I’ve finally made it to a large city during a big photography festival. PhotoNola occurs every December in New Orleans all throughout the city. Both the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art host exhibitions, talks and other events. Many of the other galleries, venues and artists around the city also host exhibitions and or events. I missed it last year by one week and when we decided to travel again this December it was high on my list of things I’d like to do. I’m not sure I could do a better job of summarizing the exhibits than the descriptions already available so this post is going to be link heavy, be sure to check them all out.
We decided to stay at The Old No. 77 hotel again and it once again proved to be a great choice. Everyone there are really nice, the rooms are interesting and have character, and the Warehouse District is packed with things to do and just far enough outside the French Quarter that it is a bit calmer. Old No. 77 has a couple of small galleries on the ground floor. One just off the side of the lobby and another in the hallway leading to the rooms. The front gallery had an exhibit by David Armentor titled Homes James and Don’t Spare the Horses. It was a nice combination of pinhole photography and cyanotype photograms.
The next day we attended the artist talk and exhibit given by Richard Sexton at The Historic New Orleans Collection in the Seignouret Building. This is a pretty interesting history museum in a great old building, be sure to click the link and check it out. These photos were gorgeous. All shot on an 8x10 large format on film. The theme was industry and the river (I am over simplifying things a bit) and displayed in groupings by mile marker on the river. There was an accompanying book, however once you see the prints the book just doesn’t do it justice. Richard definitely had a passion for his subject and the underlying themes of his project.
Another gallery that is part of The Historic New Orleans Collection is located at 410 Chartes Street. Seeking an Open Life: Photographs of Lafcadio Hearn’s Japan is an exhibition of prints created by Everret Kenedy Brown attempting to capture what drew Hearn to Matsue, Japan. The photographs were created from wet collodion glass plate negatives and collotype prints and are really gorgeous. Photography in the exhibit wasn’t allowed, but there were a couple that stood out as stunning.
Next stop was a real surprise. There is no telling how many times I have walked by this place and not gone in. That will not be a problem going forward. I’m adding it to my must visit list every time I go to New Orleans. A Gallery for Fine Photography at 241 Chartres Street is amazing. Prints by all of the greats hanging on the walls available for purchase. The real treats for me were Keith Carter, Sebastio Selgado, and Michael Kenna, but there are so many more. They also have a selection of rare signed first edition books, but the prints were something to behold.