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Blue Dog Artist Visits Shreveport With Portrait of Governor Blanco
Sunday, January 11, 2004

Kathleen Blanco became part of `blue dog` artist George Rodrigue`s collection this past week.
The famed artist drew a portrait of Blanco with the blue dog and starting Sunday, it`s on display in Shreveport.
Rodrigue - making an appearance at the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum - signed his name to a drawing he made more than twenty years ago for former Caddo sheriff Don Hathaway.
"He drew this design, the oak tree and signed it and dated it for everyone who brought him a copy of their menu," Hathaway said.
It was on a french menu on a train ride to Paris with then-Governor Edwin Edwards.
The oak tree was George Rodrigue`s signature before the blue dog.
He started in 1953, in bed with polio and on his deathbed at age nine, he created his life. Later, he would give life to a Louisiana legend.
"I called it Loup-Garou, which was a cajun folklore legend and I had a show in California and they called it the blue dog and that`s how it became the blue dog out of a Louisiana legend," the artist said.
Rodrigue calls it part of the trail he`s left behind, maybe a dog`s trail tracing the history that continues today.
"It`s a real deep challenge for me, how to continue to express myself using this image and keep it exciting in my career," Rodrigue said.
Hathaway says, "I liked the oak tree but obviously the blue dog is famous too. We just like the paintings whether its the blue dog or the oak tree, we enjoy them just as much."
In his latest work - a portrait of Kathleen Blanco, Rodrigue used both the oak and the dog.
Two museum visitors said, "I hope she does well as our governor, we wish her well, blue dog and all."
Blanco and Rodrique both of New Iberia, are tied to the famous dog by legend...and now a piece of artwork connects one cajun legend to another...the blue dog and the blue dog artist...on the eve of history for Louisiana`s first female governor.
In Shreveport, Justin Herndon, KTAL Newschannel six.

Reported by Justin Herndon, jherndon@newschannel6.tv
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The blue dog exhibit was unveiled Sunday at the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum and will be on display through February.
Rodrigue will be at Shreveport`s Barnes and Noble Monday afternoon for a book singing while Blanco will take the oath of office.