Recognition rejuvenates artist

By Claudette Olivier
Staff Reporter
Jerica Guillory has been rejuvenated by her Eunice Rotary Club’s Citizen of the Year award win.
“Appreciation can go a very long way,” Guillory said. “Gratitude has a way of energizing that which was weary.”
Guillory was a guest speaker at a recent Rotary meeting, and she took the time to talk about several community projects she is working on as well as projects others are doing in Eunice.
Guillory shared the story of how her first book, “Piggles: A Pig’s Tale,” came about.
“My son, who was 5 at the time, asked me for some pickles, and it sounded like he was saying piggles,” Guillory said. “And right away, I thought that was a cute name for a pig. The idea just wouldn’t leave me alone.”
The author began brainstorming and working on her manuscript, and the book, illustrated by Vivian Broussard, was published in 2014.
“That’s been a really fun journey, ‘A Pig’s Tale,’” Guillory said.
Guillory has done readings of her book at several local schools, and this month she will be featured on Confetti Park, a children’s media workshop, podcast, and weekly radio show in New Orleans. She also attends a writer’s conference in Lake Charles each year.
“The conference is always inspirational and educational,” Guillory said. “If you know anyone interested in writing or illustrating, please tell them.”
Guillory is working on her next book, “The Book that Wanted to be Read,” and it will be illustrated by artist Hannah Thibodeaux.
“The book is dedicated to anyone who has ever had a misunderstanding,” she said. “Nothing is so simple as to not be misunderstood.”
She continued, “The happiest books are the ones who are read. The book that wanted to be read misunderstands his mama. He thinks it’s the color red, so he goes on a journey to be the color red.”
Guillory hopes to have the book published by November.
In addition to writing books, Guillory is also working to create reading gardens at local schools. The first garden, located at East Elementary, is nearly complete, and the project’s price tag is $2,500.
To fund the reading gardens, Guillory established the Wishing Doll Project. The dolls are created with donated items and items found in nature, and the dolls go up for adoption for an average of about $5 a doll. The dolls are made at community Wishing Doll making sessions, and the next session, which will be Easter-themed, will be March 19 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Four Southern Girls. The initiatives Facebook page is: The Wishing Doll Project : Eunice, Louisiana.
“The children put them together, and they give us the gift of their artwork which is the Wishing Doll,” Guillory said.
She continued, “I find it is very important to involve the children. I find that if they have a hand in creating something, they see how it comes full circle and they are less likely to damage it (the reading garden) later or be in the company of those who may damage it. Get them involved in this. It makes a big difference.”
Guillory also promoted other projects in the community, including fundraising for future no-kill animal shelter, hosted by Bark Avenue. She also spoke about the Bayou Cross Help Line, which was just started by a few members of the Eunice Fire Department. The group can also be found on Facebook.
“I met with three young fireman, and they would like to establish an ongoing fundraiser to help families and individuals in their time of need,” Guillory said. “They see the devastation of house fires at ground zero, firsthand. These fireman started building little pieces of furniture and yard art out of pallets from Tri-Parish Electric.
“I told them to inventory their furniture and yard art for the next Experience Louisiana Festival and Main to Main, too.”
Guillory asked the crowd to donate screws, hinges, knobs and the like to the cause
She added, “They are just getting started on that. I honor them on their journey and think it’s really sweet.”
Guillory is also working with local artists to create Fairies on the Prairie Fairy Doors, small, painted doors that, like the Wishing Dolls, can be adopted. The cost is $100 per door, and they are available for local businesses. Half of the money will go to the Reading Garden project, and the rest will go to the Eunice Community Art House. There will eventually be a map with the location of each Fairy Door, she said.
“I hope to get enough doors around town to match the age of Eunice, so we have a ways to go,” Guillory said, laughing.
The community activist would also like to see more murals painted in the down town area, and she is working with the Jean Lafitte National Park and Preserve Prairie Acadian Cultural Center to have murals painted on the brick building.
“It’s in its infancy, but I have thought of ways to raise money (for the murals), and its called ‘Bayouisms,’” Guillory said. “It’s doing to be a hardcover book with a page for each day of the year featuring individuals who live in Eunice. Each page can say whatever that person wishes to say — their favorite quote, a story, a joke, recipe, whatever. The book will be printed each year featuring 365 different people so that a collection is formed, and it will continue if it is successful.”
Guillory added, “It’s in its infancy, but I have thought of ways to raise money, and its called ‘Bayouisms.
“It’s doing to be a hardcover book with a page for each day of the year featuring individuals who live in Eunice. Each page can say whatever that person wishes to say — their favorite quote, a story, a joke, recipe, whatever. The book will be printed each year featuring 365 different people so that a collection is formed, and it will continue if it is successful.”