Chickens and Cheap Beer: An Artist’s Tribute to Rural Mardi Gras

We’re all familiar with the sights and sounds of a typical New Orleans Mardi Gras, but what goes on outside of the boundaries of Esplanade and Canal streets? Farther out in the Cajun countryside of Mamou, Louisiana, one Gulf Coast artist discovered a Mardi Gras that’ll have you tripping over your roots.

Way down south in Louisiana lies the small town of Mamou; population roughly 4,000. The town is flooded by hundreds of visitors each year that come to view its traditional take on Mardi Gras festivities. The traditional parade boasts an all-male troupe with unmasked capitaines and masked revelers that travel both on horseback and on foot. Coming closest to the traditional Mardi Gras celebrations, this tradition is of cultural importance because it has been recently revived by the inhabitants of Mamou. Visitors and locals gather on the main stretch in anticipation of the parade, which is reminiscent of a cavalry of clowns on their way to the circus. The band of beggars colorfully cavalcade through the countryside, halting at houses and releasing chickens, which they inanely collect and tow for the duration of the celebration. It’s no wonder that upon her first visit to Mamou, artist Lori Gordon was motivated to have another rendezvous with the Courir de Mardi Gras, this time with camera in tow.

Gordon is a mixed-media artist residing in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Originally from the Northern Plains, she moved south and west, living in the Black Hills of South Dakota and the deserts of Arizona. She received a bachelor’s in political science and a master’s in religious studies, all the while pursuing her love of art. Her work is featured in galleries and universities all over the country and also in the permanent collections of private collectors, including two U.S. presidents, museums in South Dakota, and the Smithsonian Institution. Gordon is essentially self-taught and willing to explore all mediums from scraps and debris used in the Katrina Collection to digital image distortion and collage used in her series Courir de Mardi Gras Mamou, LA.

In February 2010, Gordon traveled to Mamou for the second time to embark on her adventure de Mardi Gras. The experience she had was vivid, colorful, and most importantly, documented. She got a behind-the-scene look at Courir de Mardi Gras bright and early at five o’clock in the morning. Greeted by an a.m. accordion and the crisp snapping of beer cans opening, Gordon felt the anticipation in the air. By nine a.m. the parade was gathered and rolling, largely fueled by cheap beer and year-long anticipation. The audience of fools was led by their caped capitaines , riding on horseback from house to house, stopping each time to release and run down a chicken or two. Gordon followed the parade and captured shots of daring feats on horseback and precious moments between men and their chickens.

“The relationship that these Mardi Gras riders have with their horses is absolutely amazing. There’s just this incredible amount of trust. They’re doing headstands on the horses, they’re riding them standing up in the saddle and they’re doing all sorts of theatrical antics involving their horse… And the chickens! These guys really display their love of chickens. They’re always petting them and kissing them and feeding them beer. Not anything that an animal rights organization would necessarily smile upon, but these guys show a lot of affection for their chickens and trust in their horses.”

The jovial parade continued with the masked men dancing, drinking and splashing in puddles along the route. They danced with each other, the crowd, their chickens, and Gordon, who found them to be delightful, jolly gentlemen. Her fondness for the affectionate comedians was captured on canvas where they are revealed to be not only entertaining, but also driven by a strong sense of community and camaraderie.

Their pieced-together costumes represent the ideals of a deep tradition and stand as symbols of the patchwork of cultures that, when stitched together, comprise the very fabric of Mardi Gras.  Gordon captured this essence, unknowingly, as she pieced together her collages.

Starting from a photograph, she digitally altered the image by saturating it with color, purposely making them brighter than they actually were to convey excitement, action, movement and celebration.  She then took her images and pieced them together on a blank background and filled in sections with color. After completing this process, she applied the image to canvas and began applying mixed media elements such as paper confetti cutouts and paint. The images, being exciting action shots themselves, stand out in the foreground. They are surrounded by exhilarating and colorful paper cutouts and diamond-shaped patterns reminiscent of French harlequins that further express the sense of carnival. The geometric shapes surrounding the pictures seem to bring them to life and fill the square canvas with movement, accurately reflecting the excitement occurring at the time the photo was taken.

At the end of the parade, participants gather to celebrate the cooking of the festive gumbo. Originally, they would use the ingredients gathered at homes along the way, including the chickens. Presently they cook the gumbo during the parade and it is ready for feasting by the time the riders get to the end. It’s safe to say that no chickens were harmed during the making of this Mardi Gras, just slightly tormented for the day. The riders and participants are greeted with traditional Cajun music playing la Chanson de Mardi Gras, of which Mamou has its own version. To continue the celebration, the crowd flocks to the famous Fred’s Lounge where they enjoy more dancing and live Cajun music all day. That’s where you’ll find Lori

Gordon this year, fighting to get in through the crowds of Courir de Mardi Gras. Even though it is as far away from Bourbon Street as you can imagine, the jovial energy that is released from this rustic celebration is certainly comparable. Lori Gordon’s colorful depiction of this cultural event conjures a familiar, child-like anticipation for the upcoming Mardi Gras season and acts as a hand reaching out and tossing you a chicken and a bon temp.

If you can’t make it to Courir de Mardi Gras in Mamou this year, don’t worry! Lori Gordon’s got you covered. Check out her series Courir de Mardi Gras Mamou, LA at Gallery 220 in Bay St. Louis, MS. Prints are available for $20 each, both with and without the text. They are 11" x 14" and are printed on glossy 100 lb paper. The original collages are also available, as well as custom collages. To order posters email Lori at lorikgordon@gmail.com. Check out her website at www.lorikgordon.org.

Dedicated to my cousin, Jennifer, Queen of the Chanticleers.

Old Furniture, New Possibilities

 

1960s stereo cabinet with record player before



    


So, you finally moved out of that junky studio apartment that flooded due to a neighbor's backed-up toilet. In the midst of a dramatic rescue attempt to save your mother's Persian rug from the surge of poop pirates who came to claim your treasures, you realize that you have developed a fondness for the musty old tapestry. Sacrifice is a common sign of maturity followed by paying your own rent and hoarding what objects you can from generous family members to furnish your new house (that you can't really afford). At least the live-in boyfriend can contribute to the latter problem, but what are you to do with all of that junk?

The wise thing to do would be to go to the Ikea website to pore over the vast collection of cheap, but sophisticated furniture- WRONG! You may think it's cost-effective, but the shipping costs will eat you alive. And besides, do you really think that all of that modern furniture will look good against those pine-paneled walls from the 50s? Your best bet is to make the best of what you've got, because let's face it, you're broke, honey. 
So don't go throwing out all of that old junk from your college days. Thrift Store re-works and antiques can provide an economical solution to the urge to splurge at home furnishing stores. It will look fantastic, and you will be proud of saving money and developing a new creative outlet. Plus, with the money you save, you can afford to kick out that dead-beat boyfriend and go have a night out on the town with the girls.



after

 So here are some tips for you twenty-something’s out there who have amassed a venerable collection of Thrift Store couches, Mama's hand-me-downs, curbside drop-offs, and self-assembled bookshelves:

Even God had a day of recovery.... That old pet-stained, cigarette-burned "retro" couch on three legs has seen better days, but it's about to have a very realistic flashback. Go to your local fabric store and find the most fabulous, couch-friendly fabric. Remember to pick something that will resist all past scenarios, i.e. white couch, new puppy/"it's okay to smoke in here", "oh God, where did I drop my cigarette"/red wine, drunk friends. But please don't opt for plastic, even though it is tempting when your dog decides that the couch is a fire hydrant. So have that thing recovered in a fabric of your choice, not the 70's. If you can't afford a permanent recovering of your furniture, you can always have a slip cover made. The ladies at the fabric store will be happy to direct you to someone whose arthritis hasn't reached a crippling point. See the videos below for some helpful advice from the semi-pros.

Mama always had such great taste in decor- until her five kids destroyed it all. So now you are in reception of the finer things in life, like that antique buffet that you carved your initials into and that lovely hand-woven Persian rug that survived the turd attack. There is hope, yet. Most prominent antique shops have someone who can either fix minor scratches and stains on antiques or direct you to someone that can. Some even carry special furniture polishes and waxes that can nip these problems in the bud. If you love the antique, but it is beyond repair, consider painting it a trendy color. It can always be repainted, even if the trend goes out next week. It's a safe and affordable bet, plus you may surprise yourself with your artistry. Recently i took a red armoire and painted it orange, the effect and the color were great. I stained the inside with a mahogany red and paint the lines and creases of the piece. It looked so good, that for about five seconds I thought about making it a career. Lightly sanding the corners and various areas will give off a shabby chic look. If you have a white room, hot colors are a great way to spice it up. It all boils down to personal desire and how creative you get from smelling the paint fumes. As for the rug, have it professionally cleaned. It's expensive but part of growing up is realizing the value of antique Persian rugs.
 

Primitive armoire before

after

You have no idea where that lamp came from or if it even works, but you just had to pick it out of your neighbors trash while you were walking your dog at 3 in the morning. First, make sure that the cord isn't a fire hazard. Next, match a shade! You can find a shade pretty much anywhere, but choose wisely, as you don't want to have an off-white shade with a primarily white color scheme-that's scandalous! Check your local lamp store; they might be going out of business due to the poor economy and corporate manufacturing of specialty household objects. They may be giving them away as hats by now. If not there, then check at Target or Wal*Mart. The creativity in this project will be choosing the finial, the cherry on top of the sundae, if you will. Choose one that compliments your lamp and the decor.

Now, what to do with that bookshelf... you could start by putting books on it, you know those things with the pages that you haven't thought about since college. It's time to start a library. Even if you hate reading, a personal library will impress and intrigue literary buffs and future husbands when they see your copy of Gardner's Art through the Ages or The Complete Works of Shakespeare, which just happened to be the ones the book store wouldn't buy back at the end of the semester. To freshen up the shelf and to stabilize your collection of five enormous textbooks, find an extra set of Staffordshire dogs in your mother's basement and let them do all the work. You can even put a shiny coat of paint on those old metal bookends to give them a new look.

Check out this hot chick doing cool stuff:

Ruth Friant's Upolstery for Blondes

Ruth shows you how to cover a Victorian settee...in like 12 minutes!

Ruth shows you how to cover a chair.... it's easy as 1, 2, 5!

 Ruth Friant is a professional furniture repurposer. She began her career after she read this article....okay, so she's been doing it for awhile, but she totally digs this article and approves of it's message. See her fabulous work pictured in this article. (She'd really rather you just go and buy her stuff at Antique Maison in Bay Saint Louis, MS.) 

www.antiquemaison.com

"I do"- "We don't": Bridesmaid Dress Controversy




Happy Bridesmaids=Happy Bride!

  Finding the perfect bridesmaid dress is often as enduring as finding the perfect bridesmaids. Each dress is different in how it glorifies and celebrates its owner, even though they all look good on that skinny-bitch mannequin. But that skinny-bitch mannequin is not your bridesmaid, and your imagination cannot even begin surmise the terror that your size 18 cousin Margaret would feel if you were to turn into Bridezilla and force her into that cap-sleeved, A-line pink disaster that you deem a dress. Frankly, she would rather be diagnosed with diabetes than be escorted down the aisle looking like a float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Let’s see to it that your wedding doesn’t become the reason for her sudden gastric bypass surgery.

Always account for the different sizes and shapes of your beautiful (and not-so-attractive) ladies of honor. Some are tall and Amazon-like, and others have never bought anything that did not need to be hemmed. Start as soon as possible. Remember those times in college you and your girls would go to Taco Bell? How long did it take you guys to order? And just how pissed was that poor minimum-wage worker? That minimum-wage worker will be you as you listen to all the suggestions that your girlfriends throw at you. Keep in mind that they will rarely agree on one dress, because that dress only exists in Juicy Couture lounge wear.

Let’s get started.

If you are loaded, get your dresses handmade, not by your Aunt Sally but by a reputable designer. No girl will ever turn down a tailored dress made for her by Michael Faircloth. Designers like him can turn a prostitute into a princess with the right fabric and a couple of fittings. It’ll cost them a few grand, but it’s something they can wear again, right? Don’t count on it, but it is Michael Faircloth… (Sooo worth it).

So you’re not rich, but you’ve decided it’s cool to blow over a hundred g’s on that dream wedding. This will leave your girls working very hard to look better than the flowers. Sometimes it’s good to keep them on their toes. While you’re busy keeping up with the Jones’, they will be poring over bridal websites and making suggestions. This is the best route, providing that everyone is in the same financial boat. Remember, your dresses don’t always have to be the same cut; you make the final decision on that. Allowing your girls to express themselves by sporting a little cleavage or covering up their fat arms with a wrap is a kind gesture, and they will celebrate you for it.

For those of us who have been taken out like trash by the economy, have no fear, David’s Bridal is here. Okay, so it’s not your dream designer but David still has a few tricks up his cheap satin sleeve. For those who seek uniformity with a hint of individuality he’s got what you need. The intercontinental bridal party will have no problem finding a location for this store, as this is crucial when it comes down to fittings. Cousin Margaret may drop forty pounds and turn into a total bitch, but David will be there for her to take that dress in a few prized inches and maybe even poke her with a pin or two. David’s Bridal offers many different styles available in the same dye lots and fabrics so your girls can pick their own affordable dresses without taking food out of their babies’ mouths. All you have to do is set a few boundaries such as length, color, and material.

The length should be appropriate for the time of day: cocktail or tea length for daytime and tea length or long for evening. Floral prints and some colors are reserved for spring and summer only. Use common sense, or what little you have, to determine what’s appropriate. Get a bridal magazine (your mother has a pile waiting for you), and look through it about three times. The first two times you will undoubtedly be drooling over all of the designer wedding gowns, so maybe you can cover the basic do’s and don’ts the third time around.

Your wedding day will be the happiest day of your life however, it will be your bridesmaids' saddest. Those tears they are crying as you gingerly approach the altar are not those of joy, but of jealousy and utter despair. So they deserve to look great too, for their hope is diminishing almost as fast as their wrinkles are appearing. If they know they look good, you have a better chance of them celebrating just how great you look.