the New Orleans Project

In January, after watching media coverage of Louisiana grow thin, Melissa Bond, Beth Hoffman and Alice McNamara decided to travel to New Orleans to investigate the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina for themselves. The three spent the month of February helping with cleanup efforts, talking to area residents, dancing and discovering the beauty of New Orleans.

From their time in the area, the three created the New Orleans Project, two-part multi-media show and exhibit aimed at conveying the complicated situation found in New Orleans post Hurricane Katrina. The first part is a photographic exhibit and audio tour. A multi-media performance, combining poetry, photography, audio interviews, essays and music, is the second component of the project.

The three believe that the rapid and fleeting nature of mainstream media is ill-suited to exploring complex issues. Their blending of art forms is an attempt to convey the difficulty of the situation in post-Katrina New Orleans while celebrating the rich cultural heritage that is unique to Louisiana.