Artspace

From spidery-rooted botanicals and impressionistic portraits by regional artists to a gigantic steamboat as pirate ship as imagined by Wolfbat (Dennis McNett) and aggressive cardboard caricatures created by Wayne White, this 4-level art emporium typically has a wide range of art on its walls and floors.

Daytime parking is by street meters or by a large, free lot owned by adjacent Methodist church. Admission is free, though some music-and-food-filled receptions may have a cover charge.

Gift shop features jewelry and fabric pieces by regional artists.

One reason that Artspace Shreveport is so visually appealing is that it is a huge historic storefront restoration. The gleaming wood floors and gigantic walls are a striking canvas for art.

There's also a cafe - which at the moment it is being relocated downstairs. At any rate, local cooks work hard at presenting cool sandwiches and hot soups at lunch.

Creative director of Artspace is artist and filmmaker William Joyce (Academy Award for the short, The Fantastic Flying Books of Morris Lessmore, creator of animated features such as Robots, 2005, Meet the Robinsons, 2007, Rise of the Guardians, 2012). Films and sketches by Joyce and his collaborators - he is founder of Moonbot Studios - are regularly featured here.