The primary source of the art comprising their collection has been charity auctions. Both Jimmy and Kim are active in local organizations promoting the arts, plus they attend many civic and social events in Lafayette. Jimmy has been on the board of Acadiana Outreach Center (www.acadianaoutreach.org) which each year puts on an event called Palates and Pate, where several of the pieces gracing the Mallias walls were purchased. Other acquisitions took place at the PASA (Performing Arts Society of Acadiana-www.pasa-online.org) annual gala and at the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra (www.acadianasymphony.org) Show House opening night auction.
With a passion for the arts as her guiding force, Kim Mallia implemented an arts showcase at Darnall, Sikes, Gardes & Frederick (DSG&F), the CPA firm where she is head of marketing. "Art for All Seasons" (www.dsfcpas.com/artseasons.html) is a quarterly show where the lobby and halls of the firm are filled gallery-style with invited artists. According to Kim, "DSG&F is bringing Acadiana art and artists into our workspace as a means to stimulate creativity, enhance our clients' experience and contribute to the community." I have seen the quarterly shows of both George Marks and Hope Hebert (two of the artists in the Mallia's collection) and can tell you first hand that when the art goes on the walls, you are no longer in a typical CPA firm.
Bringing their devotion to art home in more ways than one, Jimmy and Kim started a tradition a couple years ago of giving each of their daughters a piece of art for Christmas. In bestowing works by such local talents as Hope Hebert, Lue Svendson and Clay Judice, Jimmy and Kim have begun instilling in their children not only the fun of nurturing a collection but also the virtue of supporting the arts community .
From the large collection I have chosen some favorites by Vergie Banks, Carl Groh, Hope Hebert, George Marks, Elemore Morgan, Jr., Steven Schneider, Lue Svendson, and Jill Tauzin Broussard.
George Marks, an Arnaudville, LA, native has a national following and shows at galleries in Louisiana (www.grandcontemporary.com), Michigan, and Maryland. The two abstract mixed-media pieces that Jimmy and Kim have take center stage in the living room.
Carl Groh
The Mallia's have more pieces by Carl Groh, whose work is included in the National Portrait Gallery, than any other artist. They have six of his pieces total including the vase with
flowers piece (right) purchased at the Symphony Showhouse Auction and "Bayou Sunset" (below) purchased at the PASA gala.
"Hope's deep roots in her cajun culture shows in her flare for antiqued finds such as old windows and doors that she finds and uses as her canvas".
In addition to the wine bottle oil painting on an old window (above), the collection includes two other pieces by Hope, one of which is a guitar painting that Lindsey Mallia received for Christmas this year.
Steven Schneider
The farm scene painting (above) in the Mallias' kitchen is typical of Schneider's "plein air" paintings of the sights near his Donaldsonville, LA, studio and gallery. Several Louisiana galleries have featured the artists' work including Grand Contemporary Gallery in Lafayette which currently has three of Steven Schneider's small paintings.
Lue Svendson
Two of the most recent purchases in the collection are by Lue Svendson whose "modern impressionist style conveys her admiration of nature". The small "From the Deer Stand", a colorful landscape purchased at Rue du Pont Galerie et Studio in Breaux Bridge, was a gift to Audrey Mallia and hangs in her bedroom. "Along the Bayou", an oil painting with copper accents was purchased at Palates and Pate and is in the foyer.
Vergie Banks
Jimmy and Kim have purchased two paintings by Vergie Banks. This one, "Back Stage Pass" (right), was created for the PASA gala and Vergie describes it as "acrylic on canvas. Very special. It was designed with all of the renowned performers' special talents in it. Irvin Mayfield trumpet, Second City masks, Mark O'Connor's violin, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet shoes, Soweto Gospel Choir microphone, Michael McDonald piano, Bo Diddley guitar, and PASA ticket to enjoy the arts."
The Mallia collection consists primarily of paintings on canvas or wood. There are, however, two works on paper.
Elemore Morgan, Jr, is one of Louisiana's most famous artists and is recognized "as the leading contemporary Louisiana landscape painter". Arthur Roger Gallery (www.arthurrogergallery.com) in New Orleans represents the estate of Elemore Morgan, Jr., who passed away last year. Photographs and paintings by Morgan are in the permanent collection of the Ogden Museum of Southern Art in New Orleans (www.ogdenmuseum.org). A signed and numbered lithograph that Morgan did exclusively for charity events, this contemporary orange and black flowers in vase piece (above), purchased at a benefit for the Acadiana Center for the Arts (www.acadianacenterforthearts.org), is one of two paintings by Elemore Morgan, Jr. hanging in the Mallia home.
Jill Tauzin Broussard
The first piece of fine art that Kim Landry Mallia ever received was a gift from Jill Tauzin Broussard. Known primarily for her abstracts on canvas, Jill gave Kim a wonderful little watercolor for Christmas years ago (hence the Christmas tree in the painting). Jill is currently showing at Entre Nous in Lafayette and Cypress City Antiques in Arnaudville (www.cypresscityantiques.com). Jimmy and Kim purchased a large abstract on canvas by Jill that is hanging in their dining room.
In addition to the pieces I have featured, the Mallia collection includes paintings by:
Melissa Bonin, Cortrillis Banks, King Rob, Thad Morgan, Clay Judice, and Paul Schexnayder.
Needless to say, I look forward to my next visit to Jimmy and Kim's to see what might have been hung since I was there a week ago!
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