Under the Fig Tree: Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Bienville-Basin Community Development

The newly renovated Bienville Basin Comunit Development officially opened Augst 29th, 2015. It was the former Iberville Housing Project that underwent a massive transformation over the last few years.

I, and the artists of Rhythm & Hues were delghted to share in a modest way in enhancing the streets with our "Talking Drums" recyled oil drums now being used as trash receptacles that will dot the landscape for months to come!



 Jacquelyn Hughes Mooney (background Secretary Julian Castro, HUD)



Ribbon cutting. (l to r):Senator Mary Landrieu, N.O. Mayor itch Landrieu, Jacquelyn Hughes Mooney, Secretary of HUD Julian Castro




Jacquelyn Hughes Mooney, Curator?artist at Rhythm & Hues @ 1501.  Senator Mary Landrieu (D-La)





(l to r): Secretary Julian Castro, Jacquelyn Hughes Mooney & Secretary Shaun Donovan





Post ribbon cutting Jacquelyn Hughes Mooney





Some of the "Drummer" artists with City leaders

(l to r): The Honorable Shaun Donovan (Executive Director for the U.S. Office of Management & Budget & former Secretary of HUD), Jacquelyn Hughes Money, curator of Rhythm & Hues @ 1501, Jenae Wilson, artist Thelma Bowers, artist Sandra Blakely, artist Karel Sloane-Boekbinder & Sheila Pipps with Pres Kabacoff, CEO of HRI,Inc.





(l to r): Artist Jenae Wilson, HRI Properties, Inc partner & former Mayor of New Orleans Sidney Bartholomew, Artist Jacquelyn Hughes Money, curator of Rhythm & Hues @ 1501,  artist Thelma Bowers, artist Sandra Blakely, artist Karel Sloane-Boekbinder & Sheila Pipps



Even though the reporter got it wrong as I did not grew up in the Iberville Projects, it was a nice photo.  I spent 6 months there as an young adult (age 22).  It was beautifu back then in the early 70s.    I am glad to see it go through a new stage.
 http://theadvocate.com/news/legislature/13299874-123/officials-praise-public-housing-residents

Seasoned en Vieux exhibition: Heart & Soul... It is Time...

This is a exceptional imagery is created by Michele Lambert.  The 60x36 powerful, poignant & pregnant with all the raw emotions of the still, most cataclysmic diaster in U.S history was captured in this piece.

With August 2015 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina right around the corner, it is the expressed desire of the artist to have either a corporation, a art buyer/benefactor or an fiscal angel to purchase the piece but keeping it in a public domain for viewing.

It is not about the money, although as a working artist, she is no different then others needing to provide for herself.  But Michele has been very generous in donating numerous prints for fundraisers with the money going to charities. 

The original work in the Seasoned en Vieux exhibition running from December 16th- January 12th, 2015 as well as all the prints will go to the purchaser as it is time...

The artist hopes that whomever that patron/benefactor will sell the prints with the monies donated to the charity of their choice.

Michele Lambert feels it is time...If not sold by the August 2015 anniversary, the piece will be destroyed.

We cannot let that happen.

I alwaysbelieve it is to the artist to define what, when, why and how theydo what they do with their art.  I do believe this piece speaks volumes of that time in 2005, that some pretend to forget, or water down (no pun intended) or dismiss. But for those who experienced it, it is seared.

Below you will see parts of the art, but I am telling you, the pictures does not do the art justice.
You must come to  Galerie 1501 at 1501 Canal Street, New Orleans, La to see.  Operating hours MWF 12p-3p or call for appt.

The Galerie 1501 is taking no commission on this piece.
This is the heart & soul of the matter.

A Song Sung: Seasoned en Vieux exhibition in Progress





 

This pop up gallery is there for a temporary exhibition to showcase multiple senior citizen working artists & their allies through the kindness of HRI Properties until the permanent retail business set up shop.

 

This is a wonderful gesture from them that enhancing the lives & sensibilities of their tenants as well as this part of Canal Street undergoing a Renaissance.We've gotten a lot of positive responses from surrounding businesses as well as the tenants themselves.

 

Kudos to the artist who have contributed their lovely works to make Seasoned en Vieux happen. About 75% of the artists are over 60.  There is a cross section of others includedbased on their genre, new/emerging or established artists.  About 10% are disabled 50% female, etc

 

Seasoned en Vieux (A Seasoned View) has several layers, in part showing the world that 60 plus anybody is not dead.  And also that artists never retire, they simply become more seasoned.

 

We want to dispel the over-used, out-dated, stereotypical ideas ones including some seniors themselves, have about the process of growing older.

 

There is not one single solitary thing we the ones revisiting the 60s again, have to apologize for.  We do/shall/ must make it clear that it is up to us how we define ourselves.  As Sandra Berry, retire gallery owner of The Neighborhood Gallery and currently an art consultant turning 70 a couple of months ago say: "If we do not sing our own song, leaving it to someone else, they will never get it right"

 

 

 

 

 

Double Vision~ Jesse Freeman, illustrator & poet

 

 



 

"After the Club"~ Marrietta Johnson, Fiber Artist

 

 

 

 

 "Going Mello"~ Marrietta Johnson, Fiber Artist

 

 

 

 "Wise Thru Experience"~ Karen Demaris Douglas, Fiber Artist.

Her interpretation of the African Proverb: "We start as Fools & become wise thru experience"