Gallery is located at 222 N. Parkerson Ave. in Crowley. For more information, 783-3747.