If you know me at all, you know I have a strong fondness for New Orleans, having lived in the Metro area for fifteen years between '86 and '01. My art career flourished there... probably more than it might have anywhere else. I've no doubt that being "an artist in New Orleans" adds weight to the resume. I follow the Times Picayune online headlines and blogs to keep up with how it's faring... youngest son and family are still in the area (relatively unharmed by Katrina but affected by the aftermath as all have been) along with many good friends.
So I recently read that local artists will be painting replicas of streetcars for auction to raise money for a new streetcar museum. I love it! It also has me whirling back in time to the Festival of Fins in 2000 when I signed on to paint my Red On Red Fish ... then they called and asked me to do another to fit in a Dr. Seuss grouping of red fish, blue fish, etc... hence my Blue Fish... not a bad deal as they were paying the artists $2000 for each fish at the time. I don't think this is the norm but the Arts Council got a grant or something. I bow to the creative thinking of some artists... I did nothing as elaborate as some, simply applied my usual abstract painting style on the fish body... no cute theme like Tune-a-fish or Fish-sticks, but they sold at auction so must have filled the bill. I've located an old web page I made for the occasion and have uploaded it for another time around. Wish I could paint a streetcar, it was fun and the g-kids were so proud!
3 comments:
OMG Karen, your fish are just delightful! You are always full of surprises! What else do you have hidden away there? Ha!
They look like attack guard fish at your front door though.
They did something similar here a few years back with pigs (woooo...pig sooie go razorbacks)
I'm sure I'll think of something else to haul out of the memory banks... glad you enjoyed, Jacie...
It started with painted cows in Switzerland about ten years back, then Chicago picked up on the idea and the cows got big press. So now every city/town/village has had their turn with whatever fits their image. It's a fun way for artists to 'expand' their creativity and connect with the rest of the population.
Guard fish indeed, Joe... I thought they looked more like lions flanking the library ;-)
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