GALLERY BURGUIERES

Last night, legendary NYC artist Hunt Slonem visited the Martine Chaisson Gallery for an evening of stunning art, wine, specialty cocktails, and breathtaking gallery space. If you're not familiar with Hunt's work, visit his site to see his lively yet soothing colors and the way in which he captures the endearing and spontaneous nature of animals. 

And if you just can't get enough, The Wall Street Journal  published a story on him yesterday, complete with pictures, history, and an incredible slideshow of the artist's renowned New York studio space!!

As a "sometimes-New Orleanian", Hunt's incredible reputation and personal ties to the city brought out a star-studded showing of beautiful people. Writer John Berendt (of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil) was in attendance, in addition to many other creative and artistic masterminds. 

While Hunt himself was the obvious guest of honor, it was impossible to pass up the gorgeous book he was signing. Full color and comprehensive of the artist's 30+ years of works. 

Hunt and I standing in front of "The Guardians", one my favorite paintings.

In our last post I got to write about FREE BOOKS. As if that weren't enough of a treat, I now have the pleasure of writing about FREE ART!!!

To establish context, we'll start at the beginning of the story. A few days ago, some of you may have noticed we put up a small sign next to our mail slot:

Before you get up-in-arms over the kittens, let me say that we put food out for them. And we fully intend to spoil them with cat treats and donut beds. If there are no further objections....

I opened the door this morning, and instead of the expected cacophony of welcoming meows, I was delighted to see a piece of art!!!! At 5.5 x 7.75 inches, it featured a fleur-de-lis with sparkling stars and a green background, painted on wood and wrapped in cellophane. 

How could one NOT fall in love with this!!!?!? As I turned it over, I noticed a wonderful note on the back. As a writer and language-lover, I'm partial to notes, especially when they are paired with small treasures that need looking after, like Paddington Bear or the baby in that 1980's movie Willow. 

This note was especially dear, as it conveyed pitch-perfectly the joy of receiving art and also the power of art to unify people and communities. 

New Orleans is famous for the pride its residents have in their city and culture, but an often overlooked aspect of this pride is the support and encouragement New Orleanians have for their fellow citizens. I love my little FREE-de-lis for many many reasons, one of which is that the inscription on the back captures how supportive and thoughtful the NOLA community is. Walking into the Gallery today to find it was like catching a shoe from Muses! 

THANK YOU BILLY COUSINS!!!!!

I have a secret love of making collages. But now I don't even have to make them. I just search my favorite artists and beautiful collages of their works come up. 

Yumm.

The New Orleans Film Society hosts its 14th Annual French Film Festival this weekend!! And the venue is none other than our favorite spot for movies and memories, the Prytania Theatre in NOLA's Uptown District. 

We're particularly excited for the biopic on designer Yves Saint Laurent, "L'Amour Fou" (Crazy Love). Not only does it showcase some breathtaking fashion, but it artfully illuminates YSL's devoted relationship with Pierre Bergé and the couple's incredible art collection. Together they acquired works by Picasso, Matisse, Brancusi, Modigliani, and other visionaries. 
 

Need more info? The New Orleans Film Society and NOLA Fashion Week's official synopsis: 

"The public life of Yves Saint Laurent was as extravagant as it was decadent. As a design prodigy (he took over designing for the house of Christian Dior at age 21) and then the grand couturier of a fashion empire, he influenced fifty years of style-but few are familiar with the private life of the legend. Pierre Bergé, the man with whom YSL shared four decades of his life and love, reflects on the equally extravagant history of their personal relationship. Their three lavishly-furnished houses (in Paris, Normandy and Marrakech) are toured. Framed around the 2009 auction of the fabulous, priceless art collection amassed by the couple over several decades (including works by Brancusi, Modigliani, Picasso, Matisse, Braque and Mondrian), this extraordinary documentary provides an unprecedented look at the life of a mythic personality, whose personal life matched his public for elegance, extravagance and passion. L’Amour Fou is a must see for fans of documentary film and fashion die-hards alike. With appearances by Andy Warhol, Mick Jagger and Catherine Deneuve; directed by Pierre Thoretton. (Fully subtitled)"

We passed through the Bywater neighborhood today, and hoped to catch a glimpse of artist and New Orleans legend Dr Bob at work.

He wasn't in his studio!! His very friendly neighbor told us to give him a call, but maybe we'll just try again tomorrow. For now, we have some colorful and inspiring pictures from our visit.

Maybe the energy-sucking vampires got to him and he needed a nap. Hope to see you soon Dr Bob!! We love your work.

The Angela King Gallery at 241 Royal St. is now exhibiting a few original Dr. Seuss sculptures (alongside lithographs and serigraphs).

Who knew that in the 1930's Seuss started making sculptures from antlers, fur, and other animal bits collected by his father (who was the superintendent at the Forest Park Zoo)?

It sounds weird, and I am TOTALLY against the use of animal bits except by their rightful owners (the animals), but there is something serene and even cute about these works.

All available literature simply states the parts came from "deceased" animals (uh, yeah), so perhaps they died of natural causes and Seuss just immortalized their terrestrial forms for all to appreciate. Benefit of the doubt.

The exhibit—"The Art of Dr. Seuss: Rare Editions Collections"—began April 2 and runs through May 2011.

Yesterday I met Joy Guha Sarkar, proprietor of the gorgeous French Quarter shop "Earth Odyssey". Joy radiates warmth and intelligence and generosity.

Ever since I got a rock tumbler for my seventh birthday, I've had a soft spot for gems & minerals. Joy's shop is an absolute TREAT and so is she!! If you're in New Orleans you should visit for sure, and if you're looking for an excuse (besides the selection of gems, minerals, essential oils, etc), then check out the shop's Spring Wellness Event on Tuesday, April 19th from 4 p.m. — 8 p.m.

Chair massages, tarot readings, energy healing, and VEGETARIAN hors d'oeuvres! And proceeds go to a great cause — they help the girls of an orphanage in West Bengal. Joy has been to the orphanage several times, and you can be assured that your support does make a huge difference!!

I'm gathering up some paintings/prints that may be on display as part of the event. Please stop by and take part in this evening of Wellness and Reconnection!

Had a wonderful day yesterday modeling for Storyville with Tim Donnelly (of Inverted Soapbox (and Twitter) fame)! Storyville sells Tshirts designed by local artists.

We got to meet Storyville Owners Josh Harvey (also Photogextraordinaire) and Natalie Naquin Harvey. Tim and I duked it out for the title of most questions asked. We're now on Storyville's frontpage slideshow! Lol fun times, great shirts, and we even got to take a couple shirts home with us when we finished (I'm in mine right now... It's so soft I may never take it off).

Technically we got one shirt each, but I couldn't decide so I left with three. So far I've worn the '84 World's Fair Tshirt, and gotten remarkable attention for it. Tim and I went to the Marigny and Frenchman Street last night, and I got hollered at! Well, my shirt got hollered at, I guess, since what the guy said was, "Great shirt!"

To which I replied, "Thanks! I was two years old in 1984." He was an older gentleman, which is why I mentioned it. "Did you have to wait to grow into it?" he asked. I told him I used it as a baby blanket until I was big enough to fit into it.

Now that I think of it, I should have told him I got it at Storyville on Magazine Street. But I thought the visual of the baby blanket made for a better conversation. From now on, I'm pointing people straight to my new favorite Mag Street shop!!

When people come to town you have to take them to Bourbon St. I always take them to Bourbon and get them Hurricanes until they are sufficiently compliant and then I take them to Royal Street and make them humor me while I walk around enjoying the galleries.

Today's big find was a print by Tanner. This image is called "Forgotten", and I got #13 in a series of 200!

Lucky #13! He had a few different paper reproductions available; I chose "Forgotten" because of the soft peach background and the bluish purple tones of the middle trees. All his paintings are beautiful, but something about this one drew me in.

"Waiting" (Left)

I also LOVE his works with animals. I feel like the animals add the presence of a soul to his paintings. It's like the trees are no longer quiet.

"The Guardian"(Below)

Beautiful Blues.

Tanner was there painting when we stopped by—it was incredible to see a painting in progress. I got to ask him some about his process and technique. He said he doesn't use mediums though his paints are glossy, and suggested I might enjoy painting with "guache"—a mix of watercolor and chalk. I've never tried it but will look into it. Gallery Director Dennis Procopio was there too—what a DELIGHT to talk with! He's a smart funny and fun guy.

From Tanner's Site:
"These days Tanner can be found painting in the quiet calm of his Royal Street Gallery, a serene space where enchanting works and ambient sounds combine to recreate those eerily comforting woods. Only now, Tanner's woods are a delicately rendered archetype symbolizing the sacred inner-sanctuary we all cultivate, both individually and collectively, as respite from a world that is increasingly out of tune with our natural sensibilities." All images are from Tanner's site.

The Southern hospitality never ceases to amaze me! I just got back from a wonderful lunch with Jacques Rodrigue and Mallory Page. Jacques is the son of artist George Rodrigue and Executive Director of the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts and Mallory is an artist with a gallery on Julia Street. We went to Herbsaint on St. Charles and had a blast.

The George Rodrigue Foundation does a lot of great work with education and schools, and if you ever want to feel happy and inspired just take a look at Blue Dog-based children's art!!

That picture is by Sophia Hallstein from Los Gatos, California, and is from the foundation's Web site. SO CUTE!

Jacques also took Mallory and me on a tour of the NEW, STILL-UNDER-CONSTRUCTION Foundation Headquarters! The new space is on Julia Street, and it is breathtaking. At the moment it is in the painting stages — white, clean, beautiful — and the first thing you see when you walk in (for now, anyway) is a stained glass transom of — who else? — the Blue Dog. I wanted to take a picture but was so wrapped up in the excitement of construction and new spaces that I never did.

Jacques relayed that there will be video screens for slideshows and Rodrigue art on the walls, and ultimately the Foundation offices will serve as a museum and activity center. Rodrigue's Royal Street gallery gets a lot of school field trips, so when this space opens up the school kids will go the Foundation offices instead.