“Ancestral Artistry” (working title) is a documentary that examines the rich architectural legacy that began with early Africans and Creoles of Color in Louisiana. Our focus is on the building trades that—over the past 300 years— produced the distinctive architectural forms that distinguish Louisiana's built environments from other parts of the United States.

Often handed down within families through the generations, these construction trades—such as carpentry, masonry, iron smithing, and plaster work—have played a surprisingly large part in the history and culture of Louisiana's Creoles of Color. The building trades in Louisiana have roots that reach back to both West African soil as well as European; so do the builders themselves. Unique from the majority of America, Louisiana fostered a large population of free, prosperous, mixed-race people. From the early 18th century on, the building trades continuously provided this community of free people of color with significant opportunities for wealth and social advancement—all during an era when precious few doors were open in America for anyone with African ancestors.

But Ancestral Artistry isn't only about the past. It is also about the master craftsmen who still practice those traditional trades today mostly working to restore and preserve the things built by those who came before them. With an emphasis on their personal handiwork, the film weaves together the stories of four contemporary master craftsmen struggling to preserve their fragile traditions while they work to train the apprentices who will succeed them.

Shooting in New Orleans, Natchitoches, Donaldsonville, and Pointe Coupée Parish, the film will capture not only the beauty of splendid historic structures, but will also showcase the work of the contemporary torch-bearers of ancient skills.

Working with state and national academics, museums, researchers in architecture and African American studies, Castille and her team hope to uncover details and stories about fascinating people from this little-discussed chapter of Louisiana history. This includes:

• The Metoyer family of Cane River, near Natchitoches; the gens du couleur libres were responsible for designing and building Melrose Plantation in the late 1700s, as well as other dwellings, churches, and more;

• The 60-year-old freed slave, Yves, also known as Pacale’, owner and builder in 1803 of the French Creole Roque House on the Cane River;

• Jean-Louis Dolliole and Norbert Soulie, both free men of color and possibly the most prolific and critical black architects of pre-Civil War New Orleans;
  

• Generations of families of color that chose to defy Jim Crow and segregated education by taking up trades in the building arts, rather than being educated in a segregated school system; and 

• Contemporary designers of color who have positively impacted Louisiana’s built environment, including LSU’s first African American professor of architecture, the late Julien White of Baton Rouge.

Film festivals, public screenings, panel discussions, statewide airtime on Louisiana public television, and national exposure on PBS.

Public & private schools and universities across the state & possibly Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) across the nation.

Museums and libraries across Louisiana, perhaps as part of a traveling exhibit through the Louisiana State Museum system; African American museums.

About the LAF

Established in 1996, the LAF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which was created specifically to provide Louisianans with access to knowledge and statewide educational events relating to the value of architecture and design in the built environment.

We do this by creating more public awareness of architecture, encouraging public support for architecture, and facilitating public participation in processes that shape the environment.

We’ve hosted a variety of statewide events, such as architectural tours, an annual architecture film festival, and educational seminars. We operate solely with the help of sponsorships, public donations, grants, and income generated by our programs and membership.

From 2016 to 2019, the LAF hosted the annual Louisiana Architecture & Design Film Festival. The festival showcased Louisiana and nationally- produced films about architecture and architects.

In 2020, the LAF premiered its first film presentation, “Unexpected Modernism: The Wiener Brothers’ Story.” The film was entirely funded by grants and donations. The acclaimed film has been screened statewide and was televised on Louisiana Public Broadcasting from 2019 - 21. LPB is working with the LAF to submit the film for national broadcast on PBS. The LAF is also working with Catherine Ledner to help present the final version of her film about her acclaimed architect father, "Designing Life: The Modernist Architecture of Albert C. Ledner."