Episode 82 -- Wendy Rodrigue Magnus -- It’s Shocking, Wonderful and Tremendous and in Your Face

I Am On A JourneyThis episode features a fabulous woman who shows her strength through love and loss and love again. Meet Wendy Rodrigue Magnus who will steal your heart and light your passion for the artwork of her late husband Louisiana American artist George Rodrigue and give a peek into the world of the blue dog for which he is famous in his career and life. He is also famous for his Cajun paintings. She is not intimidated to say that she is defined by her husband because she knows his life and art well and so she is happy to have that depth in her life. We also are blessed to meet Douglas Magnus who is Wendy’s husband today—and dear friend of George. She tells of the engagement ring he made that incorporates their lives in the most beautiful way. You will say that he is quite a compassionate man and it puts a smile on your face to hear her joy.Wendy gets increasingly personal by sharing some of her journal entries and the words that George gave her to know how she was going to go forward without him. She and her sister created and work in Life and Legacy Foundation and Tour. This is an amazing program to introduce youth and communities to art and phenomenal artists like George and Douglas. Wendy will take full original artwork into schools across the country to introduce the students to original paintings—even if it’s a million dollars worth of art for them to lay their eyes on— to light them up as they learn from tangible art. She says the discussions of a journey through a painting can go through loss, joy, grief, death, illness and life with the students as they all see different stories come out of the art.We get insight into their lives and how the two lived life and worked in George’s dream studio, worked in gallery and museum exhibitions and experienced creating such masterful art.Throughout the conversation we also get to meet Douglas, through Wendy’s eyes, who is a fabulous artist as well. He is a silversmith and designs the most exquisite pieces featuring turquoise from the famous Tiffany Cerrillos turquoise mine owned by Douglas.You’ll find that one centering point for Wendy is practicing yoga that truly gives her a daily lifeline to connect. Hear her story. She has known life crushing loss and learned that she could pull out of the most difficult situation imaginable. She is happy and blessed and fulfilled and is also defined by her own life.We talk about Wendy as a child in Fort Walton Beach, Florida and discover who she was as she grew up around art. In her childhood she knew she was so loved. In her adult life she has known and continues to know love of the deepest kind. May you feel that throughout this episode.Wendy is the author of the book Musings of An Artist’s Wife. Tune in and be sure to follow her!The song “STOMP” is used by permission of artist Donica Knight Holdman and Jim Huff

Music "STOMP" used by permission of artist Donica Knight Holdman and Jim Huff