Some
good news filtering out of New Orleans.
I've been distracted from my day to day demands following Hurricane Katrina's, and more
precisely the resulting breach in the levies that resulted in almost 80% of the city being
flooded.
The images on CNN and on the Networks like NBC, ABC, etc., shows the plight of the masses
left behind following the evacuation order last week.
Unfortunately, here over a week later, we sit watching rhetoric and accusations instead of
congratulating ourselves on having a challenging job well done. It is doubtful that anyone
can confuse the lack of timely response as "well done". It really has been
inexcusable.
So, amidst such chaos and confusion, (much of which fueled by the media in it's apparent
confusion over speculation and reporting) slippets of information are now filtering
through. Last night I saw one reporter reporting live from the French Quarter which was
primarily dry! I cannot explain my relief to hear this. The thoughts of the "Living
Museum" known as the French Quarter submerged under 17 or so feet of polluted water
and waste was causing me to become so distracted that I was ignoring my responsibilities
to my clients here at home.
Having lived in the French Quarter, I have a great number of close friends, none of whom
have I been able to hear from or connect with. Learning that these historic buildings
dating back hundreds of years in many instances and hearing arguments being set forth that
suggest the city should not be rebuilt is disturbing to say the least.
The New Orleans that is, is NOT the New Orleans that most outsider's know. Outsiders see
it as "party city" where they come to do all the things that they would never do
at home. Certainly Bourbon Street is custom designed for this aspect of tourism and I can
tell you first hand if you want to party, there is nowhere better in the world.
But New Orleans is a whole lot more than party central! A brief walk on Royal Street will
take you to some of the world's leading Antique shops. Manheim Galleries, is one of the
oldest in Louisiana along with their neighbour down the street M. S. Rau Antiques. My
thoughts and prayers go out to Ida Manheim, Billy Rau, and the many other business owners
in the French Quarter.
I also learned last evening, (unfortunately thanks to a news report of a major fire in the
Garden District) that the Garden District, which houses numerous antebellum mansions and
estates, was also dry! The good news is that the two sacred grounds (don't get me wrong,
the homes and businesses of everyone are important), locations that all of the money in
the world cannot replace, have been preserved! One day, when people's lives are restored
and emotions subside, there will be a collective appreciation for the preservation of
these two vibrant elements of New Orleans.
Certainly, the Skydome may have to be torn down and possibly the Morial Convention Centre
at the Riverwalk, but folk, let me tell you New Orleanians are a vibrant and resilient
bunch. With the French Quarter and Garden Districts relatively in tact, it is only money
and visitor loyalty that is required to restore the music mecca that is New Orleans.
This site is dedicated to the musicians and artists in the French Quarter. This unsung
collection of talented ambassadors for the city, entertain daily along Royal Street which
is shut down to vehicular traffic specifically to become a stage and theatre for their
daily shows. Who is going to speak for them in this tragedy? |
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I'm setting up a
fund specifically to assist the musicians and entertainers of the French Quarter to
hopefully assist them to bridge the year or so that I see needed to reestablish tourism to
the Quarter but also to insure their futures by financing their onging businesses
(entertaining in the French Quarter) for years to come! I have absolutely no doubt that
the New Orleans will bounce back. A quick view of it's history will show you a resilience
and tenacity on which my confidence rests.
As a photographer I have chronicled New Orleans and Southwest Louisiana for years
documenting not only the French Quarter but also all of Southwest Louisiana. A couple
years back my partner and I produced a history of the Acadians who were run out of Canada
by the British 300 years ago and congrated back in the bayous of Louisiana after bouncing
around from British Colony to British Colony for years. The history of this vibrant
culture shows a tenacity that I can assure you will not linger with these people long.
They lived in the bayous of Louisiana happily traveling around in their little flat bottom
boats long before the tourists got there and they will prevail even now that the tourists
have gone.
Hopefully, with the help of people all over the world we can assist in rebuilding New
Orleans simply by visiting the city immediately and often once it gets itself on it's
feet. Trust that you will know when that time comes immediately here.
I've dedicated one "special" photograph of mine "Mist in the Quarter",
 (and intend to contribute more), to
finance the French Quarter Musicians and artists Fund, a "Trust" to be held in
the name of any/all registered French Quarter musicians and artists whereby a weekly
compensation will be advanced to offset their loss of business resulting from the loss of
tourism.
The concept is quite simple. As it needs to be a permanent source of financing the concept
is to immediately establish a dispensable fund equal to $2 Million to be accomplished
through selling a signed "Limited Edition Print" (in a gold frame and special
mat with plaque) to musicians and artists all over the world asking them to autograph each
print they purchase and returning them to us to auction of E-Bay over the next Five (5)
Years with all money going into the Fund.
My hope is that major corporations and upper net worth individuals, etc., will enter the
bidding (to have a celebrity endorsed Limited Edition Commemorative Print of the disaster
rebuilding of New Orleans) driving this Fund upward of tens of millions of dollars for
these musicians and artists.
Have a look at my photographic Historic French Quarter Tour. And I'm sure you will see why
this historic city is worth preserving regardless of it's being 12 - 17 feet below sea
level.
If you would like to help with this challenging project, please know that you help will be
appreciated. I respect that these Celebrity Auctioned Limited Edition Prints will be
beyond the reach financially of many people and will be producing t-shirts and coffee mugs
for all contributors and future tourists to New Orleans to continue to fund this worthy
cause.
I look forward to your assistance and to hopefully one day seeing you visit this cultural
and historic gem of a city. I'm Charles Laurie Hanes. |
