Bless Your Art

At its heart, The Turquoise Table movement is about connecting with neighbors. It’s about turning acquaintances into friends. It’s about gathering around the table to share great conversation, coffee and meals, and support for those around us. But each Turquoise Table is unique, and each table owner can and should use their table for a bigger purpose as they feel led.

Debbie first heard about The Turquoise Table at her church in Austin prior to her move to Shreveport, LA last year. Shreveport —  a gem of the Old South — has a rich history, beautiful gardens, and a small-town feel where everyone knows everyone else. Unless of course, you are new in town. So when she arrived in Shreveport, Debbie placed a Turquoise Table in her front yard not only as a way to introduce herself and her family to their new neighborhood, but also to serve the greater community.

“Our table started out like so many do,” says Debbie. “My kids would hang out, my husband would work at the table, neighbors would stop by. And that in itself was wonderful. But then I got to thinking that I could really take this to the next level.”

Debbie is a life-long lover of the arts, so she quickly got involved in Shreveport’s thriving art and music scene. Additionally, her home is located fairly close to the R.W. Norton Gallery, an art museum that happens to be Shreveport’s Number #1 attraction according to Trip Advisor. With her Turquoise Table so near the city’s premier destination, Debbie felt that she could not only continue to promote the arts, but also provide a connection point for various types of art lovers (from hipsters to middle-aged parents to empty-nesters) and for folks from various parts of town.

“Art and music draw people together, even those with different views and backgrounds,” she says. “So, I started inviting several groups of people to use the table as part of their artistic events. I’ve hosted band parties and art shows, and it has been fantastic.”

Recently the Turquoise Table was even one stop on a city-wide art tour. Debbie has taken her table well beyond a neighborhood meeting spot, and turned it into a multi-purpose venue of sorts. She wants her table to inspire others in the area to have one of their own, especially since her time in Shreveport is limited. Debbie’s family will be moving again as soon as her husband’s business venture in the area is complete.

“It’s my hope that Shreveport will soon have many Turquoise Tables, and use them as a foundation to build authentic, loving fellowship with diverse groups of people,” Debbie says. “What a fantastic way to serve this great community, and of course have a lot of fun at the same time.”