Last Week in NOLA

I'm back in SA. The last week in New Orleans was a blur. We worked very hard to get a lot accomplished in a short time. I did manage to find time to explore more of the city. Oh, and I went to the church festival on Sunday, June 3rd. They were celebrating Father Jerome's 50 years of service. He's vegan, too! It was a great event - puro New Orleans...

Second line

Treme Jazz Band

The shore along Lake Ponchartrain is so fertile and black.

Exploring the Lower Ninth Ward

Fried Pickels!!

So now I'll be in SA for 3 weeks working in the studio and helping install exhibitions at the gallery. Then I'm off to New York to complete the final part of this project. Whew!

I hope I get to see everyone I met in New Orleans again. If I don't, I have great memories that I'll keep forever - unless my mind goes with old age...jajaja! (Takashi, thanks for sharing your knowledge and humor. I look forward to seeing you and Nina in NYC! James thanks for the gelato and contemplative conversations/silence. Remember that Samuri's can't fight on an empty stomach. Becca it was great laughing with you about Takashi. Tuyene, Tuete, Stephanie, Louis and his crew at the studio...I enjoyed getting to know all of you. Steve Quick, it's so weird that you know Patricia Olynyk, remember to ask her about Chicken George! Audry, my friend, thanks for exploring that crazy city with me. )

On Site

It rained hard again this week. The side of the house was flooded about a foot. The house, of course, is not a shelter from the weather. Most of the ceiling is missing and the parts that are still there are falling. It's muddy. The good thing about the rain is that it's been keeping the temperatures mild - 80's, very odd for New Orleans.

James, Takashi and myself take lunch breaks together. We can't leave the site alone because of our supplies so one of us usually goes out and brings food. Popeyes, poorboys and burgers are the usual fare. It's been a challange finding vegetarian food here. It's a good thing I still eat fish. A catfish poorboy (dressed) sounds good right now... On a side note, I was recently informed by a local that the catfish here always comes from Mississippi. Apparently Louisiana and Mississippi made a deal: Louisiana won't raise catfish if Mississippi doesn't raise crawfish. Who knew??

Photos above: left to right (Takashi, me and James) Friday lunch break. It was a long week. Below: The Krewe in front of the house. Takashi being very Japanese.

People stop by everyday. It's great to see so many people and volunteers working in the area. Interestingly enough, many are from New York volunteering or working to help rebuild New Orleans. I read in the paper today that a representative from Austin Engery is coming to New Orleans to consult on green energy.

The last exhibit I worked on at the Austin Children's Museum was called Air Fair and it was sponsored by Austin Engery. I really enjoyed working with them professionally and personally. My old house in Austin had solar panels installed and the electricity bill was usually under $30/month. Whatever extra energy the house didn't use was fed back into the city grid. The cool thing about it, the City subsidized about 75% of our costs. It would be great if NOLA could become a green city. These are the opportunities that the city has now and I'm glad that officials are being proactive and seeking sustainable living options.

That's my new friend Shorty. He lives in the neighborhood and visits us. On this day he was struggling to ride his bike. Oh, and he notices things that are purple. Good ol' Shorty!

More pics from the site..