In July 2024, I assisted the staff at The Shadows-on-the-Teche with the installation of 5 new exhibits: A Picture, Unbroken, Swiss Guard, Beneath the Shadows, Lighter Side of Life, and Louisiana Education.
A Picture, Unbroken introduces visitors to the history of the Weeks Family, the owners of the Shadows-on-the-Teche, their sugar production on Weeks Island, and the Shadows’ itself through the Civil War, Jim Crow and the decline of sugar production in the South.
Swiss Guard features biographies on some of William Weeks Hall’s, longest serving employees. Weeks Hall was the last private owner of The Shadows-on-the-Teche The plaster snake was used by Weeks Hall to prank his employees and I chose to include it in the exhibit as a fun way to engage visitors and as a nod to prankster, Weeks Hall.
Beneath the Shadows is an archaeology exhibit which details the work completed at the Shadows’ Slave Quarters in the 1970s and 1980s. The display case features interactive elements where guests are encouraged to feel a blunt trowel and brush, two important tools for an archaeologist. The case also features never-before- seen artifacts from the Shadows’ collection.
Lighter Side of Life explores Weeks Hall as a queer preservationist and member of “Dixie Bohemia.” I argued for the inclusion of the term ‘queer’ and it has led to numerous opportunities to inform visitors about LGBTQ issues in the South.
Louisiana Education is a temporary exhibit which covers education in Louisiana through integration and features items from the Shadows’ archives from the Weeks Family.
The exhibits were funded by grants from the Atchafalaya National Hertitage Area and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Adam Foreman was the curator for A Picture, Unbroken and Lighter Side of Life. Adam Foreman and I co-curated Swiss Guard. Samantha Shexnayder and I co-curated Louisiana Education. I curated Beneath the Shadows. Kate Ferry was the graphic designer for all of the exhibits.
Taylor Suir 