During the summer, the celebration of creative expression will continue through activities from exhibitions to art camps.

On campus, the Contemporary Art Gallery will exhibit a series of works from Evan Fugazzi, an artist from Philadelphia, from June 10 to August 30. On June 27-29, theatre alumni will return to perform “Moon Over Buffalo,” a comedy that first debuted in the 1990s.

The Hammond Regional Arts Center has a number of events planned for the summer including its first “Sweep the Studio” sale scheduled for June 29 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

“Over the years, HRAC has received art donations from generous local artists and collectors, but it’s time for us to make room for new, and to encourage people to add to their art collection or to start their own,” shared Tara Bennett, media coordinator for HRAC. “Works for sale include original and artist-made art, photographs, books, paintings and other unique gift items. Buying local art supports the HRAC, enriches the history of the work, preserves art patronage and contributes to the local art economy.”

Two of HRAC’s summer exhibitions celebrate the art of documentary photography. From May 3 to June 28, HRAC will hold the “Twenty Year Retrospective: Documenting Society of Saint Anne” exhibition, which shows photographs in color, and black and white that Katherine Scherer took of the Society of St. Anne Parade from 1998-2005.

“Beginning in 2006, after Hurricane Katrina, she began photographing the parade in color with a Holga camera,” stated Bennett. “What is fascinating is that she created a unique Wizard of Oz effect going from black and white to vibrant color. Unaware how the hurricane manifested a photographic shift in her work, Katherine captured a community’s resilience through the survival of the St. Anne celebration.”

For July 12-26, HRAC will hold the “Preserve Tangi 150” exhibition curated by the Hammond Historic District.

Bennett said, “The Tangi 150 exhibition is also beneficial in increasing the appreciation of documentary photography within Hammond by giving residents a unique opportunity to showcase their skills while also sharing a love for our parish. As people will take shots of the places that are important to them, they will also contribute to the 150 years of history in Tangipahoa.”

For children between 6-13 years old, HRAC will hold a week-long “KidZart” summer camp. The camp is scheduled for June 10-14 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The price is $50 for HRAC members and $60 for non-members. Campers will learn hands-on activities from art teachers in the community.

“If you are still scrambling to find just the right summer camp activities for your child this summer, ‘KidZart’ is the perfect opportunity for summer creativity and fun with a wide assortment of art activities for students,” shared Bennett.

The Hammond Art Guild will host its annual summer art camp for adults on July 15-19 and 22-26. All classes are open to the public, and the minimum age is 16 years old.

In June, the Culinary Arts Series will display the work of Emily Sylve, chef for Blackened Brew, and in July, Alex Diaz, a chef for Cena; Hammond, will join CAS.

“There’s a great appeal in being exposed to food you would not normally be able to order in a local restaurant,” stated Bennett. “The chefs really get to let their creative energies loose and make a truly unique dish.”

The “Playing the Staircase” season will continue with local and regional musicians performing on the last Friday of the month.

“’Playing the Staircase’ is Hammond’s best kept secret,” said Bennett. “It’s a completely intimate setting and has a unique vibe of combining art and music the minute you enter HRAC. The series creates a place for quality, original music where people can kick back and relax with a glass of wine. Communities need places for people to just be, and I think ‘Playing the Staircase’ invites and attracts new people to our community.”

Whether looking for an exhibition to stop by, a sale, a camp to hone creative skills or a performance, the summer holds opportunities for all ages.