Heritage Foundation for Arts
and Cultural Sustainability
@ The National Arts Club, 15 Gramercy Park, New York, NY 10003
Tel. 212.777.9064 and Fax 212.428.6771
Media contact: Kenneth Jay Linsner
Tel: 917.596.5600
MEDIA ALERT: New Orleans in New York
October 5, 2005 6pm- 8 pm (presentations at 6:30)
The National Arts Club Sculpture Court
15 Gramercy Park, New York (20th Street between Park and Irving
Place)
On October 5, 2005, the Heritage Arts Foundation
will host an opening of an exhibition "New Orleans in New
York," The exhibit continues through October 11 and features
work damaged by Katrina and works that survived Katrina. Several
artists will be present: Lory Lockwood, Meryt Harding, and Aryen
Hart painters and Alfredo Ocampo, poet. The opening reception
will kick off a longer-term project to support the re-introduction
of the arts in New Orleans. It is critical that artists and cultural
institutions be supported in order to assure that New Orleans
does not become a parody of itself.
One of the major centers of the arts in New Orleans
centers is ArtEgg Studios, a former produce warehouse, converted
to art studios and storage, founded by NAC Education Chair, Esther
R Dyer. The October 5, exhibit features the work of 10 resident
artists - now in exile in Florida, Texas, South Carolina, New
York, etc. On September 13, the New York Times article "Artists
on the Run" raised the issue and this opening and exhibition
will provide an update. Personal stories of the artists and their
trauma provide dramatic evidence of the present lack of resources
and planning in the face of catastrophic events such as Katrina.
Artists expected to attend: Dwayne Cormier, Meryt Harding, Aryent
Hart, and Lory Lockwood. The next steps for the support of New
Orleans artists in exile and their reentry will also be discussed.
Speakers and artists are available to be interviewed
on October 5 at The National Arts Club and by appointment. Presentations
include:
"What artists need: New Orleans Artists on
the Run," Lory Lockwood, ArtEgg Studios artist
"Putting Artists to Work in the Gulf Coast:
the WPA Perspective," Will Barnet, WPA Artist and NAC Exhibiting
Artist
"The Importance of the Arts in Rebuilding:
Lessons from 9/11" Tom Healy, President, Lower Manhattan
Cultural Council
"Next Steps: Keeping the Arts Alive New Orleans
and Beyond" Kenneth Jay Linsner, President, Heritage Foundation
for Arts and Cultural Sustainability. Mr. Linsner will also speak
about the forthcoming "New Orleans in Moscow," a juried
show scheduled for March in Moscow, in cooperation with the US
State Department and the Moscow International House of Music and
Ruarts Gallery.
The Heritage Foundation for Arts and Cultural Sustainability,
a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization is located at ArtEgg Studios
in New Orleans and in exile at The National Arts Club. The Foundation's
cultural sustainability programs will be focused for the near
future on rebuilding and revitalizing the arts in disaster-affected
regions.
Founded in 1898, The
National Arts Club is the oldest club dedicated to the arts
in America. Its mission is to promote and encourage better understanding
of the arts throughout the country. "New Orleans in New York"
is presented by the Education Committee of The National Arts Club,
chaired by Dr. Esther R. Dyer who is also the founder of ArtEgg
Studios.
please visit ArtEgg
Studios to know more about
ArtEgg, the resident artists and the impact of Katrina in their
lives
