The paintings of the chief justice
Louisiana art covers the walls in the office of the Louisiana Supreme Court’s Chief Justice. The paintings of marshes, moss-draped trees, century-old buildings and egrets are the creations of Chief Justice John L. Weimer.
Weimer explains that as a child, he “was always called on to draw something or paint something at school”. He has continued to draw and paint. Most of his paintings feature Louisiana landscapes that are common in Lafourche Parish, which stretches from his hometown of Thibodaux southward to the Gulf of Mexico. “What I’m fond of saying,” Weimer tells me, “is it’s scenes that I have seen.” And those scenes represent the area where he grew up, including some structures that have stood for more than a century.
Art from an old louisiana church
One of the Justice’s favorite subjects to paint is an old wooden church in the small community of Chackbay. “I have probably 30 paintings of it and countless photographs of it starting about 1980,” Weimer says. The paintings show a church that has fallen into disrepair with some of its wood siding missing. You can see a graveyard behind the building. Weimer has donated hundreds of prints of his Louisiana art to various charities, fairs and festivals. The church paintings are more meaningful now since the building collapsed in a recent storm. “People come up to me and say my grandmother attended that church. I bought the print because I think she would want me to have it, and that’s touching,” Weimer says.
creating art from the louisiana landscape
As an avid fisherman, Weimer has spent a great deal of time in coastal Louisiana. His art depicts the marsh, a mixture of tall grass and water. He paints tall cypress trees and oak trees with moss hanging from their branches. And one of his most dramatic paintings shows the bare branches of a large oak tree. As salt water from the Gulf of Mexico encroaches on the vanishing coastal lands, the once stately oak trees become victims. “The painting is a theme of what we have lost,” explains Weimer. “We lost these magnificent century-old oak trees. And what we have left now is the skeletal remains.”
Weimer is reluctant to call himself an artist. He prefers the title of painter. Weimer laughs as he tells me, “If I wasn’t a Justice I would probably be graded more harshly.”
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art of chief justice John l. weimer
Rick Foucheux
As a long ago friend and fellow student of both the Chief Justice and Dave McNamara I couldn’t have been more delighted to see this story. They are both true artists and good men. Thanks for the acknowledgment of their talents.
Betty Porche
Love your paintings Judge!
Blessings!
Louise Anna Angelle P. McCann
Living in another state,where people make fun of my accent, it makes me so proud to say that you are from the same Bayou that I came from. Your paintings are a testament to what I have been saying for many years, “ Louisiana people are smart, talented, kind, and respectful “. You make Louisiana Proud♥️♥️♥️
John Folse
My only question is, are there any pieces of Cheif Justice Weimer art, available for sale? I absolutely love his work and would love to purchase a piece for my collection. John
Dave McNamara
Hi John, Justice Weimer tells me he donates a few hundred prints a year to various charities, fairs and festivals throughout the Bayou and River regions where the prints are sold at auctions as fund raisers.
Philippe G. Bernard
I’m thankful that you’re capturing our essence, Your Honor, because it’s slowly disappearing.
Elizabeth Toups
I have a beautiful watercolor from Chief Justice Weimer. The scene reminds me of my childhood visiting my Aunt.
While attending a trivia night benefiting The Center, I placed the winning bid on the watercolor at the silent auction. Justice Weimer autographed the watercolor.
Linda Semien
I have a new home and love to purchase some of Judge Weimer’s paintings.
Dave McNamara
Justice Weimer donates many prints of his paintings to charities and festivals across his southern Louisiana district where they are auctioned for fund raising.
Mary Smith
Love your paintings Judge,
God Bless You!