Canvas and Cadence art exhibit honors Black musicians in Shreveport

SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) – A new immersive art exhibit is paying tribute to Black musicians who helped shape Shreveport’s history in honor of Black Music History Month.

Canvas and Cadence features nearly 70 paintings and sculptures in downtown Shreveport. Local artists Ron Smith and Karen LaBeau created each piece in the show.

“We believe that the Canvas is what we express, and the Cadence is what we live by,” Smith said.

The exhibit uses art to trace how music has long driven Black history. One wall honors Sam Cooke, who wrote “A Change is Gonna Come” after being denied a hotel room in Shreveport.

“It actually goes back a little further to if you think about as African Americans or Black people with slave ships, there was a rhythm to that. With civil rights, there’s a rhythm, and being proactive in talking about things that are important in today’s climate with what’s happening with various rights and things being taken away,” LaBeau said.

The exhibit invites guests to connect that history to their own through interactive experiences.

“It’s one of the interactive experiences is a painted tool book that you write down a song that impacted your life. So that is going to become an installation in a future show for us,” LaBeau said.

Music took center stage during the grand opening with an intimate dance performance and songs from artists who left their mark on Shreveport.

Smith said the exhibit is a reminder that Black musicians helped change the community.

“Most of the protests, most of the things that have been protested in this country or rights being made aware of were done by people who were in the music or entertainment industry, so as artists, that’s what we need to do,” Smith said.

The art exhibit is open until July 30.