Music (Inner Journey)

Instruments in The Cabildo

Music is a staple in the culture down in New Orleans. Ever since the 1700’s when French settlers migrated down there music has been a part of their everyday life and social functions such as weddings and funerals. While we were down in New Orleans a few of us witnessed a parade celebrating a marriage. At the front of the parade was a band sending harmonies throughout the street while those behind were dancing and singing. Music is just one way the New Orleans is able to express herself. Musicians tell a story about life and the area they live in which can be happy moments or tough times. Those stories allow the general public to relate to the area or the person who is playing. I know for me personally when I am having a rough time or just having a down day what changes my mood is listening to a certain genre of music. Having a city full of various genres of music, such as Blues, Jazz, and contemporary, allows for acceptance of all types of people which is one of the main themes I see no matter where I go down here. I think it is rare that you feel acceptance and love from a city in such a short visit but New Orleans radiates at her seams with it.

Music (Outer Journey)

From the time the sun rises and sets in New Orleans music can be heard for miles in the French Quarter. Musicians can be found on the street or in the bars on Frenchman and Bourbon Street depending on what type of music you want to hear. New Orleans offers a wide variety of music from karaoke in the Cats Meow, original jazz in Fritzel’s, and blues over on Frenchman Street. My favorite experience was a southern blues band in a bar called BMC. The band consisted of an electric guitarist, drum player, bass player, and the lead singer who also played an electric harmonica. The bar was dimly lit and colored LED lights illuminated the stage that added energy to the performance. Each song was filled with passion not only from the lead singer but through the various solos each band member contributed. The music was designed in a way to get the audience to participate and it did just that. The audience was dancing and singing along with the band which added to the excitement in the bar. Prior to coming to New Orleans I did not have an appreciation for Blues music but after hearing soulful blues music I fell in love with it. Blues music here in the Midwest has a different flare compared to New Orleans. My first blues experience is something that I will remember for years to come and is on my list of things to go do when I go back to New Orleans.

Art (Outer Journey)

Lozano and Barbuti Gallery

New Orleans is full of various artists who use wide spread technique to depict their passion. The local artist that I chose was Ricardo Lozano. Originally from Bogota Columbia, Ricardo came to New Orleans back in 1999 to pursue his passion as an artist. As a new artist in New Orleans, Ricardo began his career in Jackson Square trying to find his knack. Initially when he created canvases he thought he knew what the general public wanted so that is what he made. He realized quickly when he was poor and not making revenue that he needed to change the direction he was going. According to his gallery manager Ricardo decided that if he was going to be a poor artist he was going to paint what he wanted. That was the key that Ricardo was missing, after he started creating art he was passionate about Ricardo became known not only nation-wide but across the world. Today Ricardo owns a gallery on Royal Street with his brother and sister-in-law called Lozano and Barbuti. Ricardo uses oil based paints with brushes and pallet knives to create intricate detail on canvases. Scenic New Orleans is what he primarily paints about throwing in hints of jazz tribute depending on Ricardo’s vision. The primary instrument that he will include in his art is the tenor saxophone. The different techniques that he uses makes it seem like you are living in the picture, that you are on the street where the building is walking down the street.

Art (Inner Journey)

Ricardo Lozano Painting

Ricardo Lozano’s work not only drew me to love his paintings but also the story behind it. He is a success story from Jackson Square and someone that I hope artists in the area look up to as a sign of hope that anything is possible. Lozano utilizes oil based paints with various brushes and pallet knives to create his art. The beauty with art is that everyone has their own take/perspective as to what it is telling them and its significance. Lozano’s paintings remind me of Mary Poppins in a way. In the movie Bert creates pictures out of sidewalk chalk that come to life when Mary and the children jump into them. For me I feel like Lozano’s paintings are the same way. When you stand back and look at them you are mentally able to jump into them and feel like you are standing on the street where that building is located. One painting that I can think of specifically was in the gallery. The gallery manager showed us that when he would dim the light the painting changes. The street lights appeared to be brighter, the cats eyes in the painting seemed to become more defined while the room around us darkened. Another technique that he uses in his paintings is putting resin into some of his oil based paint to create three dimensional objects like the flowers hanging off the balconies. A third piece of art that Ricardo is known to paint are musicians walking down the street and street lamps that have saxophone players as the base. The story that these paintings tell is that music is a staple down in New Orleans. Some think that it is only found in the clubs/bars but it is everywhere you go, on the street, in Jackson Square, and in market places.