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January 14, 2007. I arrived in New Orleans yesterday 1/14/2007 with a very warm welcome. This was the second time I met Charlie T Johnson and I presented him and his wife Louise Johnson with a present of crystal lead glasses. Both are artists, however Louise specializes in printmaking. I asked their daughter Isis to take a photograph of us in front of their home. Their home is truly an inspiration for artists. Art covers every inch of their home. Art created by all his family members are on display in their spaces home. Charlie also showed me the water level line in which hurricane Katrine 2005 left her mark. All the homes in New Orleans are left with water level marking as a signature of nature.

Charlie immediately took me to the New Orleans African American art museum where our NCA art exhibition will be exhibited. He had some finishing touches to do before today’s opening. This is a very beautiful structure as it once was a plantation home called the Meilleur-Goldthwaite House. I was inspired to photograph this structure along with the slave quarters as it was a continued inspiration of the Kingsley plantation which exist in Jacksonville and was apart of an Only on-Line exhibition I did in 2006 ( archived on CD). The architecture of the slave quarters are made up on lines moving and directing all kinds of traffic

From the museum Charlie T wanted to take me on a small tour of historic New Orleans, especially the 9th ward. As we made our way to the 9th ward, Charlie prepped me with information concerning the levees and its weaknesses. When me arrived I couldn’t imagine that all this at one time was submerged under water. Nothing remains now, but nature. Empty and vastness where once thrived a jovial community. The structures which remains are the ruins that were lifted from their foundation and now resting in areas. Structures are now slanted and tilting, however nature as God’s creations continue to survive and flourish. Ruins are archival-ly marked with red or black X’s indicating the date and O’s for no dead human was founded inside. We pushed onward to Charlie’s old neighbor and there again Ruins, however people have begun to reclaim their homes, by living in trailer on the property while slowly repairing the house.

Many and many trailer exists all over this part of the city, also as we pushed onward to where Charlie works: Southern University. This historic structure has also become ruins as we drove by, we could see the water marking clear over the front doors. The All-black golf course across the street is now a nature-made park. Charlie’s mention that the power of the Southern students and their determination has kept the university open. Classes and dormitories are now housed in trailers. As we left this part of New Orleans, I could only think that this was a new fresh start that some people wanted and some didn’t. However, for the city to be washed clean indicates to me, the strength of the Human Nature.

He took me to the tourist part of the city, The French Quarters and we made our way back to the museum. At the museum I began to photograph the structure. I am become fascinated by the architecture of the plantation and the slave quarters. Later, the artists Nat Williams, came by and we talked in great length. He took me by the POLES or pillars that some of the city artists did under the expressway, depicting g reat moments in New Orleans black history, and I photographed him next to he pole he created. He later told me that the artist Charles Simms did the drawing ( outline) and me painted it, a collaboration.

MLK Day January 15, 2007.
Today was the opening of the 9th Annual NCA Art Exhibition, at the New Orleans African American Museum of Art, Culture and History aka Meilleur-Goldthwait House. Charlie put together a great and serene exhibition. I met the elder artist Charles Simms and took a photograph with him. Charles Simms is a great sort of local New Orleans information, however due to the Hurricane Katrina he remains isolated. He doesn’t have a computer, phone, cell phone or web address. I mention to him also the importance of documenting.

Charlie presented each artists with a certificate of validation, for this exhibition. The artist Nat Williams also continued our conversation, however Nat is true New Orleans hospitality. I took a photograph with Nat in front of his painting. This was great cajun hospitality.

The event was catered with Cajun Jambalaya, vegetable pasta, carrot cake, cheese cake, fruit-vegetable and cheese tray. The ambiance of being in the museum gave the exhibition a feel of Louisiana Southern, French and African pageantry.

The director Tommye Myricks gave a historic rendition of the history of the museum. The food was catered in the back courtyard adjacent to the slave quarters and in the stairwell of the museum. It was very inspiring to eat jambalaya and stroll the plantation grounds. In mid January the roses was in bloom and the bamboo was very green. In certain areas you could smell the aroma of the roses and jambalaya. Thank you Charlie Y. Johnson and Family for your warm Southern Hospitality. Copyright Hugeaux All Rights Reserved.