GALLERY BURGUIERES

One of my all-time favorite places to shop and acquire materials is The Green Project (TGP), a mecca of reclaimed New Orleans architectural treasures. So imagine my delight when friend and creative mastermind Steve Suchman — in New Orleans designing a wonderfully science-y IMAX film — returned from a recent hunting & gathering trip to TGP with a beautiful brass chandelier in tow!! He recognized the potential in the piece and told me to make it my own.

So, I scrubbed it up, put on some primer, painted it turquoise, and finished off the whole show with some high-gloss epoxy resin! The final result? An old New Orleans treasure turned into a bright, shiny piece of art. I created it with the intention of crafting a statement piece full of history and heritage that isn't afraid to flaunt a modern yet classic sensibility. I hope to visit The Green Project each time a statement piece sells, so I can keep the circle of reclaiming, reusing, and recycling going and can feature one bright, reclaimed piece in the gallery at all times! Style and functionality for a good cause :) 

A portion of the cost for this original chandelier goes back to New Orleans relief and rebuilding efforts.

Imparting some necessary skills.

I walked up to the gallery door this morning to find a bevy of small gifts.... Given the matching M.O. of our previous anonymous donor, we can reasonably conclude it is the same person who left our last special delivery. Consider the facts: 

1st Strike: Kitten Muses Throw. Box of Lemonheads. Nightly deposit. 
2nd Strike: Alligator Muses Throw. Penguin Muses Throw. Happy Feet Widescreen DVD. Box of Redhead Chewy Lemonhead & Friends. Nightly deposit.

The similarities are too well executed for this to be a copycat bandit. I suspect the addition of the DVD is meant to divert my attention, so that I spend all afternoon watching tap-dancing birds instead of solving the mystery. Who IS this elusive sprite?!??!??! Our experienced forensics teams tells us the transfer of gifts was perpetrated between midnight and 10 a.m. this morning. 

I'm considering asking some Sasquatch seekers if I can borrow their infrared, motion-activated camera. We must discover the identity of this nocturnal elf!!! 

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!!!!!

There's always something going on in the Quarter, but on the slower days nothing beats a good book and an iced coffee. So in today's post we're highlighting TWO places to procure FREE BOOKS!! And they are both within TWO blocks of the Gallery!

The first is Arcadian Books, located at 714 Orleans Avenue (just across from the Bourbon Orleans hotel). I found this place while trying desperately to escape from Bourbon Street. Orleans Avenue is a quiet little strip that joins Bourbon and Royal Streets.

The free books are left on the front stoop. Don't forget to go in though, because you are in for a cluttery treat of literary proportions!! Books everywhere. 

The second place carries less literature, but is no less literary for it. It's a gorgeous little coffee shop called Royal Blend, located in the alleyway just before The Court of Two Sisters. Sit in the shade of banana trees and sip your frozen coffee confection, all while taking in pearls of wisdom from your free book(s). The books at Royal Blend are actually, on average, fairly light fare. But escapist reading is definitely not a bad thing, and you might need a little Anne Rice after reading the Oxford Anthology of English Poetry you picked up at Arcadia Books. 

We got our party clothes on and are gearing up for tonight's festivities. Check back in tomorrow for pictures from the event!

As you can see on our drop-down sign, Old New Orleans Rum is graciously donating their expertise — they will be making cocktails and offering tastings all evening.

Tomorrow is a BIG DAY at GALLERY BURGUIERES!! We have our favorite Yoga Instructor (aside from Elizabeth Burguieres, of course) coming in to get everyone fantastically FEATHERED!! 

You all know feathers are so hot right now. Alabama-native Abigail Brown, the queen of feather hair extensions and accessories, is coming to the Gallery to make sure no one is featherless at White Linen Night. So spend the afternoon on Royal, get your feather extensions and earrings to glam up your white linen dress, enjoy some of our brand-new birdie paintings (see previous post), and then head over to Julie Street for  the White Linen Festivities! You'll be the best-looking bird in town.

Last night was our grand opening party!! Catered by Whole Foods and The Court of Two Sisters (desserts and drinks, respectively). 

The desserts were out of this world!! I'll list them: Peanut-Butter Fudge, Cookies & Cream Cake, Gummi-Stars, Blueberry Cupcakes, Chocolate Brownies, and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies. When the party was over we took some extra cookies to the kids on a Ghost Tour outside our door (more on the local hauntings later ;). Ten p.m. and we were feeding youngsters their weekly recommended intake of sugar!!! The parents loved us. 

The Court wine was delicious, and we had a great mix of people. Reporters, Collectors, Tourists, Neighbors, and random dessert-lovers from off the street lol. THANK YOU to everyone who came out last night!!!!!!! We loved having you, and hope to see more of you soon. There is still some cake left, so if you want a sugar buzz come visit us!!

Today was the 5th Annual Running of the Bulls in New Orleans! Sadly, we've been hanging paintings since 6 a.m. and were not able to make the festivities. That didn't stop us from ogling all the wonderfully red-and-white-clad boys and girls on Bourbon Street! We want to say a big thanks to the sponsors and producers of the event, because it is just so much fun. 

Here's are two photos from this morning taken by our friend John Lands: 

Can't wait to see you next year, Roller Bulls!!

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.