Louisiana Christian University Assistant Professor of Art Hanna Fulton unveiled her artpiece Thursday, February 12 at a ceremony in Natchitoches’ Susan Harling Robinson Memorial Park. The artwork is the third of a series of five sculptures depicting flowers associated with the city, its culture, and history.

The sculpture unveiled today is of a Magnolia and is a tribute to the iconic Natchitoches movie “Steel Magnolias” and its protagonist Susan Harling Robinson. The piece is a collaboration between NSU Associate Professor of Art Corbin Covher and 2016 NSU alumna and Louisiana Christian University Asst Professor of Art Hannah Fulton who was chosen from a group of local artists to paint and complete the steel magnolia sculpture.

Professor Fulton stated that she drew inspiration for her painting of the sculpture from the stained glass windows of the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. That inspiration can be seen in the artwork’s colorful pieces separated by borders as in a stained glass window. The result is a welcome addition to the city’s charm.

Professor Covher said of the project: “I want to help create a set of sculptures that tell the story of our city better than what one type of flower could say. The sculptures will all belong to the series, but instead of one repetitive sculpture, each flower will be one of a kind and add to the narrative of Natchitoches.

The Natchitoches in Bloom public art project was created by the Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission and the Cane River National Heritage Area.