Friday, March 03, 2006

OOPS-We-Wore-A-Katrina-Costume-And-Didn't-Know-It-Award


Dickie and Christine




They dressed up as the image from Day of the Dead that they had as their wedding cake decoration.

This image came from a website

Someone approached them at Saint Anne's and told them that the names of the figures are Catrin and Catrina.

So they win the
OOPS-We-Wore-A-Katrina-Costume-And-Didn't-Know-It-Award






Unearthly

Thursday, March 02, 2006

Saint Anne* Parade 2006

My favorite part of Mardi Gras is the Saint Anne parade. I don't know why, but I really love those ribbons; they make me feel insanely happy when I see them. Maybe it's because I used to tie hoola hoops around me when I was a kid to make old fashioned poofie skirts (I always harbored a secret desire to design clothes). I would hold a little fashion show in the middle of the woods, just for the dogs, getting all tanged up in the branches.









It's only the beginning of costume week:











Look at the thirsty lady:












*I've been spelling "Saint Anne" incorrectly. Sorry.

Wednesday, March 01, 2006

Time to Get Serious

Mardi Gras is over; we're all tired.




Ash Wednesday,* Happy Talk Band**

There's gunshots down on Franklin street, 11:45
Two boys from the lower ninth, the coroner arrives.
There's a blind man reading tarot cards, over there, in Jackson Square
He says, "The future is uncertain," but he don't really care.
And this city is my sweetheart, but I am truly torn
She loves me through the evening and then she stabs me in the morning
Hey, hey, hey.

I saw Lucius down on Frenchman Street, yeah, he says he's movin' back.
He wears a long sleeve, gingham dress shirt to cover up his habit tracks.
There's a drunkard on the levee, watch the freighters rolling by,
He says, "I shall be a captain then take this river for my bride!"


Come Wednesday, there's no ashes; yeah we all forgot to pray
Mothers lose their children here
And the children lose their way,
Hey, hey, hey.

It's raining down on Montagut,
Found a letter, it's three years old
My mother writes she misses me,
Worries about my immortal soul.
Grandma isn't feeling well, but the weather's nice out west.
She hopes that you don't drink too much,
And Papa sends his very best!

And everyone is drowning here, and everyone is free
God protects his fools who build their homes
Below the sea.

Lyrics written by Luke Allen:



*website is down so I wrote the lyrics down from listening, song written before Katrina
**website doesn't always work, but a terrific New Orleans band

More Mary T

Picture of Mary marching Muses from the Nola.com website


Photo by Patrick Strange / NOLA.com

Costumes!

I was out and about at the St. Ann Parade yesterday, taking pictures of excellent costumes. This week will be costume week, Mardi Gras 2006, all about the parade called St. Ann.

First costumes featured here and later are those of friends:


Something Like a Litter Bug Nik, Shooting Star Ana, Fema Suit John, King Cake Baby Zack






Super Hero Bill took the picture

Go Mary T!





Monday, February 27, 2006

The Making of a Mardi Gras Movie


On Sunday, my friend Miranda threw a party to bring all the folks who came in for the Mardi Gras together. Maysey Craddock came all the way over from Germany for the party. It is wonderful to see so many familiar faces. I wish they were here to stay, but I'll take the visit for a giant party.

Miranda intended to project something (it is still unclear what that would have been), but her CPU quit her after her house flooded under the floors (humidity) and she didn't have a "dongle" for her laptop.

So we made a show. It started out with shadow puppets, but then it moved on to include the star of freakish stuffed things, named Van Gogh. Some of you may have seen him in past appearances:



Screen Test


Fight Scene




In this world, one smells through the tongue...


Promotional picture



Starring Hilary


Philip


Nik


Set Design:
David O

Sunday, February 26, 2006

Resting Up for The Big Days


Mabs and Bill

Papa Joe's Update

Found him. Tried it. The meat was good BUT they used Kraft sauce...bummer.




But the folks were super nice.


Photo by Siobhan Boyer

Mardi Gras 2006 : Installation 2

The sign on my St. Charles block. It has become a sort of landmark now. People pose in front of these. It's weird to us neighborhood folks.



Boy With Super Fat Cigar



Cheech On the Balcony?




Floats (photos by Siobhan Boyer)


What exactly is he doing to that girl?




Look What I Made!

I made this house numbers sign for my evacuation host family the other night, out of old style plastic Mardi Gras beads: