The New Orleans 100

 

Bringing the Tricentennial to NOMA

Lesley Dill's "Hell Hell Hell / Heaven Heaven Heaven: Encountering Sister Gertrude Morgan & Revelation," 2010, New Orleans Museum of Art, gift of the artist, 2014.45.1. (Photo courtesy of Michael Smith)

The New Orleans Museum of Art marks the Tricentennial with exhibitions celebrating some of NOLA’s defining elements.

NOMA showcases highlights from:

– “Bror Anders Wikstrom: Bringing Fantasy to Carnival,” features the designer’s Mardi Gras float and costume designs, on view December 22, 2017-April 29, 2018.

– “Changing Course: Reflecting on New Orleans Histories” brings together contemporary art that focuses on forgotten, marginalized histories of the city, on view June 21-September 16, 2018.

– “The Orléans Collection” features selections from the magnificent collection of the city’s namesake, Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, on view October 26, 2018-January 27, 2019.

– Margaux Krane, New Orleans Museum of Art

 

Celebrate the Opera’s 75th Anniversary

As America’s first city of opera, New Orleans opera is 222 years old and going strong. This year, The New Orleans Opera celebrates its 75th Anniversary in its current incarnation, with seven operas.

With expanded education programs and more diverse offerings, this is another historical year. The season will feature the following productions: “Cavalleria Rusticana/Pagliacci,” “Orpheus in the Underworld,” “Tabasco: A Burlesque Opera” and Terence Blanchard’s “Champion.” The Opera’s 75th Diamond Jubilee Concert, with stars future, past and present, will take place to celebrate this anniversary.

Keep up to date with the Opera on social media with #operaconnects.

Purchase tickets for any of the upcoming shows here.

– Joe McKesson, The New Orleans Opera

 

‘FUN HOME’ Delivers Fun to A … Fun-eral Home

Southern Rep's "FUN HOME" will run through October 22. (Photo courtesy of John B. Barrois)

Five Tony Awards. Critical acclaim. A Pulitzer finalist. The Broadway musical sensation “FUN HOME” opens Southern Rep Theatre’s new season, playing at NOCCA through October 22.

An emotional powerhouse, “FUN HOME” follows Alison Bechdel through her memories in the family funeral home, her coming-of-age journey and her father’s sudden death. A trio of actresses play Alison at different ages.

“FUN HOME” is getting its regional premiere from Southern Rep & NOCCA Stage Company. Mother-daughter duo Leslie Castay and Camille Burkey appear with Jason Dowies in this ensemble-driven musical drama based on the book by Alison Bechdel.

For more information on tickets, click here.

– Jenny Windstrup, Southern Rep

 

David Hammer’s Many Strengths

David Hammer, a seventh-generation New Orleanian, is known for his investigative work on WWL-TV. He’s proud of his New Orleans heritage and makes it his mission to help improve his community by holding leaders accountable and exposing fraud and abuse.

You’ve read his investigations, but did you know David Hammer loves old-school hip hop? In fact, if he could be any one character from a movie, he would choose Ezekiel from “The Get Down.”

He was also a quarterback at Ben Franklin and is proud have chalked up at least one win against Peyton Manning. Learn more.

– WWL-TV, Part of Tegna Local Louisiana

 

Tricentennial Style: Hazelnut and Alexa Pulitzer

Alexa Pulitzer's New Orleans designed pieces.
Alexa Pulitzer and Hazelnut add even more charm to our 300th year with their specially designed pieces.

“My needs are simple. I’m easily satisfied with the best.”

While it was Winston Churchill, and not a New Orleanian, who first uttered these iconic words, it’s safe to say we should have been, especially given the high caliber of goods coming out of our local spaces. We at 2018nola have been blessed with some exceptional pieces of memorabilia, thanks to artisans like Alexa Pulitzer, who created a line of paper goods with our seal, and the dynamic team at Hazelnut, who curated a lineup of lucite accessories for the home.

Our 300th year is easily the best yet.

All 2018nola merchandise can be found here.

– Scott Hutcheson, Senior Advisor to the Mayor on the Cultural Economy

 

The Recipe: a Story of Loss, Love and the Ingredients to Greatness

Front cover of the book The Recipe
Get ready for some novel life lessons that inspire on many levels.

The soon-to-be-launched book by bestselling author John David Mann (The Go-Giver), The Recipe, is set to be another masterpiece of charming storytelling and profound wisdom.

Mann partnered with Culinary Olympian Chef Charles Carroll to create The Recipe, and just like a particularly delicious meal that inspires on many levels, the book is a delightful mix of novel, life lessons and cookbook.

Following the travails of a young man’s life turned upside down by his father’s death, and his encounter with a gruff chef who delivers teachings well beyond cooking, The Recipe is available for pre-order.

– Tara Rogers-Ellis, The Dubai 100

 

Free Admission or Tours for New Orleans Museum Month

Visitors touring a museum.
A volunteer at The Historic New Orleans Collection (THNOC) shows visitors the portrait gallery at 533 Royal Street.

Every year in August, museums across the city band together for New Orleans Museum Month, when members of one participating museum receive free admission or tours at the other 16 participating sites in the metro area.

As a returning participant, THNOC is offering free guided tours and 10% off purchases at The Shop at The Collection. Simply present proof of membership at the front desk to receive the benefits. For anyone who’s not a member, this is a great time to join.

Click here for the full list of participating museums. Visit THNOC’s website for more information about its offerings.

– Lauren Noel, The Historic New Orleans Collection

 

Exhibition Showcases Collector’s Love for Louisiana Art

Portrait of Laura Simon Nelson, 1971; oil on Masonite by Laurence Christie Edwardson (1904–95); The Historic New Orleans Collection, gift of Laura Simon Nelson, 1996.122.4

“Art is not for a select few, but for everyone, and those who acquire and possess it are only the custodians, and then they pass it on to others.” —Laura Simon Nelson

In 1995, The Historic New Orleans Collection’s visual art holdings increased with Laura Simon Nelson’s gift of her extensive, lovingly assembled collection of Louisiana art, which included over 425 pieces and 70 works of Newcomb pottery.

Nelson wrote beautiful reflections on Louisiana art in the book “Complimentary Visions,” and 80 works from this donation are on view in THNOC’s exhibition, A Most Significant Gift, at 400 Chartres St.

– Teresa Devlin, The Historic New Orleans Collection

 

Classical Opera Meets 21st Century Marketing

Seventy-five years of brilliant opera, historic performances and legendary musical moments featuring stars and friends.

English poet W.H. Audin once said, “No good opera plot can be sensible, for people do not sing when they are feeling sensible.”

But as the New Orleans Opera deliberated on how to market its 75th anniversary, they needed a “sensible” approach.

The opera discovered its audience was made up in part by a more tech-savvy demographic, which included people who were abandoning cable and opting to stream video online. So the opera partnered with WWL-TV and incorporated the premium platform to deliver traditional commercials to these hard-to-reach, non-traditional consumers where they’re active online.

– WWL-TV, Part of TEGNA Local Louisiana

 

JPAS’s 40th Season Is About to Begin

JPA's 40th season
JPA is offering a variety of shows in its 40th season to continue to enrich the area's cultural scene.

Jefferson Performing Arts Society is proud to announce its 40th anniversary season and the grand re-opening of the Westwego Performing Arts Theatre!

Offering performances for the 2017-2018 season at the beautiful Jefferson Performing Arts Center and the Westwego Campus Venues, JPAS continues to fill a once empty void of professional arts.

Their mission is to promote arts performance, training and outreach by providing a diverse range of quality programs that entertain, educate and enrich the cultural and economic vitality of Jefferson Parish, Greater New Orleans and the Gulf South. For more on Flex Passes and tickets click here.

– Jefferson Performing Arts Society

 

Making Art Work With the Government

Artist Brandan Odums painted this mural as a tribute to a young trumpet player who passed away, Travis "Trumpet Black" Hill. (Photo courtesy of OffBeat)

New Orleans is bursting with art; however, our bureaucracy is almost as well-known as our culture. But working with the city can assist artists.

Since 2010, our administration has overhauled the permitting system, making a one-stop shop for permits to help festival organizers. We also support artists and cultural businesses by creating guides about everything from permits to zoning.

Providing basic information to artists may seem obvious, but informing the cultural community about using the tools of government to support culture is a crucial government function in a city where 14% of jobs are in the cultural economy.

– Alison Gavrell, Senior Advisor to the Deputy CAO

 

Live, Local Music in THNOC’s Picturesque Courtyard

Music flows in THNOC’s historic Royal Street courtyard. (Photo courtesy of Emily Hindin)

In the heart of the French Quarter, local music and history share the stage at The Historic New Orleans Collection’s Concerts in the Courtyard series.

On one Friday each month in the spring and fall, as afternoon flows into evening, locals and tourists sip and sway to the good vibrations of Louisiana musicians echoing through the picturesque Royal Street courtyard.

Now in its 10th year, the series features a new group each month. THNOC’s next concert is Friday, May 19, and will feature the rural sounds of the Sweet Olive String Band. Guests must be 21 or older to enter.

– Eli Haddow, The Historic New Orleans Collection

 

“NCIS: New Orleans” Continues to Let the Good Times Roll

From downtown to Elmwood, New Orleans is home to all of the filming of "NCIS: New Orleans."

If you’re a fan of “NCIS: New Orleans,” you’re in luck. The show has been renewed for a fourth season.

The show, starring Scott Bakula and CCH Pounder, features New Orleans and surrounding areas and has included many locals as extras. While local scenery is the main backdrop, some scenes like the inside of the NCIS office and the coroner’s office are shot on a film set in Elmwood.

Get a behind-the-scenes look on the set of the “NCIS: New Orleans” offices here and watch “NCIS: New Orleans” on Tuesday nights at 9PM on WWL-TV, Channel 4.

– WWL-TV, Part of TEGNA Local Louisiana

 

Getting Into the Scales, How Brumfield Paints Fish

Craig Brumfield gets the actual DNA of his subject matter.

Craig Brumfield is not only a painter, potter and scrimshaw carver in bone or ivory, but he is also a pioneer in gyotaku, the Japanese method of printing fish, which may have been used by fishermen since the 1800s. Gyotaku is now its own art form, preferred by some to mounting.

Brumfield explains, “With a mounting of a marlin, there is usually little relation to the actual fish, except for size. With gyotaku, we paint the animal. You must get into the scales. The actual DNA of the fish is in the paint, and it looks just like your catch.”

– Candra George, Inside Northside

 

New Orleans: Where Opera Began

Come one, come all, to the Mad Hatter Luncheon and Fashion Show! (Photo courtesy of the Women's Guild of the New Orleans Opera)

When we imagine opera, we usually think of Italy. But, did you know that the first US opera house was established in New Orleans? On May 22, 1796, Ernest Gretry’s “Sylvain” was performed in New Orleans while it was still under Spanish rule.

Since then, New Orleans has had a rich history of opera. In 1947, the Women’s Guild of the New Orleans Opera was founded and has since played a key role in the continuous success of the opera in New Orleans. Its annual Mad Hatter Luncheon and Fashion Show benefits opera education in the city. Learn more here!

Purchase tickets for this year’s Mad Hatter, taking place on March 22 from 10:30AM-2PM!

– Joanne Mantis, Co-chair, Mad Hatter Luncheon and Fashion Show

 

King Pins, Remastered

From necklaces to trees, these pins look amazing anywhere.

During Mardi Gras, it is common to see women with numerous pins clustered on lapels or adorning necklaces. These are typically “favors” and ducals from Mardi Gras krewes or royalty. Often spotted at Carnival luncheons, the various styles spark conversations that hint at the otherwise anonymity of Mardi Gras monarchs.

Pins have evolved since their first use in the mid-19th century, gaining popularity over the past decades. Krewes work with jewelry designers to reflect a parade or ball theme, or even a king’s interests. The pins are treasured mementos, some of which are found in museums or private collections.

– Ruthie Frierson

 

More Than Fitness at NOBA Senior Dance Fitness Program

NOBA's Senior Dance Fitness Program provide a safe physical outlet for its members. (Photo courtesy of NOBA)

If you think the New Orleans Ballet Association (NOBA) is an organization responsible for hosting world-class dance companies and artists, you would be right. However, NOBA is also responsible for nationally recognized award-winning education programs and 5,500 tuition-free dance classes and workshops annually throughout the New Orleans area.

In partnership with NORDC, NOBA offers the Senior Dance Fitness Program. This free program is available to men and women over 55 and involves stretching, cardio, dance and music, as well as health and wellness workshops, performance opportunities, social events, workshops by visiting and local artists, and more.

– Anna LeDonne, The New Orleans 100

 

Earl Scruggs Center Celebrates Music & Stories From the South

The Earl Scruggs Center is located in the restored 1907 Cleveland County Courthouse. (Photo courtesy of the Earl Scruggs Center)

Cleveland County native Earl Scruggs was a bluegrass legend who popularized the three-finger style of banjo picking. Scruggs is a Grammy winner, Grand Ole Opry member, and inductee in the Country Music Hall of Fame and International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor.

The Earl Scruggs Center in Shelby explores Scruggs’ innovative career and the community that shaped it, while celebrating how he crossed musical boundaries and defined the voice of the banjo to the world.

Through Jan. 7, 2017, the center features an exhibit titled “Star Spangled Sounds: Stories of Music and the Military.” Visit here for upcoming events.

– Glen Gillen, APR, S&A Communications

 

WalkingMan Studios Gives Sense of Place to Homes in New Orleans

Walking Man Studios provides custom prints to give its customers a sense of place.

WalkingMan Studios, located on Magazine Street near Whole Foods, provides custom illustrations and prints to its customers. The shop, founded by New Orleans native Maggie Covert, has something for everyone.

Maggie Covert’s childhood home and the memories it evoked inspired her to pursue illustrations, focusing on prints that pay homage to homes that are more than inanimate objects. Covert believes that a home becomes part of the family. To that end, she feels it is important for families to commemorate houses, even if the families move.

Through its online store, WalkingMan Studios also sells pre-made prints, invitations and maps.

– Sarah H. Centorino, The New Orleans 100