It’s always a thrill when a renowned artist comes to town, but for collectors of the art of Edna Hibel, her visit is a special treat. The 90 year old artist received the prestigious Leonardo da Vinci World Award of Arts in 2001, and most recently was named the National Women’s History Month 2008 Honoree. She’s in Acadiana at the invitation of Floyd and Pricilla LeBleu, avid collectors of her work. On Saturday, the Acadiana Center for the Arts will present a one day exhibition and special sale of her work.
Hibel was born in Boston in 1917. She studied at the Boston Museum School of Fine Arts before beginning a career in watercolor, lithography and oils that has garnered as many humanitarian awards as artistic honors, by raising funds with her work for childrens and medical charities. She has also used her work to help bring peace through cultural understanding between the United States and China, Yugoslavia and Russia with her “Golden Bridge” and “ Peace Through Wisdom” exhibits in those countries. She was commissioned by the Foundation of the U.S. National Archives in 1995 to create a work commemorateing 75 years of women receiving the universal right to vote.
Himel will be at the ACA on Saturday, Jan. 17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Proceeds from the sales will go to the art center’s theatre programing. For more information contact the ACA at 233-7060.