Faubourg St. John neighbors Wendy Good, Bob McGuire, Teresa Parker Farris, and Kathy Sebastian are helping with a fundraiser for the Folk Art Zone in Algiers on October 1st.
There will be food and drink for sale.
Silent auction of local folk art.
Raffle for carved cypress Charles Gillam door.
Local folk artists will be on hand to discuss their lives and their craft.
And, you can purchase their works!
Folk Art Zone – 207 Leboeuf St. (504) 376-8666 | Event announcement courtesy Dorian Bennett
Your neighbors would like you to join them for a FREE and FABULOUS event! They are Raising The Roof for a local cultural institution, Charles Gillams’ Blues Museum in the Algiers Folk Art Zone! You are invited to join Sunpie Barnes, The Desoto St. Band, and emcee Nick Spitzer, host of American Routes, from 4-7 p.m. on Saturday October 1 at 207 Leboeuf St. in Algiers.
Folk Art Zone – 207 Leboeuf St. (504) 376-8666 | Charles Gillam graphic courtesy houseoftruthnola.org
Charles Gillam is a Louisiana-born, self-taught folk artist who has created a place where art, the blues, black history and basketball all come together in one positive, joyful street corner in a poor neighborhood on the edge of the Mississippi. He collects Mississippi “spirit wood” to help build his shrine, across the river from New Orleans in a place called Algiers Point. His home and studio are on the river’s edge. Gillam has created not only a shrine to art and black history, but also a “Folk Art Zone”, a place that serves as an educational art Mecca for local kids.
Although Gillam’s carvings of legendary blues artists are on display in House of Blues nightclubs across the United States, he is far more proud of what his art can do for the neighbourhood and for the local kids. As one neighbour says, “When they leave, their faces are so bright and just so happy, they felt like they have accomplished the most important thing in their life.” Narrative courtesy http://www.shrines.tv/episode_7.html
Folk Art Zone – 207 Leboeuf St. in Algiers (504) 376-8666 | Photo courtesy anthonyturducken on flickr
ALGIERS FOLK ART ZONE PRESENTS “ART IN THE YARD”
EVENT TO RAISE THE ROOF FOR LOCAL CULTURAL INSTITUTION
On Saturday, October 1, 2011 from 4 to 7 pm, the Algiers Folk Art Zone presents “Art in the Yard,” a fundraising event featuring live music by Sunpie Barnes and the Desoto Street Band; a silent auction and raffle of locally made art work; and interactive presentations by area artists. Free and open to the public, the event will be emceed by Nick Spitzer, host of NPR’s “American Routes,” and raise monies to repair the Katrina-damaged roof of Charles Gillams’ Blues Museum in the Algiers Folk Art Zone.
Founded in 2000, the museum is a community center operated by Charles Gillam, a Louisiana-born self-taught artist who works in salvaged wood to depict the musicians and musical heritage of New Orleans. The Zone regularly offered free arts programming to area at-risk youth prior to Katrina with the mission of perpetuating the region’s vernacular culture. Since that time, Gillam has continued to create art work that he displays publicly in his yard as well as at local fairs and events including the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
“The event is meant to make the community aware of the many artists working locally,” says Gillam. “They have so many talents that need to be explored and appreciated by the public.” With the repair of the roof, the museum will again showcase these and other artists through art events and related educational programming.
In addition to generating funds for a new museum roof, the event is intended to raise awareness of the significant art work being created locally. Featured artists at the event include self-taught painter Dr. Charles Smith, jewelry maker Bridgeja’ Baker, walking stick carver Nathan Scott, ceramist Joy Gauss, muralist Jamar Pierre, illustrator and author Tracey “Tangerine” Davis, quilter Cecelia Pedesclaux, and found-object artist Christopher Kirsch. Artists will have works for sale and be present to discuss their methods and materials with the public.
The Folk Art Zone faces the levee and is less than one mile from the West Bank terminal of the Algiers Ferry, which traverses the Mississippi River every fifteen minutes. The ride is free for pedestrians and $1 for cars making a roundtrip.
The Algiers Folk Art Zone Museum is located at 207 Le Bouef Street, facing Patterson Street, and is free and open to the public. For more information, visit “Art in the Yard” or “Friends of Charles Gillam and Algiers Folk Art Zone Museum” on Facebook.
Nick Spitzer’s American Routes interview with Charles Gilliam: http://americanroutes.wwno.org/archives/artist/935/charles-gillam
Friends of Charles Gillam and Algiers Folk Art Zone facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/201886083206634/?id=212420802153162
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