6 Pieces of Public Art in Lafayette That You Probably Don’t Notice

Lafayette, Louisiana is steeped in culture, from its French-Canadian origins to its Creole and Cajun roots. There is a story on every street, a tale on every corner. Literally. Public sculptures and murals are located throughout the downtown area, depicting the city’s rich history and paying homage to the cultural influences of those that came before. Here are six pieces you have probably walked by and wondered about.

1. “Horizon” – A Mural by Robert Dafford

Located at the intersection of South Buchanan and Vermillion Streets, this is considered one of Lafayette’s earliest murals. Depicting historically significant elements of southern Louisiana, including the Atchafalaya Basin and the fiddle, the “Horizon” pays homage to the basin, Acadiana’s iconic gateway to watery cypress forests.

Commissioned in 1988, it took only two weeks for Robert Dafford to complete. Robert Dafford is an internationally recognized artist with murals in cities around the world. As a Louisiana resident, the city is lucky to have a number of different murals done by Dafford.

2. “The Twisted Loop”

Also known locally as “The Tongue”, “The Twisted Loop” is located on Vermillion Street by the Lafayette Public Library. Done by renowned sculptor Robert Wiggs with help from Mike Stanbury, this piece was both welded and completed on its original location. Finished in 1970, it has been intriguing passers-by ever since.

3. “Ex-Garage” – by Robert Dafford, John Pourcio, and Douglas Dafford

One of Lafayette’s oldest and most spectacular murals, “Ex-Garage” is painted on the side of Jefferson Tower, 600 Jefferson St. Jefferson Tower was once a garage and the towering mural depicts famous people from the mid-twentieth century reflected in the chrome of classic cars.

If you look closely at this 1984 mural you’ll see everything from the Courier de Mardi Gras to Creole musicians like Canray Fontenot, and Creole artists like Dewey Balfa. Dafford once again captures local culture in a fantastic portrait.

4. “Octaplex”- by Robert Wiggs

This metal sculpture was constructed by the incomparable Robert Wiggs in 1983. Located in front of the Jefferson Tower, the piece was dubbed “Inflorescence” in honor of the city’s revitalized spirit.

5. “Downtown Reawakening”– by Tanya Falgout

Said to be one of the first murals in Lafayette, artist Tanya Falgout took pictures from atop the newly built parking garage in 1984 and based her mural off those images. This splendid piece of art can be seen just inside the Parc Auto du Centre-Ville garage’s Vermillion Street entrance on a wall behind the Antlers Restaurant and Bar.

6. “Escape From The Postcards” – by Robert Dafford

Robert Dafford once again graces the downtown Lafayette area with this beautiful mural finished in 1986. Also known as “Til All That’s Left Is A Postcard,” this mural is a representation of the impact of the human race on nature. This amazing painting is located on the corner of Jefferson and Garfield Streets.

There are so many murals, sculptures, and pieces of art located throughout downtown Lafayette. Next time you find yourself confronted with one, you should take a moment and admire the work and the thought behind it.

Image by Infrogmation via Flickr | CC BY 2.0 | Cropped from original

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