
The South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center dedicated Lis Nouveau (New Lily) on Tuesday, August 29, 2023 at 2PM to commemorate the second-year anniversary of Hurricane Ida’s landfall in Louisiana.
Lis Nouveau is a collaborative work between Louisiana artists Hans Geist and Kevin Brown. It was supported in part by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism, the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area, and funds raised by the Rougarou Fest.
As a nod to our local heritage, this monument was created from original nutria pelt stretchers used to dry fur in the 1950s. These stretchers were donated by Alvin Dominique and Raymond Gros in honor of Wilma Cressonie. This work is a permanent art installation on display in the waters of the Wetlands Discovery Center.
The water lily rising out of the muddy water is meant to serve as a symbol of hope and rebirth as our community continues to recover from the devastating impacts of Hurricane Ida. Water lilies mean many things in different parts of the world, but most traditions view the water lily as a symbol of resurrection because they close at night and reopen in the morning.
“I have to continually remind myself that the recovery process from such a devastating storm like Ida is a long one. It’s really easy to get disheartened as you drive through our bayou communities and still see the destruction left behind by Ida,” said Jonathan Foret, Executive Director of the South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center. “Art has the ability to help a community heal from such a tragedy, and we’re honored to have this work installed on our campus as a symbol of hope and strength for all to see as we continue in the recovery process.”


The South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center is revolutionizing how we think, teach and learn about Louisiana’s disappearing coast. Our programs focus on developing adaptation skills in our young people. By doing so, we ensure the survival of our culture along with our workforce.
CONTACT
7910 Park Ave.
Houma, LA 70364
985-580-7289
jforet@slwdc.org