[Louisiana Events] Artist Chuck Siler honored/exhibits at Southern University

[CBrylski at aol.com]

PRESS RELEASE
For Information contact: Gary Moton 3822 Hollow Way #402 Carrollton, Texas 
75007
972 492-0516

SILER IS FOUNDER’S DAY ARTIST AT SUMA

     Charles E. “Chuck” Siler, is the featured exhibitor for the Southern 
University Museum of Art’s Founders’ Day opening on March 8th, 2007.   There 
will also be a second opening on Saturday, March 10th celebrating his recent 
departure from state service.
     A graduate of Southern University, with a degree in Fine Arts, Siler 
studied with Jean Paul Hubbard, Frank Hayden and Harold Cureau as an 
undergraduate and credits a number of other artists as influences over the years.   While 
an undergrad at Southern he cartooned for the school newspaper The Digest and 
wrote a humor column and contributed artwork to The Cat (yearbook). After 
being given the Digest Staff Award, he edited the paper during the summer of 1965. 
His artwork has appeared in exhibits across the country and is in 
international collections
     The Southern exhibit, “Rhythm n’ hues and Katrina’s Blues” is a mix of 
works, one dating back to his senior exhibit at the university.   It ranges 
from traditional to modern expressing a variety of emotions and a wry sense of 
humor   His editorial bent is evident throughout his work and his post-Katrina 
work makes its own statement, underscoring his African-centered views.
     After graduation, Siler moved to the Los Angeles area and counted among 
his memorable experiences having had the opportunity to execute a stage design 
that was used for the American Theatre of Being production of Vincent Williams
’ “The Loudest Noise In The World” at the Coronet Theatre in West Hollywood. 

     Following service in the U.S. Army (U.S. Army correspondent during his 
tour of duty in Viet Nam), Siler returned to Southern University as Sports 
Information Director and Assistant Public Contacts Director. 
     In 1971 he returned to California and work for Black Associated Sports 
Enterprises, Inc. producers of the Grambling College Football Show. 
     Siler wrote and directed a special segment of the film “Grambling Takes 
It All Back Home” He also wrote and produced cartoons and illustrations for a 
number of publications including Soul and Soul Illustrated magazines, The Soul 
and Jazz Record among others. A black and white sketch used in Billboard 
Magazines 1984 Michael Jackson edition was seen by more than 6 million readers 
worldwide.
     After the closing of BASE, Siler continued working as a writer – 
illustrator and consultant in the film, television and entertainment industry. Before 
returning to Louisiana, Siler partnered with writers Bill Farley and Ray 
Richmond to produce a spoof, The Unofficial Guide to the 1984 Games
which poked fun at the plethora of official guides produced when the Olympics 
were held in Los Angeles. 
     Siler returned to Louisiana and in 1985 became Division Information 
Representative and, later, Program Coordinator for the Division of Black Culture, 
then housed in the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism.   His 
production experience was called into play as he worked in the African American 
community assisting organizational (museums and cultural centers) and festival 
development.   He still found time to maintain a studio through the mid-nineties 
and pursue his art. 
     Siler, a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana returned to Louisiana in the 
1980’s and went to work for the Division of Black Culture in the Department of 
Culture, Recreation and Tourism and was instrumental in assisting the 
development of many of the state’s African American museums and cultural centers.   
After a brief hiatus, he joined the staff of the Louisiana State Museum in 1989 
as programs curator while also coordinating African American Outreach for that 
organization.
During the 1990’s, Siler was curator for three major exhibits - The 
Sojourners at the Museum of the Americas (New Orleans) and a statewide exhibit of 
African American artists at the Masur Museum of Art (Monroe).   He also curated the 
exhibit, Capturing The Flash: African American Artists View The Mardi Gras 
Indians and a traveling exhibit An Artistic Sojourn Thru The Afro-Louisiana 
Experience viewed by more than a million people during its travels. Siler also 
created the still-popular Music At The Mint series that has featured such artists 
as Alvin Batiste, Ellis Marsalis, Harold Battiste, Michael White, Henry 
Butler, Sam Henry, Kidd Jordan, Raful Neal, Henry Gray, Tabby Thomas, Harold Brown 
and a host of other entertainers over the year.   Siler created and hosted the 
first museum “Poetry Jams” 
     He has produced programs in conjunction with the National Park Service (
Revolutionary Repercussions: Impact of the Haitian Revolution on the Louisiana 
Purchase), The Old State Capitol Museum (The Baton Rouge Bus Boycott) and a 
host of organizations around the state and nation.
For seventeen years he was a presenter at the annual Jazz and Heritage 
Festival in New Orleans at the African Heritage and Allison Minor Music Heritage 
stages.   Siler, for four years, did the initial development work on the 
then-proposed State Civil Rights Museum.
     Siler’s work and study on Louisiana African Cultural traditions, 
particularly the Mardi Gras Indians and Second Line traditions has earned him 
invitations to speak and present on the subjects which have found their way into his 
drawing and painting.   
     A sought after presenter-lecturer, he has appeared in almost every type 
of venue including a fill-in deejay stint on WWOZ Radio and appearances in 
such documentaries as “Black In Louisiana”, “Voodoo In New Orleans” and Royce 
Osborne’s award-winning “All On a Mardi Gras Day” 
     Siler has narrated several award winning radio productions by David 
Kunian including “Meet All Your Fine Friends At The Dew Drop Inn”, “Guitar Slim” 
and “James Black: Guardian of The Groove”. It is his voice that narrates the 
1927 flood video in the new Baton Rouge museum and is among those in its 
whispering wall.    He recently played the character “Stick” in a student film 
produced by Emerald Bayou Studios that starred legendary Baton Rouge bluesman 
Henry Gray.
     He has exhibited at the Salter Gallery, The Gallery in The Courtyard,
Mumbo Jumbo and the California African American Museum in Los Angeles, The 
West Baton Rouge Museum, The Arna Bontemps Museum (Alexandria), Ashe Cultural 
Arts Center (New Orleans), The New Orleans African American Museum and the Black 
Heritage Gallery in Lake Charles. He has work in private collections 
worldwide and that of Cultural Crossroads in Baton Rouge.
A Katrina evacuee Siler spoke on New Orleans history and culture at 
Montgomery College (Rockville, MD), Brookhaven College (Dallas, TX), The American 
Educational Research Association (San Francisco) and the Smithsonian Institution’s 
National Folk Life festival where he presented the Hot Eight Brass Band, The 
Dixie Cups, Davelle Crawford and Big Chief Monk Boudreaux. 
Since his retirement he is a resident of Carrollton, Texas where he resides 
with his wife, Rhonda Miller and son Daniel.
      The exhibit opens on Thursday, March 8th at 6pm in M.L. Harvey Hall on 
the Baton Rouge Campus.   The public is invited to the special opening on 
Saturday, March 10th at 2pm.
     For information regarding the Southern University Museum call 225 771 
4513 or e-mail Vivian_kerr at cxs.subr.edu 
      




cheron brylski
the brylski company
3418 coliseum street
new orleans, louisiana 70115
(504) 897-6110
FX (504) 897-0778
cbrylski at aol.com
www.brylskicompany.com
cell: 504.460.1468



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