Life & Legacy Tour shares never before seen works by George Rodrigue

Written By Alicia Vial

Situation

George Rodrigue (1944-2013) was an American surrealist artist raised in Louisiana. Inspired as a young man by Louisiana culture and what he feared was his dying heritage―including the southwest Louisiana landscape, the Acadians and their traditions and mythology, Rodrigue portrayed the rich culture around him on canvas. One such story from his childhood, the loup-garou, spawned his famous “Blue Dog” series,  a nationally recognized work of art.  

After his cancer diagnosis in 2012 and subsequent death in 2013, Rodrigue’s wife, Wendy, dedicated herself to preserving his legacy. Wendy’s goal was to educate a new generation of people about Rodrigue’s work, Louisiana history and rich Cajun culture. To do this, she launched the Life and Legacy Tour in partnership with Louisiana A+ Schools.  

Traveling with rarely or never before seen pieces from her private collection, Wendy led presentations that included a display of original works and stories of her husband’s life and career in the arts. Underlining the importance of arts education in Louisiana schools, the Life and Legacy Tour has reached tens of thousands of students.  

Strategy

Wendy Rodrigue sought Gambel Communications’ expertise to promote the Life and Legacy tour. Leading up to the tour, Gambel Communications handled media relations and earned extensive press coverage in print, online media, television and radio. Gambel also helped arrange for the tour to extend beyond schools to regional museums. In addition to speaking opportunities and TV interviews, Gambel Communications secured a multiple-page feature in the international Art + Design that included a full-length interview with Wendy, as well as in-depth interviews with the Lafayette NPR affiliate in KRVS and Mississippi Public Broadcasting. Wendy was selected among New Orleans Magazine People to Watch and as a Louisiana Life Magazine Louisianan of the Year. 

Results

The Life and Legacy tour has been a success with Wendy speaking at more than 30 schools and a myriad of museums. Thanks to Gambel’s efforts, the tour has gained media attention in Louisiana, Alabama, Texas and Florida. The limited release exhibition at the Ohr O’Keefe Museum in Biloxi was extended for an additional three months due to its popularity and included outreach to Biloxi area schools. The works of George Rodrigue are now circulating through a younger generation, inspiring children and young artists to preserve the culture of Louisiana.  

Alicia Vial

Alicia Vial is a New Orleans native with more than a decade of experience elevating client stories and leading crisis response. As the senior director of strategy, Alicia acts as a leader within the Gambel Communications team ensuring each agency team member is positioned to deliver strategic public relations services that meet the highest standards of the industry. In addition to supporting the agency’s long-term business growth and development, she coordinates day-to-day account services and oversees strategic direction while staying abreast of best practices and industry trends to provide innovative solutions to meet client’s needs.

Before joining Gambel Communications, Alicia served as the communications director for the Louisiana SPCA, the oldest and largest animal welfare organization in Louisiana that impacts more than 74,000 animals per year. During her nearly eight-year tenure, Alicia oversaw numerous crises, served on national communication taskforces, oversaw all aspects of internal and external relations and worked alongside the development department to raise critical funding. Prior to that, she worked in the fast-paced New Orleans hospitality industry focusing on digital public relations for multiple hotels.

Alicia is a member of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL), Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF), a board member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) New Orleans Chapter and a member of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute. An accredited public relations practitioner (APR), Alicia is also certified in crisis communications, organizational leadership, content marketing and social media.

A well respected and trusted public relations practitioner, Alicia has been recognized by SPRF as a ‘Senior Practitioner of the Year’. Dubbed early on in her career as one to watch, she also received the ‘Rising Star’ award by PRAL and was profiled in St. Charles Avenue Magazine as part of their Young Bloods series. Most recently, she was recognized at PRSA’s annual Fleurish Awards and received four Awards of Excellence for her work along with the ‘Plate Spinner’ award for her efforts on the board of directors for the chapter.

An LSU graduate, Alicia received a bachelor's degree in mass communications with a concentration in public relations and minors in business administration and leadership development. She is a frequent speaker and presenter on public relations topics, most recently presenting at the Jefferson Economic Development Commission and SPRF annual conference.

When Alicia is not at work, you can find her at the ballpark with her three boys or cheering on the Tigers in Death Valley.

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