NOMA and the Congo Square Preservation Society present the Elders Sacred Talk Series with prolific elder New Orleanians, celebrating the lives they lead while providing the opportunity for visitors to learn firsthand about the impact they’ve had on our city.

On October 23, in NOMA’s Lapis Center for the Arts, the program will feature Big Chief Joseph Pierre “Monk” Boudreaux, the oldest Black Masking Indian, and Willie Birch, visual artist and activist, in conversation.

Free with museum admission. Louisiana residents receive free admission to NOMA on Wednesdays courtesy of The Helis Foundation. When you arrive at NOMA, check in at the admissions desk for directions to the Lapis Center for the Arts.

About the Speakers

Big Chief Joseph Pierre “Monk” Boudreaux

Big Chief Joseph Pierre “Monk” Boudreaux is celebrated as the oldest living Black Masking Indian Big Chief and has masked for 70 years. Starting at age 12, Boudreaux masked with the White Eagles as the chief’s scout then moved to the 2nd Spy Boy. Boudreaux continued with the tribe under its new name, Golden Eagles, and became the Big Chief during the 1970s—a role that he has filled for over 50 years.

In the late 1960s, Boudreaux and three other members of the Golden Eagles began performing musically with four members of the Wild Magnolias, led by Big Chief Bo Dollis. Members of the two tribes appeared together at the 1st New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in 1970. The performance resulted in the recording of Handa Wanda, the 1st studio-recorded music by Black Masking Indians. Boudreaux’s album, Bloodstains & Teardrops was nominated for a Grammy. Boudreaux has received a National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage award, is the inspiration behind a character in the HBO series Tremé, and is featured in documentaries and on murals around the city. At age 82, Boudreaux continues to expand his legacy as a cultural hero and musical icon.

Willie Birch

Visual artist and activist Willie Birch creates paintings, drawings, and sculptures that often center on spaces, objects, and scenes of daily life around his native New Orleans. Birch’s work is described in his Prospect 5 biography as, “testaments to Black life in the city and to spaces of togetherness, individuality, ritual, celebration, domesticity, creativity, labor, and rest.” Birch’s art incorporates an encyclopedic knowledge of European paintings, African art, and history to create a style that is entirely his own.

Birch’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and is included in major museum collections across the country. Birch has received awards from the Guggenheim, Pollock-Krasner, the Joan Mitchell Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Governor’s Award from the State of Louisiana. Birch’s artist residencies range from the Studio Museum in Harlem to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation. Birch lived in New York for much of the 1970s and 80s and traveled the world before returning home in 1994. In 2023, Birch was interviewed by BOMB as part of their Oral History Project. It was their “lengthiest and most vivacious interview to date.” At age 81, Birch continues to create work that celebrates and documents his beloved city.

About Art Thrives

NOMA’s Art Thrives initiative presents creative aging programs designed to support visitors ages 55 and up. In addition to art-making workshops, courses, and opportunities for hands-on art-making, the Elders Sacred Talk Series is a platform for older adults to share their experiences with audiences of all ages.