In any city or place, a potential art community can exist if a group of artists begin to gravitate towards a new locale. Those familiar with this cycle have seen it happen before in neighborhoods like Soho, the Lower East Side and DUMBO in New York City. In New Orleans, neighborhoods like the Marigny, Bywater and St. Roch seem slated for "gentrification". As an arts professional who also happens to be an emerging artist, my opinion on this topic is probably not as grim as many of my contemporaries. My sentimentality only goes so far, and besides, a guy has to make a living.
If the community of artists in New Orleans decide to look at the landscape, it is clear to see that there is an opportunity that must be embraced and its happening right before your eyes. If you delve into recent art history, it must be noted that the artists responsible for changing the future of particular neighborhoods in the past, have become iconic in their acheivements. Right now the media Nationwide has been focused on New Orleans with all the disasters, (natural or otherwise), and professional sports milestones that have recently occurred here. Culturally, this city attracts hoards of tourists every year, anxious to see, taste and feel, what it is like to be in such a unique part of the world. Well, I say let's give it to them.
After a hiatus from examiner.com that lasted well over a year, I am back to explore what New Orleans has to offer, artistically speaking. I might even get to travel a bit and report on what's going on in other cities like New York or Los Angeles. Regardless of my location I will give you the scoop on local, national, and international art scenes as I navigate through the vast cultural realm known as the "art world".
-Chris Herbeck, 2011
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