by Ally Burguieres
One of my favorite things about New Orleans at Carnival Season is the way Mardi Gras beads get stuck in the trees. Oftentimes, the necklaces spend all year among the leaves; some trees become as covered in beads as they are in foliage. The beads weave in and out of the branches, and no sooner do the colors fade or the necklaces start drooping than they are replaced by bright new shiny ones by the next year’s parades.
These paintings (oil and acrylic on canvas, 8"x10") capture the Bead Tree iconography while exploring the interplay between natural beauty and man-made beauty. I think these little paintings – and the trees they are imaged after – are lucky, and signify the magic and resilience of the Mardi Gras spirit. Finding a “Bead Tree” in real life has always been a special treat, and with these little Bead Trees on canvas, you can enjoy their luck and charm year-round.
Prices for original Bead Trees are under each painting. They can be shipped worldwide! Limited-edition Giclees (Stretch Canvas Prints) of all the Bead Trees below are available. Giclees are $75, 8x10" on stretched canvas, and can be ordered by emailing me at ally@galleryburguieres.com.
