New documentary premiering about George Rodrigue and his famous ‘Blue Dog’ art

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Acclaimed Louisiana artist George Rodrigue was best known for his world-famous “Blue Dog” paintings, and now, his life story is being told in a new documentary film airing on PBS.

The new documentary, “Blue: The Life and Art of George Rodrigue” is all about the Cajun artist, his early days and his famous “Blue Dog” paintings.

“You know, he started many years ago. We had done an interview with him in 2012, and it was the last known interview for him,” Jim Dotson, executive producer of the documentary said.

Dotson is also the General Manager of 6th Street Studios and WLAE-TV.

“The interview with Rodrigue was sitting in the vaults so to speak, and then we brought it to light, we thought it would be a great basis for an incredible documentary,” Dotson said.

He said they wanted the world to see never before seen footage and learn more about the artist from Louisiana.

“There were just many layers to George. When he first started as a Cajun artist, he painted exiled ancestors, and he painted oak trees and the bayou,” Dotson said.

He went on to tell the tale of how “Blue Dog” was born.

“Then one day they got a dog named Tiffany and he painted the dog, but modeled the dog after a Cajun folklore scary creature, the Loup de Roux, then ultimately the paintings became Blue Dog,” he said.

He believes the “Blue Dog” paintings became so popular because, “It became a pop icon that just struck a nerve.”

The documentary features commentary from Rodrigue’s family, as well as some famous faces like Chef Emeril Lagasse, Saints great Drew Brees, Political Strategist James Carville, Former New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial, and artist James Michalopoulos.

The documentary also discusses and explores how Rodrigue overcame polio as a child, and how he was faced with many critics of his art once it became so popular.

Now Rodrigue’s art not only continues and lives on through canvases, but now through film.

Rodrigue died of cancer in 2013.

The documentary will begin streaming on Thursday, May 29, and it will air on WLAE-TV on June 1 at 7 p.m. The documentary will also air on various PBS stations across the country.

Sean O’Malley of O’Malley Productions is the director/producer of “Blue: The Life and Art of George Rodrigue.”

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