Sunday, March 22, 2009

Involved in the Birth of the Jonah Behan Artists in Resonance Program






























I came to New Orleans with fifteen bucks in my pocket, I'd been traveling for just over three years from South America and this was my first arrival in a North American city where my idea was to set up as an artist, get by and stay for a while.

Starting from zero I would make friends with the friends of the friends of the first friends that I would make. So, the first friends were picked with care and attention and did lead me down three distinguishable tracks.

Ms. Jennifer Blow was managing the Michalopoulos gallery on Bienville when I reached the legendary French Quarter a couple of hours after leaving the bus station. The love and compassion of good people was in her. She is my only native Louisianan friend (complete with husband, three kids and craw-fish boils at the weekend). Casual meeting after casual meeting she has looked out for me like a mother. That first day she orientated me towards her church's cafe who provide free hot meals to those who want them.

At the Dragon's Cafe I found Dan stirring soup. We've since become good friends. That evening, my third in town, he told me I could crash on his couch if need be. When I finally did many worries dissolved from muscles where they'd been growing tense, they faded through the soft couch, the old floor boards, the storm damaged apartment below and disappeared into the swampy earth underneath. In the morning I had a good breakfast in good company and set off to continue the drawing that I imagined would bring me the money I imagined I'd need.

Day three drawing the famous tourist center architecture I was sat on the curb as Richard Fitzgerald approached me and offered me some studio space. Several days later I had moved in to the place where I would pass the next 6 weeks happily becoming the first participant of the Jonah Behan Artists in Resonancy Program.

The images above are samples of the work I produced whilst on the program.

Feel free to contact me about any of it and leave comments.