ArtsReach Brings George Rodrigue Life & Legacy Tour to Dune Lakes Elementary

By Zandra Wolfgram 

When we spoke with Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation (MKAF) education director Melanie Moore for a previous profile story, she shared that she especially loves the collaborative nature of her job, saying: 

“Not only do I get to create these opportunities for people in our community, but I also have the honor of working with artists and arts facilitators who are leaders in their fields and live for sharing their art with people of all abilities. I feel like Santa Claus every time I can walk into a school or after-school venue or other organizations with amazing artists, knowing that that day will be memorable to every person there.”

Thanks to a generous grant by the St. Joe Community Foundation, Moore recently “played St. Nick” in partnership with award-winning public speaker, author, and art historian, Wendy Rodrigue. For nearly 30 years, Wendy’s life’s work has been to share the compelling story of her husband, the late George Rodrigue, through an outreach program called the Life & Legacy Tour. 

As a part of ArtsReach, MKAF’s community outreach program, Moore invited Wendy to bring the Life & Legacy Tour to nearly 500 students in four different school assemblies of elementary students at Dune Lakes Elementary school in Walton County. 

During the three-day artist residency, May 10-12, Wendy guided the students in exploring the evolution of George Rodrigue’s work and the processes behind it. Using original paintings and personal narrative, she expanded her late husband’s vision by showing how one person can overcome obstacles to achieve their dreams while also making a positive difference in the world. 

The participating Dune students — grades 2 through 5 — were enthralled with Wendy’s stories and swept away by the compelling art. The questions and conversations that followed are testaments to the special connections Wendy makes and the indelible impact she has on expanding the minds of young people.

“Wendy’s passion for George’s life and legacy is truly contagious,” says Moore. “She entrances all kinds of audiences with her masterful storytelling, as she generously shares her extremely rare collection for children to interface with in person. It truly feels like we are bringing an art museum to each program. Also inspiring are the incredibly thoughtful student responses and interpretations of the artwork. It is clear that they relate to young George following his dreams of being a great artist!”

Under Moore’s direction, ArtsReach has served nearly 50,000 in Walton and Okaloosa Counties. Altogether, since it was established in 1995, MKAF estimates its outreach has impacted 338,000.