NEW ORLEANS

CHARACTER STUDY ON THE STREETS OF NEW ORLEANS.

photos by Elizabeth Gordon

NEW ORLEANS PORTRAIT

NEW ORLEANS  IS  A PLACE TO BE IN LOVE WITH.  IT IS RICH WITH HISTORY AND CULTURE THAT SEEPS INTO YOUR SOUL AND TAKES HOLD LIKE A LONGING THAT YOU CAN'T LET GO OF.  

YOU CAN GO A MILLION PLACES, BUT IT WILL NEVER BE NEW ORLEANS.  THERE IS NO PLACE TO COMPARE IT TO.  THIS PHOTO WAS ONE I TOOK IN THE QUARTER. I CAN REMEMBER AS CLEARLY AS THE MOMENT I SNAPPED THE SHUTTER.  I REMEMBER THE CONVERSATION THAT DREW MY ATTENTION, A FATHER BRAGGING ABOUT HIS DAUGHTERS SUCCESS IN PARIS FASHION.  SO DAPPER, SO UNIQUE, SO FRENCH QUARTER, THIS MAN WHO PERSONIFIED EVERYTHING EVERY WRITER WOULD EVER PUT TO PEN ABOUT A CITY ALL TO ITS OWN.

photo and all rights by Elizabeth Gordon  

THE NEWLY EXPANDED WALTER ANDERSON ART MUSEUM

WALTER ANDERSON ART MUSEUM
AN AMERICAN MASTER/post 1 of 3

New entrance to the Walter Anderson Museum  with the gift shop to the right.
 Photo by Elizabeth Gordon with permission of the museum.                                                                                                      

The stunning new entrance is expansive and majestic.  It opens up to the trees and sky as Walter Anderson would have liked. Nature was  with all its creatures, an  anchor in his life.   In living things he found a world he became almost one with as he lost touch with reality more and more.  He fought mental illness a long time in his life. As he grew older and life challenges harder, he was in and out of mental hospitals like Whitaker in Mississippi. There are even a set of drawings he did of himself and his torment in the facility.  In a way it reminds one of Van Gogh.  They both continued to be highly productive in spite of their mental difficulties Walter Anderson was officially diagnosed with schizophrenia, but his family was told if he had freedom he could function in the world of men.  So the family let him be, he had his own cabin and came and went as he wanted.  In his good periods he would sometimes visit the family and his children, but those times became rarer and rarer and his times away longer and longer. In his era mental illness was not well understood and he was just thought of as the towns crazy person. He had married another artist when times were better and had six children. As he slipped into his own world he saw his family time less and less.

Walter on his skiff sailing to  Hog Island                       Photo with permission of museum

Anderson was born in New Orleans and came from a family of well educated people.  His Mother helped to start Newcombe College. Newcombe also became well known for its school of ceramics and a unique style of pottery.  
He was trained at the Pennsylvania College of Art, and traveled to China and other countries.  The family wanted to raise their children to be artist, so they bought average in Ocean Springs and formed Shearwater Pottery in which all were employed.  Peter, the oldest, ran the pottery and Walter worked developing designs and forms, he called "widgets".  

Walter Anderson's Bicycle

If he was not riding his bike, he was rowing his skiff off to Hog

He was often seen riding his bicycle through the little village of Ocean Springs which drew many artists and writers. 

Detail of Walter Anderson paining of map of bay area of Ocean Springs
Island or Round Island in the Gulf of Mexico.  After his death in 1965 many of his drawings and water colors were found in the sands on the island.  

Hallway from entrance to main part of museum

With the tall ceilings natural lighting pours in from the skylights.
photo by Elizabeth Gordon with permission of the museum.

"BOB" ROWING HIS SKIFF TO HOG ISLAND

Gallery hall way leading to left wing

The Famous Skiff that made many trips to Hog Island in all kinds of weather

Turtle Diptych 1960 watercolor with permission of Walter Anderson Museum

Turtle Diptych 1960 watercolor  with permission of Walter Anderson Museum

Alligator Gar  detail

close up of detail of Alligator Gar

detail of Alligator Gar 1960

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WALTER ANDERSON MUSEUM OF ART

Sailors on the High Sea

NEW ORLEANS COLORS

COLORS OF NEW ORLEANS 

I think New Orleans has a color pallet that is unique unto itself.  There are greens that you only see there, and reds that are so different you never see them anywhere else.  I know the colors are part old South, but New Orleans at one time went way into the Northern parts of the USA.  About the time Napoleon decided he best sell this large section of land and the Louisiana Purchase was complete, New Orleans had been French and Spanish. Of course there is also the Island influence which brings brighter colors into the mix.  As you walk along through the French Quarter the array of greens are similar yet different.  And then there are the tones of the Old South that play into the mix. Some colors

seem to have a glaze and are shiny, others have a matt finish.  Some have a yellow green and others a blue based green.  The reds also vary from ketchup orangish red to a shiny brighter red. And then there are the yellows, which are oft a bit of a mustard yellow.

photo by Elizabeth Gordon

"When it comes to decorating The Big Easy, New Orleans has a signature palette that colors its iconic architecture inside and out.  Some call it fearless, others call it faded. Regardless of the intensity, the New Orleans color palette blends a rich and diverse heritage of French, Spanish, African, Caribbean and English influences with nature, the passage of time, and the passionate New Orleanians who live there and fall under its spell."

source Benjamin Moore Paint Chat articles

photo by elizabeth Gordon

“New Orleans is a city that loves color, from the most pale … to the most saturated … along with moody sensual colors.” – Valorie Hart, The Visual Vamp

"Two palettes seem to dominate New Orleans interiors. One is funky, warm, and bold; the other is elegant, grayed and frayed. The former color scheme has roots in Spain and the Caribbean; the latter calls to mind genteel spaces reminiscent of Paris apartments. Some people mix the vibrant hues with the softer ones; others stick to one aesthetic."  source for article Benjamin Moore Color Chats

This is the link to Benjamin Moore if you would like to see more discussion on New Orleans colors- See more at: http://colorchats.benjaminmoore.com/2012/03/is-there-such-a-thing-as-regional-color-part-two-the-colors-of-new-orleans/#sthash.2n72CKlj.dpuf

Muriel's Restaurant in the French Quarter
photo by Elizabeth Gordon

Muriel's interior/photo by Elizabeth Gordon

The Dutch Alley New Orleans Art Co-operative

THE DUTCH ALLEY ART CO-OPERATIVE

Sean Dixson Maker of Voodoobots

 Click on the highlighted title above for the link and more information on individual artist.

While walking through the French Quarter in New Orleans we happened upon this really great artist co-operative. There are 6 artists that represent a variety of media and skills. From painting, jewelry, fabrics, folk art, found object art, ceramics and more.

Artist James Jensen selling Ann a piece of local art.

 James does unique jewelry with old records and discs.  His jewelry is bright, eye popping colors and design with a found art feel.  He has been designing earrings for over 20 years.  He loves the Quarter and all the people he meets there.  
There are 6 artist in this co-operative which we will list and give you a link to for more information.

Earrings made out of records 

James Record Earrings

Earrings made of old records

Stewart South Painting

Stewart South Painting 

Raku salt and pepper shakers        

Photo by Elizabeth Gordon with permission of gallery

 Stewart South is another artist that is a part of the co-operative.  He is a painter and a printmaker.  He studied a Tulane majoring in print making, but he also does photography and conceptual art. There is a style of art that I love in New Orleans, one can call it found art or recycled art, but it almost involves wood and tin and painting and words.  I am not sure of the origin, but it seems to be a style that is very prominent in New Orleans, if not originating here.

Steward South Painting                permission of artist to show

These are hand stitched handmade pot holders of the famous man hole covers in New Orleans.  Of course we had to have one.

photo by Elizabeth Gordon with permission of gallery

I fell in love with these wonderful little people that seem sculpted and drawn and mixed media at the same time.  They are funky and fun and they seem to have such great character.

Photo by Elizabeth Gordon with permission of Gallery

photo with permission of gallery by Elizabeth Gordon

I have a friend named Mark who will go crazy over these.  He loves robots and collects all kinds.  He has a large bookcase with all his collections.  Sorry Mark you will have to come to New Orleans to get your own!!!

Voodoobots by Sean Dixson

Voodoobot 

Wonderful fun, colorful and flexible hats

Fantastic mixed media…All New Orleans!!!

Gold leaf paintings

mixed media fun!

After hurricane Katrina there was so much debris, so much distraction everywhere.  The artists found they could recycle the wood into art.  

Aren't these great, fierce and cuddle at the same time.