Category Archives: artists

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Clarence John Laughlin — Indiegogo

This is an amazing, important documentary fundraiser to highlight a true French Quarter character, artist and world class collector. From the home page of the documentary:
This is a documentary about the New Orleans photographer Clarence John Laughlin, who many consider to be the father of American surrealist photography. Shot in the historic New Orleans Pontalba building where he lived for over 35 years in a garret apartment stuffed with thousands of books covering every available surface, this is the only known footage of one of our most original artists.

Clarence was a well-known eccentric with an artistic temperament. He could be both charming and difficult. He was married five times, twice to the same women. Possibly due to his strong willed personality, Clarence’s greatness was not fully recognized or appreciated during his life, though he received much acclaim and was published in major magazines and exhibited in galleries in the U.S. and Europe. There is no doubt Clarence was a photographic genius who’s life and work deserves more attention and praise. The documentary will explore Clarence the book collector and writer and how those passions influenced his life and his significant body of work.

Please support this work and pass it along to others that might also support.

Clarence John Laughlin — Indiegogo.

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Dutch Alley in the French Market

While locals watch tourists frantically search for shade and some room on the sidewalk in the French Quarter (while down in the French Market District) those same locals know to duck behind Cafe Du Monde to use this alley. It’s one of the few places in the Quarter where some peace is nicely merged with a bit of activity.

Even though the alley is next to the Mississippi storm gates, the name has nothing to do with the language of the Netherlands and their triumphant engineering over waterways, or from any emigration patterns. It, in true New Orleans form, is named for Mayor Dutch Morial and his 1980s era of civic renovation. It’s joined by its neighbor the Moonwalk, which is the riverside path parallel to the alley, which was named for 1970s Mayor Moon Landrieu, father of the current mayor as well as our senior US Senator.
Ironically, the French Market owes its location to the Choctaw Indians, its name and founding to the French, its structures to the Spanish and its present day doldrums to politicians who keep finding a way to put their names on the stuff!

However, some smart local artists have taken this rather confusing intersection name and made it the home of cooperative marketing as Dutch Alley Artists Co-op. Take a right turn while on Decatur going downriver (around Joanie on her pony a.k.a. the Joan of Arc Statue) and chat with some great local artists while you load up on your gift-giving.

Dutch Alley Artsts Co-op

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Jackson Square artists can reproduce

The idea that artists on the square can only sell original art has included a rule against prints, which has angered many artists through the years.
What I learned a few years ago is what angers some is that the more well established artists reportedly still do it, even while policing others – simply by having a storage or apartment near by to take customers when they ask about prints.

This is a tricky business, this cooperative selling space. The Square has changed personalities a few times in my lifetime, and I assume, we’re about to see another change with this ruling.

<a href="http://<a href="“>Prints“>Prints

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Revolution in a Can

Spoiling walls and doors and windows is shocking and difficult to understand, but for some, it is their choice of activism. I have never raised a can to a wall and probably never will, but it doesn’t mean I don’t notice the anger and get the point when I see it used as a tactic.

(you’ll need to register to read it, but then can delete your account.)
Revolution In A Can

See my interview with the Grand Duchess on her take on graffiti in an earlier post by searching categories for “graffiti” or “Grand Duchess

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The Royal Street Artists and Merchants present the 10th Annual “Dirty Linen Night”

New Orleans, LA – The Royal Street artists and merchants announce that this year’s 10th
Annual Dirty Linen Night will be held on Saturday, August 13, 2011. Join the celebration on
Royal Street from the 200 block of Royal to the 1000 block ending at Ursulines Street, from 6:00
– 10:00 p.m. Dirty Linen Night will feature more than 60 galleries and shops and an exclusive
shopping experience.

Free and open to the public, the shops will welcome visitors into their businesses and offer a chance
to meet the artists and owners. This has become a favorite summer event for both locals and
visitors alike. Dirty Linen Night began 10 years ago as a grassroots effort to bring visitors to this
unique strip of Royal Street.

Beginning in the 1000 block of Royal Street all the way to the 200 block of Royal you’ll find
venues that feature locally created art, as well as beautiful hand crafted pieces. Each block of Royal
Street has wonders to discover. In all, there will be more than sixty unique venues to visit.

This group of artist owned galleries and studios is a great asset to the City of New Orleans,
especially since no other arts district can boast so many working artists onsite, ready to meet the
public on a daily basis. Dirty Linen Night is a great opportunity to meet those artists and visit the
crown jewel of the city, the French Quarter.

For the first time ever, Dirty Linen Night has an Official poster created by Artist Brandon
Delles. An extensive poster contest was held including all artists from Royal Street. The official
autographed posters are being sold at Le Jardin Glass Art at 612 Royal Street.

Admission is free and open to the public. Perspiration is BYOBO.