Keith Sonnier: Fort Crevecoeur | Louisiana Art & Science Museum

Keith Sonnier was born near Lafayette and later moved to New York where he became a globally recognized for large-scale installations and sculptures that include neon. This exhibition featured a dozen large sculptural works created in direct response to his origins. Held the same year as the BP Oil Spill, the exhibition was named Fort Crevecoeur, which translates as “fort broken heart” in reference to the Illinois fort where French explorer LaSalle took refuge before his famous 1682 expedition down the Mississippi River. The project included an interview with Sonnier about the influence of the watery South Louisiana landscape had on his art.

Above: Installation view of Keith Sonnier exhibition at LASM; Middle: Keith Sonnier, Quachita (Cat Doucet series), 1996, neon, argon lighting, bamboo, plastic, 100 x 64 x 12 inches. Bottom: Me (Elizabeth Weinstein) with Kieth Sonnier at gala opening reception in 2010