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(Baton Rouge, LA.) – Clementine Hunter is a self-taught artist whose work has shed new light on the untold stories of African American workers. Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB) is proud to present the broadcast premiere of Clementine Hunter’s World, a short documentary exploring her life and work. The film airs Monday, August 23, 2021 at 7:00 PM. An encore is planned for Saturday, August 28 at 8:00 PM.

The Louisiana produced film combines vintage photographs with Hunter’s colorful paintings to bring her story to life. From her tiny cabin on the grounds of the rural Melrose Plantation, Clementine Hunter painted thousands of images recalling her history, providing a visual diary of Black life in Melrose and revealing colorful tales of life along Louisiana’s Cane River. Today, paintings she once sold for pennies sell for thousands of dollars, and hang in private collections and prestigious galleries around the world.

“Clementine Hunter’s body of work is more than just a Louisiana treasure; it’s a treasure we happily share with the entire world because of the priceless perspective she provides for us,” says LPB President and CEO Beth Courtney. “This is a documentary that was shown at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History & Culture. LPB is so proud to be able to provide the broadcast debut to our statewide audience.”

Art Shiver, the writer and director of Clementine Hunter’s World, was determined to create the entire documentary within Hunter’s home state of Louisiana. The production crew – responsible for everything from the cinematography, to the original music, to the graphics and marketing – all hail from Louisiana. “Everyone who worked on this film had a sense of pride knowing we were documenting the life of a Louisiana Legend. Now, thanks to LPB, that legend will be shared with people throughout the state.”

Shiver, along with noted Hunter historians Tom Whitehead of Natchitoches and Henry Price of Shreveport, join Southern University’s Robyn Merrick on the night of the broadcast to provide additional perspectives and stories about the making of the documentary.

For more information, contact Colleen Spillane, Public Information Officer, Louisiana Public Broadcasting at (225)-767-4453 or 1-800-272-8161 ext. 4453 or by email at cspillane@lpb.org.