Jazz in the Park launches The Treme Art Exhibit A showcase of Treme Life through art
For Immediate Release
Jazz in the Park will return April 16th with a stellar roster of New Orleans music for its Seventh Season, but before the spring season starts, Jazz in the Park has organized a major retrospective of Treme Life, which depicts its people, places and culture through art.
The Treme Art Exhibit, on display from April 14th to July 6th, tells the story of what makes the Treme community such a great place to live, work and play. Featuring 25 artists of various backgrounds, the exhibit highlights everyday life of ordinary and extraordinary past and present Treme residents. It captures the culture of the Treme, an integral part of New Orleans’ spirit.
What: Treme Art Exhibit Grand Opening Ceremony hosted by Jazz in the Park
Theme: “Turning Blight into Beauty”
Where: Jazz Compound (formerly the National Jazz Park in Armstrong Park)
When: Tuesday, April 14th 2015
Time: 12:00pm to 2:00pm
More details about the art exhibit viewing times, musical guests and food vendors are coming soon. Artist’s include Sheeleen Jones who sculpted the Tootie Montana Sculpture in Armstrong Park, amongst many others.
Inspired by the success and vision of Exhibit Be, Emanuel Lain, Executive Director of People United for Armstrong Park (PUFAP), which produces Jazz in the Park, used his experience of producing over 55 Jazz in the Park shows and his contacts within the community to immediately start orchestrating the exhibit. He called out to artists, asking them to capture the Treme through their art. Artists responded quickly and they managed to pull together the entire show in a matter of weeks.
Emanuel Lain said, “We have been highlighting the Treme music and culture in our Jazz in the Park concert series for the last four years, but we also wanted to memorialize the Treme neighborhood through art. Beautifying these blighted buildings with art turns “Blight into Beauty.”
Damon Batiste of NOSACONN is an integral part of the project, sponsoring the whole exhibit. Emanuel said, “I don’t think there is another person like Damon. He really cares about the culture of New Orleans and without his support it would have been difficult to create such an exciting project.”
Nat Williams, local artist and Co-producer of the exhibit, has been a fixture in the Treme community his entire life. He is an important link between the artists and culture. He comments, “I am the plug and link in the chain that connects the dots…when PUFAP came to me with this idea I immediately put Mr. Lain in touch with some of the best artists in the city. I am an artist and I have an eye for identifying other good artists and this exhibit will feature some of the best artists in the business.”
Meryt Harding, local artist and Co-producer stated, “It has been great to collaborate with so many different New Orleans artists. This exhibit is important as it not only beautifies a well known space, but it also makes artwork more accessible – taking it out of museums and galleries and into the streets.”