http://mardi-claw.artistwebsites.com/
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party like a pyrate shore leave 2011
this is the locals event. I say this because we’ve had a barrage of folks from out of state come here to pillage. LOL! Imagine that. Anyhow, most important is that the locals are finally on the same page. There’s a rum contest on thursday, where you can win money, and there’s karaoke, pyrate style, there’s a pub crawl that ends at one eyed jacks with The Valparaiso mens chorus, and Debauche, there’s a parade with lots of kids, and a dinner party. There is so much squeezed into one weekend, you’ll be racing to and from the events.
Most important though, is KIDS are welcome. On the parade morning, REX will be on hand to have a paint party with the kids, and dancing man will teach them to buckjump and dance. What more could you ask for? I know, to be in a parade right? Thats right. The kids will be in the parade, leading the way. And the king? Is a special guest from “Make A Wish Foundation”. You see, we’ve been busy at work, gearing up to make a childs wish.
won’t you help make that dream come true?
Share on Facebookbone gangs, wildman, and treme
my mardigras morning, began with ronald lewis, from house of dance and feathers. as he parked on the neutral ground, and wobbled up to my porch, I opened the door, bone girl to bone gang, and the greetings commenced. ronald sat down in his bone suit, and scarf, and I painted him skeleton. he then left me, and headed to backstreet cultural museum to meet up with northside skull and bones street party.
I got in a cab, headed uptown and had to walk the last mile or so to catch up with wildman john. from 8 blocks away, I could see black feathers, and hear cars honking. He stopped at some point, turned, looked back, and saw me. this bone girl, and the wildman, began our journey.
Queen was looking beautiful, the wind was gusting, and the rain was held back by Zulu’s witchdoctor, the day before, declaring no rain until parades were over. He worked his magic, and we were off. the first group of Indians we joined with? Were beautiful children, spy boys, wild men, little queens, and more. INDIANS here they come!
The next part of the journey was to 2nd and dryades, where an entire neighborhood awaited tribes. Wildman, to Wildman, big chief to queen. Wild Tchoupatoulas, Creole Wild Wild west, Magnolias, and more. the bone girl followed, and joined in the revelry, the pagentry, the bones. Scaring children left and right, and finally all the way to simon bolivar, where it reached a peak, of Indians prancing, feathers flying, and the guardians of the flame? kept the fiyo burnin.
Wildman and I stopped and took a break. Then realizing the time, (oh how it flies) I had to step out, and head to the avenue pub. WHERE I find my friends, bbq, and drinks. Seemed as tho my entire day was filled with gifts, from the free cab ride, free food, and then to free drinks. I watched the truck parade roll by, and then headed out, to get to the hi ho lounge.
I passed under I-10, and had scores of children after me, pictures snapping, and more Indians. by the time I got to the hi ho? I was so tired. it had been a good day. At least ten miles, and one drink, staying sober, as I had to be on the set of treme the next day at ten am. The mardigras Indian orchestra now had my attention. Big Chief of the Northside Skull and Bones showed up, and took the stage. his giant bloody femer bone to the side of the stage, and the drums began…. more Indian music. Then at five pm, Burning Spear showed up, Kizzie, Tab, Sysco and the boys… took the dance floor in their finery. BOY y’all looked so pretty. Big Chief welcomed them to the room, and Little Liza Jane.
As they excited, we went into the street, and in front of siberia, and continued. Wildman challenged the bone girl. I learned to guard the flame.
then onto more orchestra, a few drinks and home and in bed on mardigras day at eight thirty. Up at six am, painting my face, YET again, and puttin on the bones again. Wendy and Lisa joined me… (LOL) and Kim, and we went on set, to recreate society of st ann. I won’t say too much about the scene, as I don’t want to spoil it for anyone… then on to a bourbon street scene for mardigras day, ALL on an ASH WED.
it was a LONG day. I had fun. free breakfast, lunch and even a paycheck. I loved the bone gang that showed up… Zoolu, with the alligator, the elephant, and the monkey and they all axed for you. It was made even better by Tom Harvey, and a bevy of new bones for me to pose, play, and hang with. Good job PEOPLE!
its a wrap!
Share on Facebookbacchendymion marathon sunday
so.. rolling in another tomorrow, and now its looking like a LONG day. I can remember after katrina, I think it was 2007, when they moved the schedule to accomodate, bad weather, and this bacchus and endymion marathon was still on round one am in the morning. moving the endymion parade from mid city to uptown, is going to kill many business owners mardigras dream. also, making all those ladder nazi’s move uptown too. According to our mayor? they’re writing tickets for port o lets, ladders and furniture, OH MY! as if we don’t have enough problems, during the gras, lets write tickets for stupid things, like art markets, toilets, and family fun. lets forget about the murder rate. thanks mitch.
I am looking forward to this long day, still gotta sort beads, still gotta put my costume together, and still gotta find a way to get uptown. before the crowds, park my cart, and lock and load. Where shall I begin? or shall I wing it, and just walk it. making my life much easier.
welcome to the saint charles parade route. welcome to bacchus, welcome to box of wine, metamorphosis, turning water into wine. I shall figure all of it sometime today, as I take another day down from the festivities. I have a friend arriving today, who I haven’t seen since two years ago, a lost new orleanian, stuck in memphis. Hello, walter, I can’t wait to see you.
taking two days down is a feat never repeated. I was running late last night with Wildman, and his top hat, and skellie. but its done, and he debuts mardigras morning, along with a wonderful tradition of masking, right outta rock bottom on tchoup and peniston. get out there. The bone gangs? head to the treme, and backstreet cultural museum… Zulu? up really early, REX? rolling after, and then the dreaded trucker parade, where deafness is the only after thought, all those horns honking, all those kids screaming for toys.
and lets not forget Lundi gras. I think I’m going to head to the riverfront, always wanted to do that. Lori is rolling in orpheus, with the sirens… you go girrl..
and lets not forget burning spear tribe, at the hi ho at five pm. thats when I land there, and then crash home. getting up on ash wednesday for a chance at being an extra in treme.
happy mardigras.
Share on Facebookportlands get a life marching krewe
this past saturday was a fabulous day spent first working at surrey’s for the breakfast krewe, and then on to sparta, to paint faces for a marching krewe from portland oregon. GET A LIFE krewe was great. Great folks, who I know had a blast marching. I got the opportunity to meet them a little more in depth on Sunday night when they came to the hi ho lounge, and joined the burning spear Indians, in the drum circle. Y’all were great! Thanks Steve big time, and Ginny, who next time I’m in Portland? I’ll look ya up.
Then after that painting of faces, I went on to paint more faces for friends going to a masking ball. Day of the dead, yes indeed. they looked great. Wildman John and I got out there, and ended up at the avenue pub, and then I got on to st roch, then maries, where wth? wow, that was a long day.
I’ll be out on wed for the parades. wed, thurs, friday and saturday for endymion, party at brandy’s house. big fun. Get out there and enjoy some mardigras!
Share on Facebookhappy carnivale
ts been officially on for some time now, but it really doesn’t start for any real new orleanian, until that krewe du vieux and krewedelusion parade, which was last weekend. today, the beginnings of the superkrewes start. I’m taking a night down, since tomorrow, I’m painting faces for sparta. An entire marching krewe from portland oregon, will be out there, in khaki’s and tshirts, soaking up the good weather, while their friends back home, dig themselves out from the snow!
After that? I’m on to a skeleton wedding, where I’m painting friends up, then on to the parades. this year? a good friend lives right off the parade route uptown, and has a nice tiki bar, that I can’t wait to take advantage of, and a clean bathroom to boot.
Then as the week progresses? the Burning Spear Tribe at the Hi Ho Lounge on sunday, with an extra twist… the marching krewe from portland, oregon will be joining them. Monday, red beans and rice, and bluegrass at the hi ho, then here comes banners for box of wine, BSMI flags for the flagboys, then a cut out for Wildman John, and finishing off his skellie for the back of his suit. I will be busy sewing, painting, and prepping for another parade, and working out my costume.
My fave rolls on thursday, Muses, Babylon and Chaos, and second fave parade night on friday with krewe d’etat, and the skeletons.
Bacchus sunday has the wonderful krewe of box of wine, right out front, we start at the sandpiper and end at lee circle. look for us, in all our crazed metamorphosis, and try to get you a box of wine, baby!
Mardigras Day? with Northside Skull and bones gang, and then, Wild Tchoupatoulas Mardi, coup de fiyo, and then? onto the avenue pub, throughout the city, and of course? ending at the hi ho lounge at five pm, for burning spear.
get out there and get your parade on… get your facepainted, and get your drink on… mardigras 2011 is upon us!
Share on FacebookDEEPWATER delusion episode two
the enlightened despot and captain of new orleans, ruled over deepwater delusion on saturday night. Episode two of krewedelusion rolled with our king DAVIS ROGAN, who for those of you unfamiliar with him, he is the character that Steve Zahn plays in TREME. Krewe of Muu Muu, krewe of banana’s, 6t’9 social aid and pleasure, krewe of tourists, krewe du jieux, the pony girls, and more, stepped into the limelight through the quarter after Krewe Du Vieux. Loved the drum machine, at the end, banging away, and inciting a near riot in front of checkpoint charlies in the end. go to you tube to see more of the delusion parade… the watery theme had many different takes, including a giant BP check signed by the devil, with insufficient funds, a chicken sacrificed by jewish cooks complete with meat cleavers with blood and feathers, oyster girls covered in oil, mermaids run amok, crawfish, lobsters, and of course, the elusive gulf of mexico walrus, that the BP exec’s have been studying for sometime….
other great takes were a complete krewe of people ready to go swimming, BP exec’s themselves, and of course wildman john and myself. What a wonderful night, noisician coalition and more… I’d like to thank all who came out, and I hope you got some special throws… of note? the oysters in Oil with condoms and pearls…
Share on Facebookmyscary valentine tumble
six ta nine is at it again, for your valentines pleasure. the tumble begins at the country club at six pm, and will roll to bacchanal, vaughns and on down to the backyard ballroom for the davis rogan band, and cheeky blakk. expect to enjoy newbirth brass band during the tumble, titled my scary valentine. I’m sure there will be some great costumes, as well as great music. see ya there.
Share on Facebookkrewe delusion / krewe du jieux
rolls feb 19th right behind my beloved krewe du vieux. I’ve been a member of krewe du vieux, rue bourbon, for some time now, but these days, I’ve followed my 6t’9 roots. the social aid and pleasure club 6t’9, goes places that other krewes don’t. this gras season, we’re a subkrewe of delusion, with our king oscar diggs aka davis rogan. we will be rolling through with a “watery” theme, that I won’t disclose at the moment. with us, is krewe du jieux, another fave of mine. I have donated the painting below, to the jieux’s to help them pay for parade costs. raffle tickets are $2 and you can get many of them friday night, as in tomorrow, at the showing of the big uneasy, at one eyed jacks. be there at seven, show at eight, and participate in this new krewe. among other krewes are krewe du muu muu, krewe of banana’s, the sinsations, ninth ward marching band, and many many more surprizes. if you buy a raffle, you can also get a gift certificate from schiro’s, the hi ho lounge, st roch tavern, empanada intifada, three chances to win a tiny hat, a handmade crown, or a jieux tshirt. be there…
Share on FacebookAll because its Mardiclaw time!
I love commissions. especially when they’re ones that challenge me. For Christmas, a friend asked me to do a portrait of his wife’s house, and I was excited. When I got there for the photo, well, it was a grey house, and pretty plain. I looked at him, and thought to myself? how? how do I make this one of mine… well, as you can see, I made it mine, with lots of color. this is the painting, before I added the light out front, and the colorful reflections it brought too. Making it one painting, that is LOUD LOUD LOUD.
If you ever need your place painted mardiclaw style, let me know. In the meantime, lets see if you recognize this house come mardigras day, when the krewe of st ann lines up, and you pass this house….
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toys for tots dec 11th
there’s a little art market goin on in the next week at the hiho. when I originally booked this, I saw it as an opportunity to help kids who may not get gifts for christmas. So bring a new toy, and walk away with a piece of art, from a local artist, as a thank you.
there’s a guest bartender, lou lou the muse, jessica’s dolls, my paintings, cher’s jewelry, dan of noomoon, kelly israel, and many more showing affordable christmas gifts. you can have a few drinks while shopping, or eat some fun holiday food. It will be a good time, followed by a great show. I’m dreaming of a white colla christmas, with vockah redu and the cru. It will be the last show I book at the hi ho, so please show your support on dec 11th, day and night.
thanks to nola rising for hooking this venture with me.
Share on Facebookst roch
this weekend brings an art festival to the st roch neighborhood. The Scabi biennial. st claude arts biennial. a locals perspective of prospect two, or one and a half, or whatever… Point is, over 400 local artists will be showing this weekend between the biennial, and the second saturday art walk. I will be one of them, in several spots.
so get to the roch, and enjoy a day of art, with the locals…
Share on Facebookdia de muerta / 6t’9
what a wonderful parade, what a wonderful evening. special thanks to el jay, lou lou, phil, jess, Ian, northside skull and bones, wildman john, the tumblers, and all who came out to watch. The kids love this parade! wouldn’t you? nothing like candy, skeletons, aliens, and more. kids, giving kids candy, and nothing like leading the brass band through the quarter. so, what are your plans this weekend? If you live in new orleans you have MANY things to choose from. Blaine Kerns halloween krewe will roll through the quarter, Skull Club has a costume party on friday night, Anba Dlo saturday night at the healing center is a big one! Join Sallie Ann Glassman, and set your sights on this yearly event. A $20 cover charge gets you all you can drink, and more. Live music, art, costumes, street fair, artists booths, and silent auction for charity that will finally make a bywater dream come true! By february we will finally have our own grocery store! the healing center brings yoga, reiki, holistic medicine, healers, spiritualism and more to our neighborhood! A MUST see! Also, Saturday night boasts of one of the Zydepunks last shows. Debauche, Zydepunks, and slow burn burlesque at the hi ho lounge. Voodoofest at City park is a tradition that many attend, walking bourbon street itself is a sight on halloween weekend. Sunday nights saints halloween game will be on every screen. Mardigras Indians in the house with me at the hi ho lounge. Monday is all saints day, get out and respect your ancestors, and wash their tombstones, city wide. Day of the Dead skeleton parade on tuesday in the bywater, rolls right into the hi ho lounge to see me, and Ratty Scurvics leads the parade, and provides entertainment. ALSO, don’t forget to vote!
and now, back to my fond memories of last saturday night with wildman john. There is nothing like secondlining through the quarter with an Indian. I feel like we crossed over into a realm of fantasy, and reality, showing that we both have a huge love of this city, and the secondline traditions it holds. I met many chiefs, met many skull and bones gangs, and honored big chief al morris with a sign forever immortalizing his contributions to this city, and to the 6t’9 club itself. I smile upon Ian on his birthday, I grin at Jess and her first parade, I toast the wildman, and I revel in halloween, and the bone gangs of new orleans…
wishing y’all a wonderful halloween!
Share on Facebooksix ta nine social aid and pleasure club
6t’9 SAPC rolls this saturday at six pm from the backstreet cultural museum, and opens with a wedding. AND edd wood wedding, hence the title “Plan 6t’9 from outer space”. First I’d like to congratulate Lou Lou Maloney and Philip Rew, on their upcoming nuptials, and thank them both for turning the wedding gift idea, into donating to fund the parade permits.http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1861862293/the-new-orleans-6t9-social-aid-and-pleasure-clubs and even more importantly… I’ll be rolling with Wildman John of the Wild Tchoupatoulas, so I haven’t decided what I’m wearing yet, I tend to want to do skeleton, simply because of the Indians, and I feel a bone gang mentality coming on. My original plan was to be from a black and white movie… LOL Either way, plenty of facepainting on the agenda for the next few weeks, since halloween is round the corner. - - - So look for me in the parade, then catch me afterwards at the hi ho lounge, for the secret firemans, other masked ball. All in all, I garontee, a wonderful time for all.
Share on FacebookResurrection at Skull Club
very excited for tomorrow’s show. The skull club is reopening for the arts season, and of course, when better? than october? Well, I’ve got a few new works up, and some old works available, and some very inexpensive pieces for the halloween season. $30 paintings, each day of the dead, colorful, and of course… fun. - - - - here’s some of the entertainment for tomorrow, doc otis, oops the clown will have an altar party, you can be interactive by bringing flowers (fall flowers) white candles, skeletons, pictures of loved ones passed, or something they loved, a glass of water, (the dead get thirsty) food, a statue or picture of a dog, (to lead the dead), baked goods, incense, and anything that you personally feel will add to this altar. skeletons, virgin mary’s, saints, crosses, etc. This altar will be up for the month, and close on all souls day, dia de las muertas. When the show closes, I’ll have more new work up, for you to check out. - - - - I’m staying low this season, by stayin in, painting, and trying to work up a huge body of work, so I can enjoy some of these festivals come spring. I promise you, I’ll be showing at surrey’s during the christmas season, with affordable work, that will make great christmas presents. yes… I do things that aren’t always skeleton.
Share on Facebookmardiclaw history
this has been a unique past few years. With Katrina behind me, post K dia de muerte is evolving. Once again this year, I’ll be donating to Anba Dlo, the yearly event put on by our local voodoo priestess, sallie ann glassman. We are getting closer and closer to the goal of the healing center, and providing the neighborhood with groceries, yoga, healing, and more. Located just about a block from my house, Anba Dlo happens each year on halloween. Last year I had a skellie booth, and although the rain kept us from having the street party, I had the opportunity to meet Wildman John. - Since our meetup, I’ve been helping Wildman John design this years Mardi Gras Indian suit. Wildman is the front man for the Wild Tchoupatoulas. Since its a skeleton suit, we seem to be meant for each other. - Also this past couple of years, I’ve had the opportunity to join “A wing and a prayer” with their documentary on Sallie Ann. My two cohorts have been busy editing thier doc for sundance film festival, with just a wee bit more of filming to do. A Voodoo Wedding is part of the final filming, and subsequent secondline will be in the hands of one mardiclaw. Look for me throughout the film, and my part of the showcase of art, sprituality, voodoo, and more, rising from the bywater neighborhood, since that tragic day. Leading the forefront of this rebirth, is Sallie Ann Glassman.
I hear Treme is resuming filming. Very excited about that. I managed to get four pieces in it this past season. Looking forward to more. - Also of note, although I’m not necessarily a fan, are episodes of MTV’s Real World, new orleans. You’ll find much of my work at the avenue pub, in the background of this reality tv show. Most notably, paper mache skeletons, and the skeleton mural going up to the balcony bar there.
Revolution on the Road has been busy here in nola as well. You’ll find a link to this up and coming documentary on the right hand side under blogs. There is nothing more interesting than a city that was left to drown, rising like a phoenix from the ashes, her resilient people standing up to those who have come to try and change her. Viva New Orleans, and all those upon this island of misfit toys. lets keep her that way.
I’ve managed to make it into several books this year. most recently, Miss Cherie Dimaline finished up another with myself as one of her nola characters. Look for this, and a book signing party, heading to new orleans this next year.
The Seattle Grunge scene is rising from the past, and along with it, several new books. I was interviewed for both, and since I played a major role, and was never once interviewed by the paparazzi, back in the day, maybe I can shed a little light on how such a small group of people, took over the music world. Viva FLANNEL everywhere!
Look for me also this year in 6t’9, Krewe Du Vieux, and a moment in time with the Wild Tchoupatoulas. Those bones of mine will be out there come mardigras day.
Share on Facebookresurrection at skull club
on october 9th, I’ll be showing with several others at the skull club. (see link) the show’s title is resurrection, and is about many things… seeing since many involved in the show, lost many good friends last year round halloween, we’ll be tying in all of the art, with day of the dead, and an altar party. featured trapeze artist, Oops duh Clown… this will be a special show for all involved.
The original work has been up in Birmingham, for quite some time. The Original piece itself is priced at $2005.00. Its a work that is very dear to me, but for those of you who can’t afford to spend that much, I have numbered gilclee’s. only 25 were made, and they’re 24 by 36, signed and numbered by yours truly… price tag of $100 each. only ten left. get yours now.
original work, on canvas $2005.00 three and a half by five feet
giclee’s $100 signed and numbered
Opening up a five year can of katrina worms
this has been quite a week of revelations. I’m watching tv right now, and abc news reporter brian williams is talking about his coverage during hurricane katrina. he’s doing a fairly good job, and showing some stuff that upsets me, that was a rough time, but he’s also talking oil spill.
friends recently had shrimp for dinner. later when they walked into the kitchen, they found that the shrimp glowed in the dark.
while working with the mardi gras indians? met someone who is exploiting them for personal gain. love to go into a rant, but I’ll just keep that one under wraps… stay my positive course.
spike lee and harry shearer both have documentaries coming out that I cannot wait to see. both stand up for this city, and neither are afraid to speak the truth.
Images on television are coming forward and haunting me. I can still remember how hot it was outside, and how grimy I felt… doing all I could to stay hydrated and cool. the electricity in the air, and the lack thereof… made people very wild eyed, and anxious. The fact that we were still here the next day, and then waking up on the second day to a city filled with water.
right now they’re working on the grid, so power outages are still goin on, but not to the level they did before. still a silent reminder of worse times.
its just one of those things that really opens up my emotions. its been five years… we’ve come a long – long way. all of it has been hard, but for all the hard work? there’s light in peoples eyes again, and hope in our hearts.
I’m just tryin to enjoy my bday, not get too bummed out, and find myself a haven on that day, by spending it with a little bit of culture. Staying focused on moving forward, and ignoring all the nola bashing. Real tired of nola bashing.
That moment when I saw the television set, and saw that all they had to show was negativity. All they had to give was some sympathy, and rescue. Neither happened, instead the negative pirahna’s of the “corporate news media” played us like a bunch of angry welfare recipients, who didn’t deserve to be rescued. We weren’t even american in their eyes.
No, I’ll never forget that. Thats one of the reasons I don’t listen to the news, because I know they lie. they’ll do anything for a story, and anything to stir up anger and hate in this country. Drowning us with stories of hate, religion, bipartisan, entitlement, and stupid topics for a nation dumbing down with each click of the remote control. Yeah, when it was 9-11 it was patriotism, and war war war, but with katrina? it was pathetic, lets show the world all the welfare, black, poor people who think they deserve something.
wow… as I get older? I realize that its coming. A time when extremism is all thats left. big brother is there in every living room, unfolding the brainwashing techniques to a generation of folks who probably don’t sit at the dinner table anymore, but in front of the talking head before them.
all that, because someone opened up the can of katrina worms.
Share on Facebookfuneral for big chief al morris the third, the northside skull and bones gang
I’ve always been attracted to the bone gangs of new orleans, and never really got to experience that tradition. I know they get out there on mardi gras day, I know they’re scary, I know that kids run and hide from them, I know they carry bones, and they have stark skeletal outfits with huge paper mache heads.
then there’s the skeleton krewe that rolls with krewe d’etat.
then there’s 6t’9 social aid and pleasure club, masking in skeleton makeup and costumes, giving out candy during halloween, so kids don’t have to trick or treat in blighted neighborhoods.
but the recent funeral of the first storm king of 6t’9? Big Chief Al Morris III? was an experience that was very intimate, and on a hot hot day in the treme. Led by second chief Bruce “Sunpie” Barnes, and the Treme Brass Band, the small secondline weaved through the treme, and began with “We are the north side, skull and bone gang”….
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