During Jazzfest as I was packing up someone came running up and bought a stitched heart. A few days later I received this bit of prose she wrote about the peice…

-I came across a heart today. Broken, dirty, haphazardly put back together with rusty nails. And grey was now protecting what was left of the bleeding red underneath. It was by far one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen and though I didnt cry, I felt it deep inside. Not from sadness, though this heart had obviously been through more than anyone should ever have to endure. But from the sheer beauty of its truth-

Thanks Maegan. You have proven art creates art.

I wanted to take a moment to thank all the wonderful art lovers who boaught salvaged wood folk art from me this Jazzfest. Check out the slideshow of happy customers below!

Check out the happy customers slideshow!

The ALGIERS FOLK ART ZONE invites you to:

RSVP 504.234.1703

Next weekend and the weekend after New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival will be lighting up the fairgrounds. While there are tons of great music and food acts at the event, don’t forget to check out the art tents. Some of the country’s best folk and found object artists are featured.

Last year I had the pleasure of admiring the work of and meeting Dolon Geiman, Jimmy Descant and Bryan Cunningham at the event. There are many more artists out there so make sure you check them out. It’s a great spot for natural artists.

I know Ken and he is truly a man who rewards you with his kindness. He’s got a great big smile for everyone. He has a wife and two young children. There should be a way to contribute next weekend at French Quarter Fest. Probably pieces of art donated to the cause by other Jackson Square Artists.

On the morning of April 10th there was a horrible tragedy in Jackson Square.
One of the artists there, Gang Hu (known to all as Kenny) was attacked and
beaten badly as he was setting up for a day of work.
Many of you know him, a really sweet, talented portrait and caricature
artist that is always ready with a smile and well wishes.  The front and
back of his head were beaten in and he was rushed to the hospital where he
has had surgery.  The last I heard he was in ICU.  He is not conscious and
they won’t be able to tell much for a few days until the swelling goes down.

We are organizing to raise funds to help pay for his medical costs and to
get NOPD to provide patrol for artists in the morning.  Please support this
cause, run a story, tell your friends, post to your social networks and do
all you can to help this wonderful person and his family recover from this
tragedy.

The police who were called to the scene made ridiculous comments about the
character of the victim, stating he was drunk and probably his fault.  This
is an outrage.  They did not conduct any sort of investigation as far as I
heard they did not even classify it as a crime scene.  When another local
artist insisted that he did not drink and that they should investigate, he
was told he would be arrested if he said anything else!

This artist is a dutiful husband with two small children at home, a dear man
who gives everything he can to help those in need even when he has so little
himself.  Jackson Square artists are considered a huge draw for New Orleans
tourists and they should have more support and protection from NOPD.  We pay
taxes to the city as well as license and permit fees to set up there.  We
should have the right to protection as citizens and as workers at one of the
city’s top tourist attractions.

Some of you may know I have a few rules about my art as it relates to the plethora of other creative ventures in New Orleans. These mostly have to do with not saturating art lovers with the same symbols and imagery over and over again. They also force me to be more creative and not fall back on the same design again and again. Additionally, though I am of course influenced by my fellow New Orleans artists, I do want to try as much original design as possible.

So, the rules have been:

1. No fleur de leis

2. No Sewage and Water Board plates.

3. No painting on slate.

4. No architecture

And, until recently…

5. No bottle caps.

And that last one is the one I can’t keep up any more.

There are many reasons.

One is I drink alot of beer. And I don’t really like that domestic stuff from the can. I like the real artistic brews. The ones crafted by folks who really geek-out on hops and barley. These brews also have pretty caps.

Second is bottle caps make great washers. And when doing found object stuff, I always am in need of a decent washer.

Third is I have made a vow never to create a frame of caps which is how my predescessors (and their knockoffs) have generally used them.

So, I am rescinding the no bottle caps rule.

But, to keep with the five rules, I am replacing it with a “no lamppost” rule.

So, bottlecaps in, lamposts out.

As a postscript, I would like to add that I do drink some High Life every now and again. It is the “champagne of beers.”

No weather issues this time. I’ll be out tomorrow from 8 until dusk.

The Jackson Square Artists Association has a new board and we have just launched a new Web site designed by yours truly.

www.jacksonsquareart.com

Tomorrow I will have some more Kings of Care Forgot Skulls and some more Voos and hearts so come have a beer with your old boy!

I’ll probably be in the back. It’s more relaxing back there.

This is one of those days. Everyone says it’s going to rain. Even the radar (which is honestly my main source). The weatherman says, “likely showers.” The step-out-on-the-porch method says, “looks like rain.” Yet, no rain.

This is the dilemma of the Jackson Square artist. To try or not to try. And with a bunch of salvaged wood to haul around and French Quarter parking to surmount, trying is not easy task. Worst case scenario, you go out, get completely set up, and the rain starts. Best case - go out, it never rains. No other artists come  out and you make some money.

I’m staying in today and working on the Web site.

Another spooky 17th century anatomical drawing. This one is a triptych, from the book ‘Osteographia’ by William Cheseldon. This particular one is sold but if anyone needs one, let me know and I’ll see about recreating it.

NOT AVAILABLE
12″x14″
$35

I’ve got a bit of fondness for ol waverly. I’m not sure if it is the slacaged frame, the long face accentuated between the eyes and mouth, the panelling that makes up his irregular face or his offset position in the frame. But, he is a true original.