Derek Gordon and Rodolfo Ramirez-Rodriguez—A Collection Retrospective

Throughout his life, Derek Gordon had an impressive career in the arts, besides being a keen collector. He did stints working for Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York as well as the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., before returning to his hometown of Baton Rouge to serve as president/CEO of the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge until his passing in 2012. Recently, the Ramirez-Rodriguez family approached the Arts Council about what to do with Gordon and his partner Rodolfo Ramirez-Rodriguez’s substantial art collection—and the result is possibly the most impressive array of artwork to go on display at the Cary Saurage Community Arts Center’s Shell Gallery. Fifty carefully-chosen pieces from the over 500-work collection cover lithograph, charcoal drawings, etchings, pop art, and beyond. An opening reception will be held May 11 at 5:30 pm. artsbr.org.