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Creole Master Craftsmen

September 26, 2014 by Charlie London

Master Plasterer Jeff Poree, NOMCG President Jonn Hankins, Master Blacksmith Darryl Reeves.
Master Plasterer Jeff Poree, NOMCG President Jonn Hankins, Master Blacksmith Darryl Reeves.

Reviving the Tradition of the Creole Master CRAFTSMEN

By Sharon Litwin at nolavie.com

Master Plasterer Jeff Poree, NOMCG President Jonn Hankins, Master Blacksmith Darryl Reeves.

Over a decade ago when Jonn Hankins worked at the New Orleans Museum of Art, he helped to organize an extraordinary exhibition called Raised to the Trades: Creole Building Arts of New Orleans. Its focus was on the craftsmen and artisan families who were the original builders of so many of this city’s magnificent houses. But more than that, it was an eloquent and poignant look at those still working in the building trades.

As the years have gone by, the number of skilled master craftsman has gotten smaller and smaller. For Jonn, who moved on from NOMA to a number of other positions around the city, it is a worry since he has never lost his admiration for the skill of those few master craftsmen remaining. So he has created the New Orleans Master Crafts Guild in order to pass along the knowledge of New Orleans’ still-living artisans. Its beginnings are modest and small.

“We’re going to start with the two trades most identifiably related to New Orleans: ironwork and plastering,” he says. “There is generation upon generation of expertise still existing. And, more importantly, they are both the most threatened.”

Master Blacksmith Darryl Reeves. Photo: Rush Jagoe
Master Blacksmith Darryl Reeves. Photo: Rush Jagoe

But who really needs these old-fashioned trades in this day and age anyway? After all, the construction needs of many of today’s houses, modest or McMansions, can be met through the vast and affordable inventories of this country’s big box home-building stores.

Jonn says there definitely is still a need for individual craftsmen and artisans here. For, he explains, unlike other older communities with historic areas in defined compact sections – Charleston and Savannah, for example –  we are blessed with an extraordinary number of centuries-old properties throughout the entire Crescent City.

“As long as they are around there will always be a need for ironwork repair, as well as outdoor columns and ceiling medallions,” he says. “So the most important thing is to bring in younger people not yet in those trades and to develop more skills in those already in the trades so they can become masters. We need to have a trained community who know how to maintain our housing stock.”

And, he adds, this trained community can also become the hub for an industry that can be exported. Not only are there other cities in need of such craftsmen skills, there are other countries, too. Take the case of a young Englishman who had not only discovered the joys of living in New Orleans, but had also expanded on his own skills as an historic building’s craftsman by observing that was occurring here. He was recently wooed back to his homeland to work on restoring a 17th century manor house there.

In the coming months, NolaVie will focus on the skills and philosophies of our city’s remaining revered master craftsmen. In the meantime, for more information on the New Orleans Master Crafts Guild and its soon-to-be incubation center in the 7th Ward Community Center on the site of the former Corpus Christi School, contact info@nomcg.org.

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: art, bayou st john, craft, craftsmen, creole, Darryl Reeves, faubourg st john, iron, Jeff Poree, Jonn Hankins, New Orleans, plaster, sculpture, work

Summer Art Camp at NOMA

February 27, 2013 by Charlie London

NOMA-art-camp

Summer Art Camp at NOMA

Explore NOMA’s permanent collection and special exhibitions! Professional teaching artists in a variety of disciplines encourage creativity and imagination as campers create projects in an array of different media.

To register for camp, contact Elise Solomon at education@noma.org or 504-658-4128.

REGISTRATION FEES

Per each Monday-Friday session. Materials are included.

Before May 17

Full day:               | ½ day:
Members/$240          | Members/$120
Nonmembers/$300          | Nonmembers/$150

After May 17

Full day:              | ½ day:
Members/$260          | Members/$140
Nonmembers/$320          | Nonmembers/$170

Payment is due the Monday before camp begins.

CAMP INFORMATION

IN THE STUDIO: 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
ON THE STAGE: 1:00 – 4:00 pm

Please note campers registered for the full-day must bring a sack lunch.
***
Ages 5-8

June 3-7
◾IN THE STUDIO: See the Future
Discover innovations presented at the World’s Fairs of the past century then create drawings, paintings and sculpture that envision life in the future.
◾ON THE STAGE: What’s the Story?
Learn the fundamentals of telling a good story! Explore museum galleries and the sculpture garden to discover heroes for your stories then learn how to “spin a good yarn” using character development and story progression.

June 17-21
◾IN THE STUDIO: Prints Galore
Explore the art of printmaking! Monoprints, screen prints and spontaneous printing with everyday objects will be explored in this celebration of the multiple.
◾ON THE STAGE: You Make the Rules!
Take your imagination as far as it can go during the Improvisation Camp! Build a universe and make it dance! Improvise like you’re a wizard.

July 8-12
◾IN THE STUDIO: Trash to Treasure
Learn creative ways to recycle by making fun functional objects and art from found objects and cast offs.
◾ON THE STAGE: Make a Scene!
Visit NOMA’s galleries to discover people and stories in the works of art, then develop characters and short scenes based on what you have seen.

July 22-26
◾IN THE STUDIO: Pack Your Suitcase
Embark on a global adventure! Chart your course on a map and design your own passport to track your travels as you travel the world in NOMA’s galleries.
◾ON THE STAGE: Puppets
Explore different styles of puppetry from around the world and then build puppets inspired by works of art in NOMA’s collection.

***

Ages 9-12

June 10-14
◾IN THE STUDIO: Magic Machines
What kind of machine would you like to invent? Transform found objects into a sculpture of an imaginary machine and create a poster to advertise your invention.
◾ON THE STAGE: The Art of Storytelling
Master the art of storytelling as campers write and recount their own tales based on works of art in NOMA’s collection.

June 24-28
◾IN THE STUDIO: Inspired by Nature
Discover how artists have represented nature throughout time in this printmaking camp that explores multiple ways to create prints.
◾ON THE STAGE: Assemble Your Team
Build a scene, a city, an entire world with your scene mates. Learn agreement and trust as you work with your partners to take whatever is thrown at you and turn it into a peg-legged sailor on a high-wire. Comedy is our ship, teamwork is our fuel.

July 15-19
◾IN THE STUDIO: Recycled Couture
Get ready for the runway by creating your own wearable works of eco-ware, art and fashion.
◾ON THE STAGE: Play Practice
Interpret museum works in a one act play created and produced by NOMA campers!

July 29-August 2
◾IN THE STUDIO: Around the World
Go on a weeklong adventure around the world without leaving NOMA! Create paintings, prints and mixed media works of art about the unique places you discover.
◾ON THE STAGE: Puppets
Design puppets and set the stage for a puppet show. Puppet traditions from around the world will be taught as students get into the act.

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: best, camp, children, eclectic, families, kids, neighborhood, New Orleans, new orleans best neighborhood, new orleans museum of art, NOMA, play, summer camp, work

Bike to Work Day

February 29, 2012 by Charlie London

Marin Tockman and Jamie Wine of Bike Easy are working to help coordinate the first Bike to Work Day in New Orleans.

The Bike to Work Day will be hosted by Entergy and Bike Easy and takes place on Wednesday, April 11th. Ride marshalls are needed to lead bike commuters that are going to start in 5 different areas and all ride into City Hall for a press conference and morning gathering.

There will be 5 designated start points across the City, a few marshals are needed for each location. Please send your full contact info (address, phone #s, etc) to Marin Tockman if you are interested in participating.

Marin Tockman
marin@bikeeasy.org

***********************************************************

Bayou Boogaloo Bicycle 2nd Line

When

: Sun, May 20, 2012
9:01 – 11:01 am

Where

: Starts and ends by Bayou St. John at Jefferson Davis Parkway and Lafitte Street

Cost

: Register Now
$15.00 for Members
$25.00 for Non-Members
$75.00 for a Family of Four
$200.00 for a team of ten
DetailsThe 11-mile ride starts at Bayou St. John at 10:00 AM, and concludes with an after party at the Bayou Boogaloo.

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: 2nd, bayou, bayou boogaloo, bayou st john, bicycle, bike, bike easy, bikeeasy.org, boogaloo, day, faubourg, faubourg st john, fsjna, line, New Orleans, second, work

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