Arts Alive: George Rodrigue’s "Reflections of New Orleans"
“I wanted to create something that would actually put the viewer inside the paintings in a symbolic and real way,” says New Orleans, La.,-born native George Rodrigue. “As a result, the art acts like an ambassador for the city and the people, and as a thank you to various areas in the country that have helped New Orleans with its recovery.”
He is perhaps best known for his Blue Dog series, but through January 18, 2009, at the Sheraton New Orleans, you have the opportunity to view poignant artwork by Rodrigue. His new and never-before-seen “Reflections of New Orleans” was created on chrome paper, to which he points out that the reflective nature of it (chrome paper) is a symbolic look back at the recovery of the city over the past three years.
“It reminds us of our resilience in times of crisis.”
To shape this special effect, he first created large silkscreen dogs on chrome and then hand-painted abstract shapes on top it, using both acrylic and silkscreen paints. Rodrigue left large blank spaces in between so the chrome would so through.
“As a result, the viewer sees their reflection in the piece itself, and their image becomes part of the artwork and experience.”
Over the next three years, he hopes to completes 25 of these pieces that will be sent to different museums around the country. Sheraton New Orleans currently displays the first seven. They can be seen from the hotel’s large windows that face Canal Street.
Rodrigue has raised around $1.5 million for Gulf Coast disaster relief through his Blue Dog Relief organization. This is in addition to donating over $1 million in prints to non-profits along the Gulf Coast. This combined with the publicity from his exhibition at the New Orleans Museum of Art last spring led to the “Reflections” series.
“By focusing on the arts, I think it gives the people a new sense of recovery that we can look to for inspiration,” he says. “There’s no doubt the city is receptive and welcoming to visitors. The restaurants, festivals and the arts are in full swing, and the residents are extremely happy to receive tourists.”
photo credit: courtesy of George Rodrigue Studio/image by Rod Reed
1 Comment
What an amazing photo. I’d love to see more of his artwork. Thanks for the post.