05/30/2026
River Oaks Welcomes Summer with Freedom, Wildlife, and a Tribute to a Beloved Artist
River Oaks Square Arts Center is stepping into summer with a new season of exhibitions that reflect both the spirit of artistic freedom and the richness of place, memory, and creative expression. Opening June 4, the summer lineup features the Resident Artists Annual Summer Show in the Bolton-Davis Gallery, “Wild Inspiration: Fur, Feather & Form”by Simonne Soileau in the Galerie des Amis, and “Happy Trails” featuring the work of Dr. Bill Bryant in the Stokes-Harris Gallery. Together, these exhibitions bring a compelling mix of resident voices, natural beauty, and artistic legacy to the heart of downtown Alexandria.
Each year, the Resident Artists Annual Summer Show serves as one of the Arts Center’s most anticipated features, because it is the only exhibition that includes work from every resident artist at River Oaks. For 2026, the theme is “Freedom,” a fitting idea as the Arts Center joins in channeling America250 through aspects of its outreach programming and Summer Arts Studio. Artists were given broad room to respond - either embracing the national milestone directly or simply allowing themselves the freedom to follow their own instincts and creative direction. The result is a show that is expected to feel wide open in both concept and style, with each piece offering a different interpretation of what freedom can mean.
The strength of this annual show lies in that diversity. Every resident artist must submit one work, and because those artists work in different media, styles, and emotional registers, the summer show always becomes a fascinating portrait of the River Oaks creative community as a whole. Viewers can expect a gallery filled with varied approaches and personal voices, each piece created within the last year and selected as that artist’s strongest expression for this season. It is both a collective exhibition and a statement of individual vision, and it remains one of the best ways to experience the full breadth of talent housed within the River Oaks studios.
In the Galerie des Amis, Simonne Soileau brings a striking body of work to her exhibition, “Wild Inspiration: Fur, Feather & Form.” A contemporary wildlife painter from South Louisiana, Soileau began her creative life as a child poring over old wildlife encyclopedias and sketching the creatures that fascinated her. In 2021, she moved from graphite and pen into acrylic paint, and since then she has continued refining her work across a variety of media. Her paintings are rooted in close observation and a deep love for the animal world.
Soileau’s work is marked by its intimacy and attention to detail. She is drawn to the curve of a feather, the pattern of fur, the gleam of an iris - the kinds of details that make an animal feel immediate and alive. Her goal is not simply to depict wildlife, but to create a connection between viewer and subject, encouraging a fuller appreciation of the beauty and wonder found in the natural world. That spirit makes her a perfect complement to the broader summer lineup at River Oaks, especially in a season when the arts center is celebrating expressive range and the freedom of artistic interpretation.
Meanwhile, in the Stokes-Harris Gallery, River Oaks will present “Happy Trails,” featuring the work of the late Dr. Bill Bryant (1936-2021). Bryant’s name carries tremendous weight in the history of Louisiana art education and in the artistic life of Natchitoches and Central Louisiana. A native of Shreveport, he earned his undergraduate degree in art from Centenary College, later receiving his master’s degree in art from the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design at George Washington University while serving in the U.S. Army. He began teaching at Louisiana College, later earned a doctorate at Penn State, and eventually spent more than 30 years teaching art at Northwestern State University, where he also served as chairman of the department.
Bryant’s influence extended far beyond the classroom. He mentored generations of students, led summer painting trips to places like Italy, Spain, Mexico, Nova Scotia, and especially Ghost Ranch in New Mexico, and remained deeply engaged in the cultural life of his community. He participated in exhibitions both as an artist and a juror and left a lasting mark on the region’s visual arts scene. “Happy Trails” offers River Oaks audiences the opportunity to reflect on that legacy and to spend time with work connected to a man whose life was so thoroughly devoted to making and teaching art. It is a meaningful and fitting inclusion in this summer’s lineup.
“This set of exhibitions really speaks to what River Oaks does best,” says Rachael Dauzat, Executive Director at River Oaks. “We’re able to showcase the incredible range of our resident artists, highlight powerful individual voices like Simonne Soileau, and also honor artists whose impact continues to be felt long after they are gone. It’s a lineup that feels deeply rooted in place, but also open to possibility - which makes it a beautiful way to enter the summer season.”
River Oaks just wrapped up Men Who Cook & Men Who Mix at River Oaks on May 2, another memorable evening under the oaks filled with great food, spirited competition, and community support for the arts. This year’s Louisiana Saturday Night theme brought plenty of personality to the event, and the participating teams once again showed just how much fun can be had while raising money for a great cause. It remains one of the Arts Center’s most beloved annual fundraisers and a favorite tradition for many in Central Louisiana.
Congratulations once again to this year’s winning teams. Kings of Sporkles took top honors as the 2026 MWCAM Champion Team with their Cajun Rub Pork Belly with Cane Syrup Glaze and Purée White Sweet Potatoes, prepared by Matt Laborde, Scott Netherland, Taylor Courville, and Heath Grimes. Red River Bank earned Second Place with Jambalaya, prepared by Dennis Wimmert and Daniel McGuffee, while Da Bayou Brigade captured Third Place with Red Beans & Rice, served by Taylor Moore, Caleb Stark, and Marcus Walker. The Secret Judges Choice Awardwent to The Bayou Bad Boys (Christus Cabrini) for their Seafood Arancini - Deep Fried Crawfish & Crab Risotto Ball, prepared by Jonathon Drago, Michael Johnson, and Miguel Guynn. Kings of Sporkles also took home the award for Best Dressed Team, making it an especially memorable night for their crew. River Oaks extends heartfelt thanks to every team, participant, sponsor, and guest who made the evening such a success.
The opening reception for the summer exhibitions will take place on Thursday, June 4, from 5-7 p.m., and the shows will remain on display through August 1, 2026. The reception and exhibition season are made possible through the generous support of Explore Alexandria/Pineville, the City of Alexandria, Hotel Bentley, Red River Bank, CLECO, The Bentley Room, The Mirror Room, RoyOMartin, Legacy Floral Designs, and Diamond Grill.
For more information on these summer exhibitions, classes, or other upcoming events at River Oaks, call (318) 473-2670, visit RiverOaksArtsCenter.com, or follow River Oaks Arts Center on Facebook.
