New Orleans- Art District & CAC

NOAD --NEW ORLEANS ART DISTRICT

Walk the length of Julia Street between Convention Center and O'Keefe Avenue in New Orleans and you will stumble across gallery after gallery.  This section of New Orleans is referred to as NOAD, New Orleans Art District.  The development of this defunct warehouse area began with the 1984 World Trade Fair and continues to develop today. Though the effects of Katrina and the downturn in the economy have both impacted the arts community in New Orleans, the art scene continues to grow with first Saturday gallery walks and a full calendar of other art venues  http://www.neworleansartsdistrict.com/

 




Mother's  Restaurant

 

Steve Martin

Following a hearty breakfast at Mother's Restaurant, A. Paul & I took advantage of our nearby location to the area and strolled down Julia Street stopping in to speak to several gallery owner/directors.   One of our most informative stops on Julia Street was at the Steve Martin Gallery  (no, not the actor but it is a good PR draw states Martin).  Here, artist Steve Martin guided us through a retrospect of techniques in his works of wire & metal scultpures, prints and expressive paintings whose styles are reiminiscent of Modigliani, Picasso, Matisse and Moore. 

Martin moved into the NOAD after Katrina with other galleries following suit.  Seeing a need for promoting the area, Martin began the publication of Art New Orleans magazine which highlights galleries and friends of the arts in the NOAD.  You can read editions of the magazine online at http://www.artneworleansmag.com/ and see Martin's works at http://stevemartinfineart.com/ or on his facebook page.  Thank you for your hospitality, Steve, we hope to see you in Provincetown.

Luc Leestemaker artwork

Luc Leestemaker artwork

At the Sorren Gallery, A. Paul & I studied the expressionistic paintings of published artist Luc Leestemaker. Leestemaker's large scale canvas with cement and dry, pure pigment paint  depict atmospheric landscapes that entice the imagination.
http://www.sorengallery.com/




Inside CAC

Around the corner from Julia Street are several museums--the Contemporary Art Center, the Ogden Museum of Art, the WWII Museum, and the Childen's Museum.  The Contemporary Art Center (CAC)  formed in 1976 through the vision and efforts of visual and performing artists.  The mission of CAC is "to represent an era of creative freedom and multi-disciplinary expression" with a strong approach to education in the community.  The CAC is housed in a spacious warehouse, which A. Paul and I envied.  As I walked through the nature inspired exhibit, I kept thinking what it would be like to have so much space to show work.

The majority of the exhibit was current contemporary works completed in this past decade though we expected to see works by Rothko, Kadinsky, Calder as stated on the Center's website. http://www.cacno.org/visualarts/exhibitions.html

The Ogden Museum collections include Southern arts depicting the culture of the South.  When we arrived, the museum was fairly crowded so A. Paul & I opted to continue strolling through the district.  You can visit the Ogden collections at
http://www.ogdenmuseum.org/index.html.

The National World War II Museum, founded in 1991 by Dr. Stephen Ambrose, is located directly next door to the Ogden, making museum hopping in this area very convenient.  The museum houses one of the country's most comprehensive collections depicting WWII amphibious invasions http://nationalww2museum.org/

 
Once we reached the main thoroughfare in front of the Convention Center we decided to cross over and take a peek (no such thing as the enclosed shopping area is quite large) at the Riverwalk.  This mall-like double story structure houses food stalls,mardi gras ornamentation, and clothing shops.  Though it is not visual arts based, it did provide imagery for photographs.   Outside the riverside entrance, A. Paul snapped a photo of one of Lousiana's famed paddle boats making its way down the river.  Colorful mardi gras masks of ominous eyes stared back at us through windows, awaiting their turns to come to life. ( pre Mardi Gras activites are currently underway.)

After our stroll through the Riverwalk, we decided to forego the gallery stroll feeling we had taken in the gallery district during our day and ended our evening at Mulate's Cajun Restaurant for a little blackened fish with jambalaya while we listened to the tunes of a cajun band play.

Tomorrow, we will visit New Orleans Museum of Art in the morning while still leaving time to catch the superbowl.

We leave you with a parting shot of the setting sun reflecting on New Orleans downtown high rises.

Memphis to New Orleans via Mississippi

DRIVE FROM MEMPHIS TO NEW ORLEANS

Orpheum





Orpheum interior

Today was a very long haul to make it to New Orleans by early evening via a stop in Oxford, Mississippi.

We said our goodbyes to Memphis, passing the infamous Orpheum Theater on our way out of town.  The Orpheum, originally built in 1890, has been a cornerstone in Memphis life and its existence has been threatened many times over the years.   In 1923, the Orpheum burnt to the ground during a Vaudeville show gone wrong. In 1928, the Orpheum was rebuilt, twice as big and glorious with gilded moldings, crystal chandeliers, fit for live theater.  Vaudeville acts gave way to movie screenings from 1940 until 1976, when conversations began to discuss demolishing the building to build an office complex.  The Orpheum was spared and in 1982 was renovated at the tune of $5 million to bring her back to her old glory. Today, the Orpheum is the main venue for Broadway plays, ballet,opera, and on this Saturday, the finale to the International Blues Challenge. 

Once we were on the road, A. Paul & I were amazed at the beauty of tall pines silhouetted in a cool haze as we slipped into the state of Mississippi.   About an hour into our drive we rolled into Oxford, Mississippi. 

Oxford, incorporated in 1841,  is the home of Mississippi's first state university, U.M, which still continues to educate students today.  During the Civil War, the town was set afire, burning the courthouse and surrounding homes.  Today, the rebuilt courthouse stands center in the heart of its downtown to greet its visitors.    Boutiques, bookstores, saloon style restaurants, and coffeeshops line the square around the courthouse. 



Southside Gallery



Courthouse Square
Oxford, MS

It is here, in Courthouse Square, where Oxford holds its calendar of arts venues such as the Double Decker Arts Festival in April,  when music artists and visual artists fill the streets.  All through the year, Oxford (home to Nobel Prize winner William Faulkner) hosts book conferences and art talks,  Shakespeare Festivals, and Art auctions. You can check out the calendar of events at http://www.oxfordcvb.com/calendar.html   

We dropped into the Southside Gallery on the square and met up with Wil, son of the gallery owner, who gave us a bit of information about the Oxford art scene. After a southern salad of black eyed peas and smoked catfish at Ajax Restaurant, A. Paul & I eased our way back onto Hwy 55S for a 5+ hour drive to New Orleans.  On many stretches of the highway, our only companions were birds in flight over rolling fields sandwiched between what I began referring to as"ghost trees."

along Hwy 55S

This stretch of road was so serene that I began to wonder how such a beautiful and calming landscape could be attached to so much human sorrow throughout history. It is comforting to know that small communities that dot this landscape find cause to join together in celebration of its talents, be it whatever they may be.



As darkness enveloped us, we passed over the last bridge into New Orleans.  Once settled, we took a quick cab ride to the French Quarter to see what was happening on Bourbon Street  on this cool Friday evening. Though I have never been to New Orleans, A. Paul visited about 20 years ago.  He was surprised at the changes along Bourbon Street, commenting what used to be home to jazz clubs now have a more contemporary feel with venues seemingly geared to a younger crowd.  Still, we walked, took in a few of the sights and grabbed a light dinner before heading back to the hotel.



Bourbon Street



inside a shop on Bourbon Street



 Tomorrow, we explore the Contemporary Art Center (CAC), New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA), and are hopeful to participate in the Saturday evening gallery stroll. 

Memphis Tennessee--Brooks Museum & International Blues Challenge

MEMPHIS- BROOKS MUSEUM

MBuya Mask
Africa DRC

Rhythm Pounders - Male & Female
Mali

After our night out with the McClure's listening to Bluegrass in Nashville, A. Paul & I were just a bit rough around the edges when we headed out for Memphis this morning.  The gray sky made the hibernating landscape appear cold and lifeless until we arrived at Memphis' oldest art museum, the Brooks Museum of Art. Though there was a definite chill to the air, the sun's reflection on the museum's Georgian marble Beaux Arts facade was warm and inviting.

The Brooks Museum was built in 1916 through an endowment from Bessie Vance Brooks.  The museum is situated within the Overton Park about 15 minutes outside downtown Memphis. Over the last 85 years, the museum expanded three times--1955, 1973, & 1989 to its current 29 galleries, 2 art classroom, a print study, and research library.  The Brooks permanent collections range from antiquity to the present on three levels.  The rotunda of the 3rd level houses an impressive African Art Collection. The entry level galleries exhibit early American & European works up to the 20c  in period rooms displaying visual arts with decorative arts. The lower museum level houses the traveling & special exhibits.

Italian Renaissance & Baroque works comprise the majority of the European collection with Early American painters' landscapes & portraiture comprising the core of the American collection.

"Au Pied de la Falaise"
William Adolpre
Bouguereau

The modern and contemporary galleries are a survey of  American and European arts ranging from 1900s to present but its focus is mainly pre-1945.

"Waterfall #1 Maui"
Georgia O'Keeffe

The curation of the collection is worthy of a visit if you are in the Memphis area.  You can visit the Brooks Museum website at http://www.brooksmuseum.org/

MEMPHIS-BLUEGRASS to BLUES



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Vince Johnson & Plantation Allstars

With the Nashville bluegrass harmonies still reeling through our heads, we rolled into downtown Memphis right in the middle of the International Blues Challenge. What luck!  There was absolutely no way that A. Paul & I were not going to drag our bodies down Beale Street to take in the sights and sounds. 

For a street that already rarely sleeps, the IBC kicks it up a notch or a hundred.  On this night, the second night of the challenge, 100 blues bands from all over the world come to compete to make it to tomorrow's semi finals, and eventually to the finals on Saturday.  A $10 silver plastic bracelet gives you entry for one night into all 11 venues that are hosting the event.  A $100 pass takes you through the entire 5 days of the event. We literally dropped our bags and headed off, first to eat at the City Blues Cafe (yes, we did try the BBQ) then off to see musicians from all walks of life play their hearts out.  We weaved our ways through a very cold street for over 5 hours, soaking in all the blues one could ask for in Memphis. 

Beale Street



Randy Oxford Band

Some of our favorites of the evening were listening to the cool vibes from Memphis own competitor, Vince Johnson & the Plantation Allstars; the phenomenal trombone and sultry sounds of Randy Oxford Band;  and singer/songwriter Ezra Charles Band with his three female horn section at B.B. Kings. Each band arrived to Memphis by winning in their own regional contest and ,in this event, must play all original songs, with one cover song option.  The bands play 30 minutes with a short  5-8 minutes changeover to set up.  It was, to say the least, an inspiring and satisfying way to be greeted in Memphis.   Though there is an  announced after hours jam session this evening (and every evening during the event), A. Paul & I simply ran out of steam.  Tomorrow, we head out to New Orleans but Memphis thank you for the arts in all avenues that you provided us today.  A big thank you to Gail, Jimmy, and Ken  for offering two weary travelers space at your tables.

Kerry & Ken, judge asst at Hard Rock

I'd like to leave our blog readers this evening with the promised sound clip from John McClure of Nashville with his daughter Leslie on vocals, but John, I need it as an url if possible.  I couldn't upload the mp3 so if you have an itunes url or similar I think it will work.   Sorry you and Annie weren't here for IBC, you would have loved it.

Good night everyone until tomorrow.

Frist Center, Music Hall of Fame & Nashville Galleries

FRIST CENTER FOR THE VISUAL ARTS, NASHVILLE

Frist Center for the Visual Arts

When you think of Nashville, one usually thinks of music, and you would be right, but it's not the only form of art Nashville has to offer.  A. Paul & I set out today to find the visual arts of Nashville; our first stop, the Frist Center for the Arts. 

Frist interior

The Frist Center occupies a monumental structure of white marble in the heart of downtown which was once home to the US Post Office.  The building was constructed in the 1930s during the Hoover Administration and is listed on the National Historic Registry.  The underused space, after much negotiation, was refitted in 2001 to become the Frist Center for the Arts which solely houses traveling & special exhibits.  Its classic exterior and Art Deco interior are the perfect combination for displaying exhibits of local, national, and international fame. 

A. Paul and I just missed, by a week, the "Birth of Impressionism," artwork from the Musee D'Orsay, and Chihuly exhibit. Currently, the center is in full swing preparing for the next exhibit "Vishnu: Blue Skinned Savior" opening February 20, 2011.  We met up with Michael Brechner, Design Director at the Frisk, outside of the main exhibit spaces.  The design crew was well underway in moving interior walls, replastering, and painting the space in preparation for the Vishnu exhibit.  (And I thought changing our gallery was hard!)  The entire space is restructured to dictate the flow pattern throughout the exhibit space,  Amazing task and design work. Best luck to you, Michael, on the new exhibit.

Egglestrom

During our visit, two exhibits were viewable; one on the lower level of the gallery titled "Young Tennessee Artists" which is a select display of works by statewide AP studio art students, and a visual journey through the eyes of photographer William Eggleston called  "Anointing the Overlooked."  I was impressed by the level of promise of the arts via the high school program and content to know that Tennessee state is supporting the arts of its future.

At the entrance to Eggleston's exhibit is a quote by William Eggleston that aptly describes the content held within, "I had this notion of what I called a democratic way of looking around: that nothing was more important or less important."   This quote by Egglestom provides the key to viewing and understanding the beauty of Egglestrom photographic subjects--deserted pinball machines in long forgotten corners, clothes fluttering on clotheslines, rusted billboards alongside freshly planted fields.  His photos capture static moments in time with nuances of familiarity that unlock unspoken thoughts and emotions. Perhaps this is why his work graces so many music and book covers.  People can relate to this Memphis, Tennesseean's imagery.

ArtQuest Room

Around the corner from the Eggleston exhibit was the Frist ArtQuest workroom.  ArtQuest is an educational art center for persons of all ages.  Each station provides a lesson in basics of art--shadow & light; horizon lines, use of figure in landscape, perspective, symbolism, the list goes on.  There is a hands on printmaking station, two impressionist stations, and a video circular room that describes the making of ceramics.  Overall,  ArtQuest serves one purpose and that is to educate and engage its participant in the world of art.  You can visit Frist Center at http://www.fristcenter.org/

Susan Tinney (L) and Kerry (R)

Following the Frist, A. Paul & I visited the Arcade where there are several artists' studios and galleries on the second level.  Across the street, we visited three upscale contemporary galleries--The Rhymer gallery, Tinney Contemporary, and The Arts Company.   All of the galleries and studios participate in the first Saturday Art Crawl. At the Tinney Contemporary Gallery, we met up with gallery owner Susan Tinney who was in the midst of rehanging the gallery with NY artist Bret De Palma's work opening February 5th.  Tinney focuses on exhibiting cutting edge artists and described the changing and growing art scene in Nashville. You can check out her gallery at http://www.tinneycontemporary.com/

The Arcade

Of course, no trip to Nashville would be complete without a trip down Broadway to see the music honky tonks and boot outlets.  A. Paul succumbed and found a pair of boots that he is so comfortable in he states he just might have to buy a pair to wear in his studio. I admit that I looked for a pair myself but still have not found just the right ones but maybe I will in Memphis, our next stop, or Santa Fe. 

To round out our day, A. Paul & I made a trip through Country Music Hall of Fame to see the heart of Nashville's music industry.  Sounds of old country songs, Waylon Jennings, Tammy Wynette and the likes seeped from serpentine booths.  Stage clothing and life stories were plastered along the walls.  Other walls were covered with platinum and gold record hits.  The entire history of country music unfolds before your eyes.

Music Hall of Fame

James King Band

For our last evening in Nashville, we met up with music recording artist John McClure and his wife Annie.  Their goal was to ensure that we saw the real side of Nashville so we headed out to Station Inn, home of the bluegrass bands.  This evening's live entertainment was the James King Band.  The music was soulful bluegrass at its best.  It is probably a good thing that we head out tomorrow as I could stay here and listen to this heartfelt music for quite a long time.  Thank you, John & Annie, we had a wonderful evening.  As a reminder, John, you promised a music file clip of your music recording to put on our blog.  Thanks so much for the inside view into your world of music.

Tomorrow we pack up and move on to Memphis to check out the art scene there then onto New Orleans.

Atlanta, GA to Nashville, TN

ATLANTA

Atlanta Artists Center



Restaurant across street

If you have been watching the news then you already know about the "big" storm moving through the country.  Based on the storm, A. Paul & I decided to forego the gallery visits around Atlanta and head out early to Nashville in an effort to beat the storm there.  We did have time to squeeze in one visit to Atlanta Artists Center in a artsy little neighborhood in the Buckhead region of Atlanta before we departed.  

A. Paul with Judith Schonback

 

Inside, A. Paul & I were greeted by writer, editor, watercolorist Judith Schonback, who gave us a brief history of the center.  The Atlanta Artists Center and Gallery is Atlanta's oldest continuous not for profit arts organization.  Its mission, since its conception in 1954,  is to foster the growth of artists through artist collaboration, workshops in marketing, sketch groups, gallery shows, auctions, and meetings where artists can exchange ideas.   The membership in the center is 450 strong, incorporating emerging and established artists from over 20 countries.

Gana Van Laanen, artist's model





Lynda Ellis

While we were at the center, a sketch group was well underway  in a separate room and group leader/artist Lynda Ellis permitted A. Paul to photograph the group and artist model Gana Van Laanen while the group worked.

Outside the workshop area, the gallery space displayed works by member artists of a recently juried show.  There were a number of works that were clearly worthy of the ribbon that adorned them, such as Jodi Hutchens "Lavendar Cloche" which took First Place, Jan 2011. 



"Lavendar Cloce" Jodi Hutchens



You can visit the AAC website at http://www.atlantaartistscenter.org/ .  Thank you to all of you at the center for your time, commitment to the arts, and for your hospitality.

With the gray clouds forming to the west, A. Paul and I knew it was time to get on the road for our 4-1/2 hour drive.  We had hoped to stop at a wonderful new museum about an hour north of Atlanta, the Booth Western Art Museum,  that the Center told us about  but the brooding weather propelled us towards Nashville, TN.  We will have to put the museum on our return list but we will share the link with you so you may visit it at your leisure http://www.boothmuseum.org/

DRIVE TO NASHVILLE

   

rainy freeway



 Though the sky darkened on our drive northwest towards Nashville, the layered shades of gray in the Tennessee mountains were stunningly beautiful.  Eventually, the rain did come in sheets but when the rain passed,  the roadways and lights of the streets in Music City provided a wonderful canvas of color and glorious welcome into Nashville.

Drive to Nashville

Tomorrow we take in the Frist Art Musuem http://www.fristcenter.org/

and, for you music aficionados, the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum. Until tomorrow, stay safe in this storm.

 


Broadway Street, Nashville, TN