Flenard L. Autrey
U.S. Air Force, Vietnam
Flenard was born in Shreveport at Confederate Memorial Hospital, to Alex Henry Autrey, a contractor, and Lessie Bea Autrey and was the youngest of nine children, including five sisters and three brothers. At one year of age he was given away to his mother's sister and her husband, Eli and Rosie Conway, whom he considered his parents. Until he entered the military, he went by the name Conway. "I had to take a birth certificate in Missouri and that's when I had to change my name to Autrey. All my life I had gone as Conway," he recalls. To read the entire biography please click the link above.
If you or someone you know would like to share stories with us, please call (318) 865-4201 ext. 122, or contact ohp@rwnaf.org.
The Bronze Tour
4 January 2014 @ 2:00 pm
An art form that has existed for over 5,000 years, the Bronze Tour explores work that will, in the words of Frederic Remington, "rattle down the ages". We'll look at some of the early European work, including pieces from the 18th century French portraitist Jean-Antoine Houdon to the 19th century father of les animaliers Antoine-Louis Barye to 20th century Russian modernist sculptor Alexander Archipenko.
The Guys and Dolls Tour
1 February 2014 @ 2:00 pm
Our February tour doesn't promise any musical moments (though you never know), but it does include a trip through the history of fashion via our fabulous Gray/Blumenstiel Doll Collection.
The Perils of Pigment Tour
1 March 2014 @ 2:00 pm
Were the old master hastening themselves into an early grave? How much are artists willing to risk their lives in the pursuit of their art even today? The Perils of Pigment tour explores the toxic nature of many artists' colors through the centuries; even today some artists extol the brilliant sheen that can only be acquired by using the dangerous Lead White.
Greco-Roman Outdoor Tour
5 April 2014 @ 2:00 pm
It's that time of year when we like to get outside and wander through the beauty of our gardens, particularly as the azaleas burst into full-bloom.
Around the Gallery Newsletter:
I Remember the Difficult Times... The Norton's New Oral History Book Debuts With Eyewitness Stories of World War II
Identical twins Roy and Ray Buckner fought as infantry platoon squad leaders in the U.S. Marines, leading men into desperate battles to capture one island in the Pacific after another during World War II. In the fighting for Guam, Ray was severely wounded and lay in a makeshift hospital: a tent on the beach with cots as beds. Day and night Roy kept vigil over Ray who only grew worse. The front lines were so near this "rear area" that spent rounds whizzed through the tent. Ray grew terrified he would be killed while he lay there, helpless. "I got on the side of the cot where the bullets were coming and told Ray, 'The next bullet is mine,'" Roy recalled. And there he lay with his back shielding his brother, ready to sacrifice his body for the life of his twin. That episode is told in a new book the Norton is publishing, I Remember the Difficult Times, a compilation of fifteen stories of men and women who served in World War II, all based on recorded audio interviews as part of the museums Oral History Project, created in 2002. To read the whole article, please click on the link above.
Featured This Month:
Camellia japonica and camellia sasanqua bloom in forms that the American Camellia Society defines in six categories of shapes and rows of petals: single, semi-double, anemone form, peony form, rose-form double, and formal double. Many gardeners, smitten with their big, bright colors, refer to sasanquas as "those other camellias," but I love them, too. Sasanquas aren't fussy; they tolerate more sun, higher temperatures and adapt to a wider spectrum of soils. If you want to plant camellias, they like well-drained soil rich in organic material. You may plant in either spring or fall, just be sure to mulch thoroughly so the roots and soil will remain cool and moist. Water regularly during the first year; older plants thrive, however, on little supplemental moisture. Nourish your camellias with an acid plant food, but be sure not to over-fertilize. Watch where you plant them; choose locations that are not in the face of hot sun and strong winds. After they flower, prune the plant to help shape its appearance for a better flower display the following year. To me, camellias look beautiful twice - when they're in full bloom on the bush, and when they drift to the grass at the end of their season.
