Introduction
FEAR OF WATER COMMUNITY PRINTMAKING PROJECT
New Orleans, LA (November 4-5, 2006) The public was invited to view art in process and engage with artists during the Fear of Water event. Seven noted New Orleans-based visual artists gathered to produce prints on the subject of Hurricane Katrina. A temporary studio was constructed on the second floor of Peligro Gallery, in the heart of the French Quarter, where artists worked and told stories about the storm. Over a two-day period, participants collaborated on making prints on-site. Printmaking techniques include linoleum and wood block printing, image transfer methods, and one-of-a-kind monoprinting. The project’s vision was to bring New Orleans native artists together to create visual and oral documentation of their lives after the storm.
The select artists are unified by long-term residency in New Orleans, commitment to a cultural rebuilding of the city, and the need for visual expression on this omnipresent topic. Participants included: Ron J. Bechet, Jan Gilbert, Debra Howell, Lori MacWhorter, Malcolm McClay, Chicory Miles, and Mary Jane Parker. The project was conceived by former New Orleans resident Lori Kent, a New York-based artist and curator. Sponsors: The Puffin Foundation and Peligro Gallery/Betsy Martin. Volunteers included Carri Skoczek, Kerry Stevens (graphic design) and Barbara Brown (publicity).
