Mardi Gras Indians

Apr 08 2015

Backstreet New Orleans Culture

By melissasasichambers New Orleans Sojourn

Joy and I were out this afternoon, after having our second coffee at the Cake Cafe in the Bywater, when she decided to give me an impromptu tour of the Treme, and as we cruised around she remembered we had yet to get to the Backstreet Cultural Museum.

As you may recall, our time here is running out, so no time like the present!

We were met at the door by Sylvester Francis the man who started all this in 1988 when he began displaying his photos and Mardi Gras Indian memorabilia in his garage in the Treme.

Since then his collection, and the interest and support in and of it, have grown to where it is now housed in the former Blandin Undertaking Co.

Mardi Gras Indian costumes are impressive when you know nothing about them, but when you understand that each takes a year to hand sew and bead, that they weigh 90 to 120 lbs each, and that they are worn all day in all weather — including hot, muggy temps — then they jump from impressive, to awesome.

Mardi Gras Indians mask in either the Native American style…

Or in the African Warrior style…

Either way, they are nothing to mess with…

and definitely deserving of our admiration and respect.

See ya later, alligator!

Mar 16 2015

Only in New Orleans

By melissasasichambers New Orleans Sojourn

Only in New Orleans are you likely to run into a gang of Indians promenading down the middle of the street past the cemetery on Sunday afternoon.

A gang of Indians, followed by their bone-yard back-up band.

Only in New Orleans would you decide to set up your grill and have a picnic by the cemetery while you watch the Indians and their back-up bands promenade past.

Or decide to dress up like a Baby Doll and dance in the street to the music blasting from the impromtu DJ set up on the coardner. Yes, I said coardner.

Only in New Orleans would your neighbor host an “Improbable Cafe” most Friday nights, where you could just drop by and learn to play dominos.

Or would that neighbor be Rebecca Rebouche, a rising star in the visual arts with a generous spirit — willing to talk strategy about MY artwork — on the coardner, around sunset.