Do you think maybe it's time we dispense with the myth of the starving artist? There are more than enough ways to make money in creative industries these days. And not just in applied arts like graphic design or architecture.

"Marketability" can be a dirty word for some artists, but for others it’s a goal that isn’t at odds with expression. Even abstract expressionism.  Or as Andy Warhol put it, "The business of art requires strategy and analysis." 

OK, you're right, that’s not Warhol. That’s a bit of wisdom from Lafayette artist Lynn Sanders. 

Lynn is an abstract expressionist artist with a head for business. Before she carved out a career as a painter, she worked as a shopping center executive. That gave her insight into how retailers and consumers think. Once she picked up a brush, she applied that knowledge to her art business.

Lynn first sold pieces out of a store she opened in a mall, making works for kids’ rooms. She quickly figured out the money was in the rest of the house. Flash forward about 20 years, and Lynn sells pieces through galleries across the South. A lot of Lynn’s work is purchased for interior design, and she produces some pieces on commission. 

Lynn produces about 18 paintings a month and employs a full-time assistant in her Lafayette-area studio. 

If you work in fashion, the idea that art and consumerism don’t mix would seem insane. Clothing designers have long blended expression and marketability, selling the idea that what we wear can be a part of who we are. 

Nothing makes you stand out quite like a custom hat.

If that’s something you’re looking for, you might turn to Mia Montero, owner of the Montero Hat Company. Mia makes custom, hand stitched hats out of rabbit, nutria and beaver felts. Her hats are show pieces in a southwestern style. And she’s made them for some high profile folks: Lauren Daigle and Louisiana First Lady Sharon Landry have Montero hats. 

Mia got into the business while looking for ways to make a little extra money before moving to Nashville for a career in music. She learned the trade from Lafayette hatter Colby Hebert and struck out on her own. 

Mia looked at planting roots in Music City, but a surprise offer to work as a worship leader in Lafayette brought her home. Music is Mia’s first love and she released her debut record Sweeter Than Honey in 2023. 

Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Astor Morgan at itsacadiana.com. 

Do you think maybe it's time we dispense with the myth of the starving artist? There are more than enough ways to make money in creative industries these days. And not just in applied arts like graphic design or architecture.
"Marketability" can be a dirty word for some artists, but for others it’s a goal that isn’t at odds with expression. Even abstract expressionism.  Or as Andy Warhol put it, "The business of art requires strategy and analysis." 
OK, you're right, that’s not Warhol. That’s a bit of wisdom from<a href="https://www.lynnsandersart.com/"> Lafayette artist Lynn Sanders. </a>
Lynn is an abstract expressionist artist with a head for business. Before she carved out a career as a painter, she worked as a shopping center executive. That gave her insight into how retailers and consumers think. Once she picked up a brush, she applied that knowledge to her art business.
Lynn first sold pieces out of a store she opened in a mall, making works for kids’ rooms. She quickly figured out the money was in the rest of the house. Flash forward about 20 years, and Lynn sells pieces through galleries across the South. A lot of Lynn’s work is purchased for interior design, and she produces some pieces on commission. 
Lynn produces about 18 paintings a month and employs a full-time assistant in her Lafayette-area studio. 
If you work in fashion, the idea that art and consumerism don’t mix would seem insane. Clothing designers have long blended expression and marketability, selling the idea that what we wear can be a part of who we are. 
Nothing makes you stand out quite like a custom hat.
If that’s something you’re looking for, you might turn to Mia Montero, owner of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/monterohatco/">Montero Hat Company</a>. Mia makes custom, hand stitched hats out of rabbit, nutria and beaver felts. Her hats are show pieces in a southwestern style. And she’s made them for some high profile folks: Lauren Daigle and Louisiana First Lady Sharon Landry have Montero hats. 
Mia got into the business while looking for ways to make a little extra money before moving to Nashville for a career in music. She learned the trade from Lafayette hatter <a href="https://www.colbyhebert.com/">Colby Hebert </a>and struck out on her own. 
Mia looked at planting roots in Music City, but a surprise offer to work as a worship leader in Lafayette brought her home. Music is Mia’s first love and she released <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fgb73jBekDw">her debut record Sweeter Than Honey </a>in 2023. 
Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at <a href="https://lafayette.servingsushi.com/">Tsunami Sushi</a> in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by<a href="https://www.astormorgan.com/"> Astor Morgan </a>at itsacadiana.com.

OUT TO LUNCH Business over lunch. Each week Christiaan invites guests from Acadiana's business community to join him. Beyond the foundations of the Acadiana economy - oil, cuisine, music - there is a vast network of entrepreneurs, small businesses, and even some of the country's largest companies who call Acadiana home. Out to Lunch is the cafeteria of the wider Acadiana business community. You can also hear the show on KRVS 88.7FM.

OUT TO LUNCH Business over lunch. Each week Christiaan invites guests from Acadiana's business community to join him. Beyond the foundations of the Acadiana economy - oil, cuisine, music - there is a vast network of entrepreneurs, small businesses, and even some of the country's largest companies who call Acadiana home. Out to Lunch is the cafeteria of the wider Acadiana business community. You can also hear the show on KRVS 88.7FM.

OUT TO LUNCH finds The Current Publisher and Editor Christiaan Mader conducting business Acadiana style: over lunch. Each week Aileen invites guests from Acadiana's  business community to join her. Beyond the foundations of the Acadiana economy - oil, cuisine, music - there is a vast network of entrepreneurs, small businesses, and even some of the country's largest companies who call Acadiana home. Out to Lunch is the cafeteria of the wider Acadiana business community. You can also hear the show on KRVS 88.7FM.

It's Acadiana: Out to Lunch

OUT TO LUNCH Business over lunch. Each week Christiaan Mader invites guests from Acadiana's business community to join him. Beyond the foundations of the Acadiana economy - oil, cuisine, music - there is a vast network of entrepreneurs, small businesses, and even some of the country's largest companies who call Acadiana home. Out to Lunch is the cafeteria of the wider Acadiana business community. You can also hear the show on KRVS 88.7FM.

OUT TO LUNCH Business over lunch. Each week Christiaan Mader invites guests from Acadiana's business community to join him. Beyond the foundations of the Acadiana economy - oil, cuisine, music - there is a vast network of entrepreneurs, small businesses, and even some of the country's largest companies who call Acadiana home. Out to Lunch is the cafeteria of the wider Acadiana business community. You can also hear the show on KRVS 88.7FM.

The Myth of the Starving Artist

Hank Williams’ 1952 song, Jambalaya On The Bayou, was the first time much of the world heard anything about us. What at first-listen to most people sounded like a bunch of nonsense syllables like Lewis Carroll’s Jabberwocky, turned out to be a menu of Cajun dishes – Jambalaya, crawfish pie, file gumbo.

Today, if you’re from Acadiana and you travel the world, when you’ve been away from home long enough you might find yourself tempted to try Cajun food someplace else. And, though you may be in a pretty Parisian bistro, or a cool café in Quebec, you feel confident declaring the jambalaya or the gumbo doesn’t taste right.

Because we invented these dishes, we set the standard for this kind of cuisine. But what happens when you strip away our homefield advantage? When it comes to other types of consumables, how do we stack up here in Acadiana? 

Let’s start with the two most popular and universally consumed human-made libations: coffee and beer. Is it fair to compare Acadiana coffee to, say, Colombian coffee? Or our local brew to German beer? Well, if we’re going to hold them to our Jambalaya and Gumbo standard, they’re entitled to hold us to their beer and coffee standard.

Colombia is one of the coffee capitals of the world. So, if you live in Abbeville Louisiana, with a population of around 12,000, you couldn’t expect to get a cup of fine Colombian coffee. Right? 

Wrong.

Because one of those 12,000 people in Abbeville is Natalia Hernandez Choate, who happens to be from Colombia, you can go to Nube9 Coffee, or visit Nube9 online, and get yourself a cup - or a gallon - of genuine Colombian coffee. You can also get a bag of Natalia’s freshly imported Colombian coffee beans. Or you can pick up a bag of Nube9 beans at a number of select stores across Acadiana.

By and large here in Acadiana, we like things the way they are. We don’t like change. Maybe you grew up in Calcasieu Parish drinking Budweiser, believing it’s “The king of beers.” In that case your concept of monarchy might need a little re-education. That was the program Eric Avery found himself embarking on in 2016 when he opened Crying Eagle Brewing Company in Lake Charles.

Today Crying Eagle is a local staple. They have 20 craft beers on tap at their brew pub. They have a bistro, a beer garden, a tap room, and live music most nights. They introduce at least one new beer to the lineup every week. And they have 8 beers for sale in cans.

The brewery employs 40 people.

And how are they doing on the beer equivalent of the Jambalaya and Gumbo Scale? Pretty darn good. The Independent Craft Brewer’s Association described Crying Eagle’s “Divine Imagination” Double IPA as a "world class beer of superlative character and flawless execution."

When someone calls you up and suggests going to get a cup of coffee or a beer, you know they don’t mean it literally. The coffee or the beer are a reason to get together and socialize. 

But the coffee on the table or the beer on the bar are far from irrelevant. I’m not sure that anyone’s done a study on this, but I think you’ll agree, it seems like better coffee and better beer make for better conversation and better occasions.

So, Natalia and Eric, are not just responsible for producing thirst-quenching liquids, they’re contributing to our happiness, and enhancing our relationships.

Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Giada Morgan at itsacadiana.com.

Hank Williams’ 1952 song, Jambalaya On The Bayou, was the first time much of the world heard anything about us. What at first-listen to most people sounded like a bunch of nonsense syllables like Lewis Carroll’s Jabberwocky, turned out to be a menu of Cajun dishes – Jambalaya, crawfish pie, file gumbo.
Today, if you’re from Acadiana and you travel the world, when you’ve been away from home long enough you might find yourself tempted to try Cajun food someplace else. And, though you may be in a pretty Parisian bistro, or a cool café in Quebec, you feel confident declaring the jambalaya or the gumbo doesn’t taste right.
Because we invented these dishes, we set the standard for this kind of cuisine. But what happens when you strip away our homefield advantage? When it comes to other types of consumables, how do we stack up here in Acadiana? 
Let’s start with the two most popular and universally consumed human-made libations: coffee and beer. Is it fair to compare Acadiana coffee to, say, Colombian coffee? Or our local brew to German beer? Well, if we’re going to hold them to our Jambalaya and Gumbo standard, they’re entitled to hold us to their beer and coffee standard.
Colombia is one of the coffee capitals of the world. So, if you live in Abbeville Louisiana, with a population of around 12,000, you couldn’t expect to get a cup of fine Colombian coffee. Right? 
Wrong.
Because one of those 12,000 people in Abbeville is Natalia Hernandez Choate, who happens to be from Colombia, you can go to <a href="https://www.nube9coffee.com/">Nube9 Coffee</a>, or visit Nube9 online, and get yourself a cup - or a gallon - of genuine Colombian coffee. You can also get a bag of Natalia’s freshly imported Colombian coffee beans. Or you can pick up a bag of Nube9 beans at a number of select stores across Acadiana.
By and large here in Acadiana, we like things the way they are. We don’t like change. Maybe you grew up in Calcasieu Parish drinking Budweiser, believing it’s “The king of beers.” In that case your concept of monarchy might need a little re-education. That was the program Eric Avery found himself embarking on in 2016 when he opened <a href="https://www.cryingeagle.com/">Crying Eagle Brewing Company</a> in Lake Charles.
Today Crying Eagle is a local staple. They have 20 craft beers on tap at their brew pub. They have a bistro, a beer garden, a tap room, and live music most nights. They introduce at least one new beer to the lineup every week. And they have 8 beers for sale in cans.
The brewery employs 40 people.
And how are they doing on the beer equivalent of the Jambalaya and Gumbo Scale? Pretty darn good. The Independent Craft Brewer’s Association described Crying Eagle’s “Divine Imagination” Double IPA as a "world class beer of superlative character and flawless execution."
When someone calls you up and suggests going to get a cup of coffee or a beer, you know they don’t mean it literally. The coffee or the beer are a reason to get together and socialize. 
But the coffee on the table or the beer on the bar are far from irrelevant. I’m not sure that anyone’s done a study on this, but I think you’ll agree, it seems like better coffee and better beer make for better conversation and better occasions.
So, Natalia and Eric, are not just responsible for producing thirst-quenching liquids, they’re contributing to our happiness, and enhancing our relationships.
Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at <a href="https://lafayette.servingsushi.com/">Tsunami Sushi</a> in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/giadamorganphotography/">Giada Morgan</a> at<a href="https://itsacadiana.com/2024/09/23/calcasieu-beer-colombian-coffee/"> itsacadiana.com</a>.

Calcasieu Beer & Colombian Coffee

It’s getting easier by the day for your average person to become a graphic designer. Fire up a Canva account, and you can have  a logo in minutes. And Lord knows AI is only making that easier, and more surreal. 

But, as things get easier for the masses, it puts a premium on stuff made by hand. Time was that it took blood and sweat to make the world beautiful. But, today? Well, imagine a robot trying to paint a boombox on a brick wall or the hood of a car. Foe some things, technology and machines won't do. For those occasions, you need an airbrusher. Like, for example, John Zant.

John is celebrated in Lafayette for his hand painted designs. He likes the tough jobs and has developed a knack for painting on any kind of surface, like signs and glass and metal and brick. He grew up in New Mexico and moved to Lafayette in the 1980s to go college and picked up an airbrush when a fraternity brother got him a job at a local store. 

John spent years honing the skill and went on to launch a career in exterior art. He painted his first mural at Pioneer Park in Jennings and today gets contracts from local businesses looking for signage or designs that will help them stand out. 

John’s also very active in the local skater community and is known by the moniker Bag of Boards. 

Standing out is the name of the game in the high-end shoe business. Kids line up around the block to get the first shot at a limited edition sneaker. But if you want your footwear to be truly limited, you might hire Brandy Cavitt to paint your shoes. 

Brandy is a graphic designer by trade. But her obsession is shoes. In 2024, she launched Shoe Fly Dirty Coast, a company that customizes sneakers on demand. The work is intensive. She conditions, massages, strips and softens shoe fabrics of all types — canvas, leather, you name it — so they can properly take paints. And she uses the high-end stuff to make the colors pop and stick. The process takes days but it can add years to the life of a shoe once properly treated with sealant. 

Brandy’s play is to cash in on sneaker culture, which puts a big emphasis on one-of-a-kind, hard-to-find wearables. 

Brandy grew up in the Lafayette area and started her career in graphic design at 21. She’s also a musician and previously worked for the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s office.

Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Astor Morgan at itsacadiana.com.

It’s getting easier by the day for your average person to become a graphic designer. Fire up a Canva account, and you can have  a logo in minutes. And Lord knows AI is only making that easier, and more surreal. 
But, as things get easier for the masses, it puts a premium on stuff made by hand. Time was that it took blood and sweat to make the world beautiful. But, today? Well, imagine a robot trying to paint a boombox on a brick wall or the hood of a car. Foe some things, technology and machines won't do. For those occasions, you need an airbrusher. Like, for example, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/john.zant1">John Zant</a>.
John is celebrated in Lafayette for his hand painted designs. He likes the tough jobs and has developed a knack for painting on any kind of surface, like signs and glass and metal and brick. He grew up in New Mexico and moved to Lafayette in the 1980s to go college and picked up an airbrush when a fraternity brother got him a job at a local store. 
John spent years honing the skill and went on to launch a career in exterior art. He painted his first mural at Pioneer Park in Jennings and today gets contracts from local businesses looking for signage or designs that will help them stand out. 
John’s also very active in the local skater community and is known by the moniker Bag of Boards. 
Standing out is the name of the game in the high-end shoe business. Kids line up around the block to get the first shot at a limited edition sneaker. But if you want your footwear to be truly limited, you might hire Brandy Cavitt to paint your shoes. 
Brandy is a graphic designer by trade. But her obsession is shoes. In 2024, she launched<a href="https://www.facebook.com/brandycavittcompany"> Shoe Fly Dirty Coast</a>, a company that customizes sneakers on demand. The work is intensive. She conditions, massages, strips and softens shoe fabrics of all types — canvas, leather, you name it — so they can properly take paints. And she uses the high-end stuff to make the colors pop and stick. The process takes days but it can add years to the life of a shoe once properly treated with sealant. 
Brandy’s play is to cash in on sneaker culture, which puts a big emphasis on one-of-a-kind, hard-to-find wearables. 
Brandy grew up in the Lafayette area and started her career in graphic design at 21. She’s also a musician and previously worked for the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s office.
Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at <a href="https://lafayette.servingsushi.com/">Tsunami Sushi</a> in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by <a href="https://www.astormorgan.com/">Astor Morgan</a> at <a href="https://itsacadiana.com/2024/09/16/stand-out-from-the-crowd/">itsacadiana.com</a>.

Stand Out From The Crowd

Summer is a tough time to be a parent. School is out. The sun is scorching. You need a break for your kids. Maybe they need a break from you.  That’s why they created summer camp, a Godsend for working parents if there ever was one.

Kids get a lot out of camp: time to play and be curious, maybe a chance to learn new skills and meet some new friends. Summer camp is time-honored. It’s important. And if you’re in St. Martin Parish, you might send your kid to camp at Teche Center for the Arts. 

TCA is the primary historical and cultural center for the Teche area of Acadiana. Jeanne Blanchard McBride is the executive director. 

TCA has a wide range of year-round programs. They put on chicken runs, concerts, cooking classes and other cultural encounters. A big part of their business is camps. They run art camps, fall camps and summer camps, all of which are priced to be affordable. 

TCA is a nonprofit, so besides running the organization, Jeanne spends a lot of time raising money.  Jeanne grew up in Breaux Bridge. Before starting at TCA in 2021, she worked as an attorney and clerked for state and federal judges. 

Summer camp is pretty much a universal childhood experience at this point. And there’s a lot of demand for enrichment programming throughout the year. Especially for kids who could use some special attention to thrive. 

Kali Picard is the founder of Borderless Color, a studio and enrichment center designed to include kids on the autism spectrum. Programs are individually customized and are open to the neurodivergent and neurotypical alike. 

Kali was born and raised in Lafayette. Besides running Borderless, she works as a speech and language pathologist.

Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Giada Morgan at itsacadiana.com.

Summer is a tough time to be a parent. School is out. The sun is scorching. You need a break for your kids. Maybe they need a break from you.  That’s why they created summer camp, a Godsend for working parents if there ever was one.
Kids get a lot out of camp: time to play and be curious, maybe a chance to learn new skills and meet some new friends. Summer camp is time-honored. It’s important. And if you’re in St. Martin Parish, you might send your kid to camp at <a href="https://artsatteche.com/">Teche Center for the Arts</a>. 
TCA is the primary historical and cultural center for the Teche area of Acadiana. Jeanne Blanchard McBride is the executive director. 
TCA has a wide range of year-round programs. They put on chicken runs, concerts, cooking classes and other cultural encounters. A big part of their business is camps. They run art camps, fall camps and summer camps, all of which are priced to be affordable. 
TCA is a nonprofit, so besides running the organization, Jeanne spends a lot of time raising money.  Jeanne grew up in Breaux Bridge. Before starting at TCA in 2021, she worked as an attorney and clerked for state and federal judges. 
Summer camp is pretty much a universal childhood experience at this point. And there’s a lot of demand for enrichment programming throughout the year. Especially for kids who could use some special attention to thrive. 
Kali Picard is the founder of <a href="https://www.borderlesscolor.com/">Borderless Color</a>, a studio and enrichment center designed to include kids on the autism spectrum. Programs are individually customized and are open to the neurodivergent and neurotypical alike. 
Kali was born and raised in Lafayette. Besides running Borderless, she works as a speech and language pathologist.
Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at <a href="https://lafayette.servingsushi.com/">Tsunami Sushi</a> in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/giadamorganphotography/">Giada Morgan</a> at <a href="https://itsacadiana.com/2024/08/20/borderless-teche/">itsacadiana.com</a>.

The Myth of the Starving Artist

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