KATRINA ARTISTICALLY REVISITED is a 5th Annual commemorative special event in New Orleans held on the 5th anniversary eve of Katrina, August 28, 2010, "in memory of those we lost and to honor those who survived." It also represents a collective "thank you" to first responders, as well as to all responders throughout these past 5 years who proved unbendingly to New Orleans that "the kindness of strangers" is strong, and alive and well in America.
Held yearly at the Theatres at Canal Place (formerly the Landmark Canal Place Cinema Theatre), the producers of this grassroots event, Patty Lee and Armand St. Martin, say their event is designed as a respectful and unique artistic multi-media experience, free to the public.
While Lee and St. Martin (a husband/wife team) have funded the past Katrina Artistically Revisited annual events from their own savings, this year several sponsors have lent a helping hand toward the cause: Theatres at Canal Place, Musician's Foundation and Gig Fund, Ponderosa Stomp, Garden District Book Shop, and Patty Lee Records.
This special event consists of a Katrina Photo Exhibit in the Theatre Lobby, from 10:30 pm - 11:30 pm, by Louisiana State Museum award-winning staff photographer, Mark Sindler, along with a display and sales of top-selling published Katrina books by the Garden District Book Shop. Food and beverages are available from Gusto, the Lobby cafe, as guests mingle and share their Katrina stories with others.
The somber, creative program in the Main Theatre begins at 11:30 pm - 12:30 am (just after midnight) and includes live music, films, poetry and oral stories, all presented through the eyes of local artists who survived Katrina.
"We hold our main program in the theatre every anniversary eve of Katrina for a reason. We begin at 11:30 pm on the anniversary date of August 28th when our lives were all normal, and we end at 12:30 am on the anniversary date of August 29th when our lives were changed forever," state Patty Lee and Armand St. Martin.
Soulful Katrina-oriented original songs are performed, solo, by Armand St. Martin, Bruce "Sunpie" Barnes, Jay Chevalier, Orange Kellin, Steve Wulff. St. Martin is a New Orleans roots piano-rocker mainstay who has released his CD, "Katrina Anthem" on Patty Lee Records. "Katrina Anthem" features St. Martin's Katrina song, "Orleans Lullaby", which he performed live at Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's Make It Right Foundation for their preservation-minded Pink Project in the Lower Ninth Ward. Sunpie Barnes, a zydeco-music recording artist who has entertained worldwide in over 35 countries, will perform his powerful "Didn't It Rise." Official State Troubadour and Hall of Fame recipient, rockabilly legend Jay Chevalier performs his "Come Back to Louisiana", which is the Official Hurricane Recovery song. Steve Wulff performs his "My Town" on acoustic guitar and is a band member of the DeSoto Street Band. Orange Kellin, leader of his own jazz band in New Orleans lends his impressive clarinet to fill out the evening's musical program.
Katrina Artistically Revisited also features a short bxw Katrina film by New Orleans photographer, Dennis Couvillion, titled: "Stillness. . .the aftermath of Katrina, with the soundscore by Dean Dupuy, Ramsey mcClean and Armand St. Martin. This poignant "Stillness. . ." has been shown annually at Katrina Artistically Revisited since the first year.
Additional program highlights include a photo film-essay on the big screen by the New Orleans Kid Project, courtesy of Joanna Rosenthal and Ariya Martin, accompanied by live music by Armand St. Martin, Orange Kellin and friends. Also, a documentary Trailer is scheduled, courtesy of Executive Producer, Richard Colton and Babs Johnson, titled, "Katrina's Children" which was inspired by the New Orleans Kid Project.
Several guests will share their personal Katrina stories including Gisela Chevalier, and Libba McEnery, both first responders in different areas of New Orleans. The original poem, "Evacuation" by Stephen Chesnut will be presented by Chesnut in both French and English.
Opening and closing photographs on screen are by various award-winning photographers such as Donn Young, formerly the official photographer for the Port of New Orleans, Louisiana State Museum's Mark Sindler, and producer/creator of Katrina Artistically Revisited and archivist, Patty Lee, among others.
The remarkable fact about Katrina Artistically Revisited, now in it's 5th annual year, is that when Lee created the first special event, nobody in New Orleans was thinking much "past the moment". Lee recalls, "nobody even knew if we'd still have a City of New Orleans."
Each Katrina Artistically Revisited particpant will share a few minutes of their own personal Katrina experience before presenting their artistic endeavors. "This is truly a homegrown, local, grassroots event to share with all. We even have guests in the audience who come from all over the world to share their own Katrina memories."
Parking at Canal Place. Free Event, over 18.
Location Information:
The Theatres at Canal Place
Lobby and Main Theatre
333 Canal St. 3rd Floor
New Orleans, LA 70130
504 866 4480 (media only - Patty Lee)
pattyandarmand@mindspring.com