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Regular Session, 2012
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 88
BY SENATOR PETERSON
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Ted Ellis, for his many contributions to the greater New
Orleans area.
A RESOLUTION1
To commend Ted Ellis for his many contributions to the greater New Orleans area and to the2
world of art.3
WHEREAS, Ted Ellis is a nationally acclaimed southern artist, originally from New4
Orleans; and5
WHEREAS, in a mere ten years, T. Ellis Art, Inc., has sold over one million five6
hundred thousand prints and posters nationwide, and the private collectors of his art are7
many and scattered throughout the globe; and8
WHEREAS, major corporations have commissioned Mr. Ellis' work, a few of which9
include Walt Disney Studios, The Minute Maid Company, Coca-Cola, Phillip Morris, and10
Avon, Inc.; and11
WHEREAS, with a body of work celebrating African-American life and culture,12
reminiscent of Romare Bearden and Jacob Lawrence, Mr. Ellis has garnered a following13
among New York's art elite and throughout the country; and14
WHEREAS, growing up in New Orleans, Mr. Ellis has the unique gift of capturing15
the essence of the characters of his childhood in the glory of their rich cultural heritage; and16
WHEREAS, Mr. Ellis' visual narratives in his famed series "Celebrating American17
Life and Culture", document the passion, dignity, strength and unyielding courage of these18 SR NO. 88
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subjects, boldly blending realism and impressionism, evoking nostalgia and inspiration, and1
the series vividly pans through the social, spiritual, work and family life settings of his2
southern roots, creating a cultural heirloom for African-Americans and a national treasure3
for America; and4
WHEREAS, in August of 2005, the landscape that birthed those memorable images5
of New Orleans changed forever with the arrival of Hurricane Katrina; and6
WHEREAS, now a resident of Friendswood, Texas, near Houston, Mr. Ellis returned7
to his beloved hometown after the hurricane to witness first hand the devastating loss of his8
mother's home and childhood neighborhood, which were completely destroyed, along with9
several of his priceless paintings, one of which had been on display in a local elementary10
school. Known for his generosity and proactive spirit, Mr. Ellis housed and aggressively11
worked to relocate over sixty relatives from his immediate and extended families; and12
WHEREAS, several weeks after the hurricane, Mr. Ellis was featured on MSNBC13
discussing how his family would begin the daunting task of rebuilding their lives; and14
months after, most of his family has been successful in beginning the rebuilding process, but15
the searing images of loss have placed a burden on his heart to keep the story in the public's16
eye; and with a new backdrop etched in his mind, he once again has taken to brush and17
canvas to bring the deeply poignant images to life in his new series of paintings; and18
WHEREAS, the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Greater New Orleans19
Chapter had an art show presenting Mr. Ellis' work, April 15
th
, 2012, at McKenna Museum20
of African Art, in New Orleans.21
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana22
does hereby congratulate and extend sincere appreciation to Ted Ellis for his many23
contributions to the greater New Orleans area and all the lives he has touched, taught, and24
healed in the state through his artwork.25
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to Ted26
Ellis.27 SR NO. 88
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The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by James Benton.
DIGEST
Peterson SR No.
Commends Ted Ellis, for his many contributions to the greater New Orleans area.