New Orleans-area artists in exile; please check in here

CreoleStyleMusiciansCheckIn
Originally uploaded by Col. Snarker.

Chefs, designers, musicians and artists as well as atttorneys and teachers are among the Crescent City and Gulf rim evacuees who are establishing new bases in Shreveport. Instead of watching them float like exotic ducks atop the local water we might try another type of welcome: help integrate them into the local scene.

With the fresh talent on the scene several areas of local life might take an upward turn. Would you find Columbia Cafe, for instance, worth increased patronage if it began to feature a New Orleans chef one night a week?

Live music might begin to have some real Funky Meter if we get a few Big Easy drummers into local bands. Second lining at a time other than Mardi Gras? Yes. It wouldn't hurt Shreveport to have a bit of Bourbon St on Texas St.

And Carnival planners might revamp the musical scope of krewe parties and parades if a real-deal Creole brass band hits the scene.

From Julia St. we might get seriously capable painters, sculptors and designers. If so, let us identify them and let their work raise the local standards for competence in artistic activity.

Many areas of local life might move up a notch in quality. There's going to be a new batch of skilled substitute teachers on the market. There are going to be restaurant critics, essayists and comics on the loose. Let's put them to work here. Shreveport stands to slightly reconstitute itself with this influx of people from a vibrant part of the state. The question is: how to do we make it a rebirth that is beneficial to both parties?

For my part, I welcome newly-arrived writers, photogs, designers, musicians and visual artists to email me with a link to their web sites. I will happily feature them on this blog. Refugees, please send me a photo of yourself, of work, an essay, a CD, an illustrated resume.

Welcome to Shrevetown. Fresh energy and style is welcome here.


Here's an example of what I'm talking about from New Orleans writer Todd Price's blog, A Frolic of my Own: "Everywhere I went in Shreveport I found refugees from New Orleans. A man from Metairie was at the garage, where I had to get a new starter installed on the car. While I waited at the coffee shop, I met Tony Dagradi of Astral Project."

Pam Atchison and the SRAC board have announced that the Dia De Los Muertos exhibit will not be presented at Artspace. She told the Times it would be insensitive to Louisianians struggling with chaotic lives to continue with business as usual. Artspace will attempt to provide a home for "evacuees and displaced artists and arts adminsitrators."