Lake Charles will host the Louisiana premiere of the documentary Ancestral Artistry: The Influence of Africans & Creoles of Color on Louisiana Architecture on Thursday, September 26, 2024, at 7 p.m. The screening, produced by the non-profit Louisiana Architecture Foundation (LAF), will take place at the Historic Calcasieu Marine Bank/Empire of the Seed venue in downtown Lake Charles.

Marcel Wisznia, AIA, LAF board president, explains, “We chose Lake Charles for our film’s state premiere because we want to help promote the city’s vibrancy, cultural offerings, and contributions to Louisiana’s rich heritage, particularly as Lake Charles makes an exciting comeback from Hurricane Laura.” Wisznia highlights the role of local architect Randy Goodloe and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Southwest Louisiana in organizing the event, and anticipates participation from city leaders, the artistic community, and students and artisans of the building trades.

Ancestral Artistry delves into the contributions of early enslaved West Africans and free people of color to Louisiana's architectural history. The documentary traces how these artisans, skilled in trades such as carpentry, masonry, ironsmithing, and plaster work, influenced the state's building traditions. It also features contemporary master craftsmen, including New Orleans' Jeff Poree and Darryl Reeves, who continue these traditional trades and mentor the next generation.

Following the Lake Charles premiere, the film will be screened at several locations across Louisiana, including the Capitol Park Museum in Baton Rouge on October 17 and the BK (Beauregard Keyes) Historic House & Gardens in New Orleans on November 7. Additional screenings are planned for Lafayette, Natchitoches, Shreveport, and other cities in 2024 and 2025. The LAF is also collaborating with Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB) to broadcast the film statewide.

The screening event begins with a sponsor reception at 5:45 p.m., with general admission doors opening at 6:30 p.m. The film will be screened at 7 p.m., followed by a panel discussion featuring director Conni Richard and Jonn Hankins, executive director of the New Orleans Master Craftsman’s Guild (NOMCG). The event will also display work by featured craftsmen, including intricately designed plasterwork from historic homes. Tickets are available here.

The LAF, established in 1996, promotes architectural awareness through documentaries and previously hosted the Architectural & Design Film Festival in New Orleans. The foundation also produced *Unexpected Modernism: The Architecture of the Wiener Brothers* in collaboration with Rational Middle Media of Shreveport.

For more information about the event and ticket purchases, click here.