Schepis Foundation, Inc.
The grandiose Schepis building has been the home of the Schepis Museum since 1993, and is the back drop for the charming little town of Columbia, Louisiana, which stands proudly along the banks of the Ouachita River.
It was built c. 1916 by italian immigrant John Schepis who came to this country with his wife Rosa around the turn of the twentieth century. The building is specifically Italian, resembling Renaissance-style palazzos of the mid-fifteenth century. The first floor served as the family's mercantile store and the second floor as their home.
Longtime citizens of Columbia have fond memories of Rosa Schepis opening all of the doors and windows upstairs and playing her piano - fanciful tunes from classical to ragtime - for all to hear. The Schepis building is complete with two life-size statues of George Washington and Christopher Columbus on top, hand-crafted by Schepis himself. George Washington holds a draped American flag representing Mr. Schepis' appreciation for his new home, and Christopher Columbus holds a draped Italian flag representing his love for the country of his birth. An American eagle flies above the two statues, and an Italian coat of arms is placed in the center. The unique building is a testament to the brilliance and tenacity of an Italian immigrant whose mark on this little town along the Ouachita River will stand forever. The Schepis building is not only home to the Schepis Museum, it is a centerpiece of all the lives of the people who live here, from art and cultural events to board meetings and receptions.
The Schepis is the major provider of arts education for the children of Caldwell Parish since the school system does not have funding for the arts. The Schepis offers art classes, workshops in drama and music, theatrical and musical performances, art contests, and provides a setting for exhibition of local children's artwork. The museum has rotating exhibits and has showcased several well-known artists from around the state, as well as many area artists and craftsmen. We are currently in the process of developing our own permanent collection of artwork by Louisiana artists that we hope will one day be exhibited in art museums all over the country.
The staff and many volunteers of the Schepis are working diligently to raise the funds needed to finish renovation of our second floor which will provide two classroom/workshop areas and additional exhibit/meeting space. Completion of this project will strengthen the critical role of the Schepis in continuing to help maintain the vitality of this great example of small town America where, between 3:30 and 4:30 every afternoon on the 100 Block of Main Street, thanks to outside speakers added to the building, the piano music of Rosa Schepis can still be heard. The Schepis building serves as a great testimonial of what can be accomplished through hard work and endurance. It's story is the perfect example of the American Dream fulfilled.
That is why this place matters.
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