George Dunbar

1927 - 2024

Like his art, George Dunbar could never be defined by a single idea, because he was constantly moving. His passion for experimentation and fascination with the textures and colors of his bayou home were an endless source of inspiration for an art career that spanned seven decades. His personal life was a collage of equally diverse experiences and interests: a teenage WWII Navy diver, founding member of the pioneering Orleans Gallery, prolific land developer and advocate for civic causes in St. Tammany Parish, lifelong competitive athlete, internationally recognized artist, diehard Saints fan, animal lover and environmentalist, gracious host for legendary parties on the North Shore, and the best friend, father, and grandfather anyone could want. A Louisiana native, George was born in New Orleans in 1927 and attended Country Day School. He graduated from Temple University's Tyler School of Art in 1953 and studied art in Paris. Following early career shows in Philadelphia and New York, he returned to New Orleans and taught at the 331 Art School with longtime friend Robert Helmer. At the same time, he began buying and subdividing properties in Slidell, Louisiana, building roads and canals that would become the prototypes for more than 70 subdivisions he would build around St. Tammany Parish. He showed his art regularly in New Orleans at Galerie Simonne Stern and later at Callan Contemporary. Major museum solo exhibitions would follow. As his art career and land development projects flourished, George established his home base on Bayou Bonfouca and raised a family as another creative project. He built his first house in the early 1960s with his late ex-wife, Jane Moulin Dunbar, and converted the loft of a barn on the property into his art studio. They raised their children, Nina, Kirk, and Folwell there surrounded by generations of Rhodesian Ridgebacks, peacocks, chickens, guinea hens, horses, assorted reptiles, and a few mischievous goats. The iconic contemporary white brick home became a destination for legendary gatherings of creatives from New Orleans, Slidell, and beyond. Most weekends featured marathon volleyball games, wild pig roasts, pirogue races, Saints watch parties, and card games.

As children growing up in this magical oasis, our father was part coach and part teammate. He taught us how to swim in the dark amber waters of our artesian well-fed pool and water ski in the bayou that was our backyard. He worked beside us in the massive garden he was always tending and sent us on missions to deliver gift baskets of vegetables and eggs to neighbors. A lifelong sports lover, he presided over endless family football matches and usually beat us at tennis and volleyball. He was mostly supportive of our diverse menagerie of pets -even the occasional snake-and took a special interest in caring for the chickens and fish pond on his own. He delighted in all new births on the property, from puppies to the endless hatchings of chicks, exclaiming with joy every time, "We have a blessed event!" When we moved on to our own homes, Dad created Pleasure Point in 1998 on land he developed across the bayou from his first house. It would become the waterfront sanctuary and creative space where he spent the rest of his life. Working with Louisette Brown, his partner of more than 26 years, Pleasure Point became a hub for entertaining, teaching grandchildren about bayou life, watching nature, and showcasing his art. When the property sustained heavy damage after Hurricane Katrina, Dad vowed to "bring it back," and he did at close to 80 years of age. He continued making art and raising chickens there until his last days surrounded by the people and landscape he loved. His first major public sculpture, 'Deity,' will be installed on Poydras Street on June 18, 2024. George Dunbar's diverse artworks, development projects, homes, friends and family embodied his signature aesthetic and passions. He loved beauty in the natural world and built environment, and when he couldn't find it in his surroundings, he created it as art. Always the Southern gentleman, he should be remembered as a unique and powerful creative force in our region. For us, he will always be simply Swamp Daddy. George passed away on June 7, 2024, at the age of 96. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Edward Dunbar and Ethelyn Legendre Dunbar; his former wife, Jane Moulin Dunbar; and his son, Kirk Dunbar. He is survived by his daughter, Nina Dunbar; and son and daughter-in-law, Folwell and Lucia Dunbar; and three grandchildren, Dunbar and Hali Meckin (Nina) and Kaitlann Dunbar-Runnels (Kirk). A public celebration of his life will be held in the fall after hurricane season. In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made to the New Orleans Museum of Art or the Ogden Museum of Southern Art. Memories and condolences may be expressed at www.AudubonFuneralHome.com.