Film Screening and Discussion: Katrina Babies
2024-08-21 18:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago)
NOMA hosts a screening of director Edward Buckles Jr.’s Katrina Babies, a documentary offering an intimate look at the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and its impact on the youth of New Orleans. Following the screening, Buckles will discuss the film in a conversation with Chike Ozah, the film’s executive producer, and Simone Immanuel, one of NOMA’s Creative Assembly Cohort members, in remembrance of the hurricane’s 19th anniversary.
This event is free and open to the public. Limited seating will be available. Seating is first come, first serve.

About the Documentary
Years after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, an entire generation still grapples with the lifelong impact of having their childhood redefined by tragedy. New Orleans–born filmmaker Edward Buckles Jr., who was 13 years old during Katrina and its initial aftermath, spent seven years documenting the stories of his peers who survived the storm as children, using his community’s tradition of oral storytelling to open a door for healing and to capture the strength and spirit of his city.
Katrina Babies details the close-knit families and vibrant communities of New Orleans whose lives were uprooted by the 2005 disaster. These American children who were airlifted out of the rising waters, evacuated from their homes to refugee-like centers, or placed in makeshift, temporary living situations, have been neglected. As families were tasked with reintegrating into new communities, having experienced loss, displacement, and lack of support from government officials, the children were left to process their trauma in a wounded, fractured city.
Buckles raises his camera to elevate the voices of his city; utilizing confessional-style footage, home movies, animation, harrowing archival footage, and candid interviews with Katrina survivors, Buckles unearths a reservoir of grief and suppressed emotion. Through these moving, first-hand accounts, Katrina Babies journeys toward healing, not just from the most destructive storm in US history, but also from the multi-generational traumas of being black and disenfranchised in America. In the face of systemic racism, government neglect, and the unprocessed pain of family separations, the children of Katrina are left to chart their own path toward healing.
About Edward Buckles Jr.
Edward Buckles Jr. is the director of Katrina Babies.
Buckles is a son of New Orleans. Buckles’ work calls his audience towards remembrance and to see the beauty in imperfections. The award-winning filmmaker, director, and producer continues to find inspiration in his people and innovative ways to share the stories of Black communities that would otherwise be lost in the passing of time.
Buckles’ film Katrina Babies was shortlisted for a 2023 Academy Award. His production company, House of the Young Ent. is a beacon in the New Orleans’ arts community and a platform for the culture of the city. Buckles’ was featured on DOC NYC’s 40 under 40 in 2022 and was awarded the New Orleans Film Society’s Rising Star Award.
About Chike Ozah
Chike Ozah is the executive producer of Katrina Babies.
One-half of the award-winning directing duo Coodie & Chike, Ozah has made a mark on the film industry with his innovative storytelling and approach. A New Orleans native, Chike first collaborated with Coodie on the iconic music video “Through the Wire,” which played a pivotal role in launching Kanye West’s career, and Ozah has worked with other high-profile artists including the Black Keys, Joey Bada$$, Christina Aguilera, Mos Def, and Erykah Badu.
Ozah also executive produced Showtime’s NYC Point Gods, directed by Sam Eliad and Akin Omotoso, which delves into the legendary basketball culture of New York City, and his upcoming project, Meal Ticket, directed by Chicago-based duo Corey Colvin & Carlton Sabbs, highlights the prestigious McDonald’s All American Game, continuing his tradition of supporting emerging filmmakers. Coodie & Chike’s work on the three-act Netflix docuseries Jeen-Yuhs earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Documentary/Nonfiction Series and won Best Music Documentary and Best Docu-Series at the 2022 Grierson Awards.
About Simone Immanuel
Simone Immanuel is a multidisciplinary artist and writer from New Orleans, Louisiana. She attended the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and graduated with her BFA in theatre from Ball State University. She recently finished the Broadway Advocacy Coalition’s Artivism Fellowship and made her Off-Broadway debut in the play 7 Minutes by Stefano Massini. Immanuel’s play I’m Gonna Let it Shine was a Kennedy Center John Cauble Award finalist. Recently, Immanuel worked as an Artist at Work Resident with the Ashé Cultural Arts Center and the Office of Art and Film. She worked on projects that highlight the positive impacts of artistic civic engagement in her community. Immanuel’s goal is to use her unique experiences to show why representation is one of the most important purposes of art.

Directed by Edward Buckles, Jr. of House of the Young Entertainment; produced by Edward Buckles, Jr, Audrey Rosenberg of Invisible Pictures, Rebecca Teitel of TIME Studios; executive produced by Coodie & Chike of Creative Control, Ian Orefice, Loren Hammonds, Mike Beck and Alexa Conway of TIME Studios, Eileen Tavarez and Jess Jacobs of Invisible Pictures; written by: Edward Buckles, Jr, Luther Clement-Lam, Audrey Rosenberg. For HBO: executive producers, Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, and Sara Rodriguez.

Gallery Talk on Come! Come! Come!: A Triptych by Wang Qingsong
2024-08-28 12:30
Join us in the galleries each Wednesday for weekly talks with artists, curators, and other special guests. During these casual conversations, we’ll take a close look at different works currently on view at NOMA.
This week, join Lisa Rotondo-McCord, NOMA’s Curator of Asian Art and Deputy Director, for a discussion on Come! Come! Come!: A Triptych by Wang Qingsong. This talk will be offered at 12:30 pm and 6:00 pm.
Free with museum admission. Louisiana residents receive free admission on Wednesdays courtesy of The Helis Foundation’s Art for All initiative.

Breaking Boundaries: The Art of Hip-Hop with Creative Assembly Member Kr3wcial
2024-08-28 17:30 - 19:00 | NOMA’s Lapis Center for the Arts
Kr3wcial, one of NOMA’s Creative Assembly Cohort members, presents “Breaking Boundaries: The Art of Hip-Hop,” which includes a screening of the artist’s latest visual work Carry Me, followed by insights into the creative process. The program includes a panel discussion moderated by N’Dia Dugue, social media producer at BET Media Group, with Kr3wcial and video directors Dexter Williams and Jovan Hernandez, who will discuss hip-hop’s profound cultural impact and its recognition as an enduring artform. “Breaking Boundaries” explores how hip-hop continues to shape and reflect our world.
This event is free and open to the public.

About Dexter Williams
Dexter Williams is a New Orleans native who specializes in directing, editing, and producing industry-standard music videos as one of the top directors in New Orleans. Williams is the founder/creator of “Dope Media,” a multimedia company that creates aesthetically pleasing, visuals for companies and recording artists. Williams has over ten years of experience creating for clients internationally and locally. Williams has worked with several record labels, including Roc Nation, Atlantic and Empire along with production companies such as AMC and Amazon Prime. Wiliams music videos have been featured on BET Jams, Revolt and have garnered millions of views on YouTube and Worldstar Hip-Hop. Williams has spent over a decade using his skills and techniques to tell the stories of New Orleans artists and the streets that made them.
About N’Dia Dugue
N’Dia Dugue is a social media producer at BET Media Group, where she manages social platforms for BET and VH1 Networks. Dugue uses her passion for pop culture, music, and entertainment to craft strategies and produce engaging social content. Dugue has created short-form content for shows such as the “BET Awards,” “Love & Hip Hop Miami,” “America In Black,” and the Webby honoree program “For The Fellas.” Dugue is from Brooklyn, but her familial roots in New Orleans have called her to make the city her home.
About Kr3wcial
In the vibrant tapestry of New Orleans’ rich musical heritage, Kr3wcial emerges as a dynamic figure, transcending the boundaries of traditional hip-hop. Born and raised in the heart of the Crescent City, Kr3wcial’s music is a sonic journey through the soul of New Orleans itself. With lyrics that delve deep into the city’s intricate layers—from the gritty streets to the transcendent spirit of its people—he weaves a narrative that is both raw and poetic, reminiscent of the city’s jazz and blues roots. Kr3wcial’s tracks, often enlivened with the pulse of brass and the rhythm of New Orleans, serve as a compelling commentary on the city’s multifaceted nature. Through his verses, he explores themes of resilience, identity, and social consciousness. Beyond the studio, Kr3wcial is a community advocate, using his platform to inspire positive change. Collaborating with local nonprofits, he harnesses the unifying power of music to uplift the very city that fuels his creativity.
About Creative Assembly
NOMA Creative Assembly seeks to give renewed expression to the diverse voices embodied in New Orleans’ various neighborhoods. These neighborhoods are places that give birth and places where the honored dead remain present. They invite belonging, whether for a day or for many generations. Gathered between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain, our neighborhoods are spaces where cultures flow from across continents and oceans to flourish. They are landscapes where nature takes on countless culinary, linguistic, ancestral, and sacred forms. Neighborhoods allow us to share our anguish and ask us to offer a voice for those who have suffered in the silences of injustice and ignorance. Through music, dance, images, and stories, we hope to create a space of belonging where people can see reflections of their own neighborhoods and find themselves at home.
Learn More

POSTPONED | Healing Through History with Creative Assembly Cohort Member Dianne Honoré
2024-09-14 10:00 - 16:00 | NOMA’s Lapis Center for the Arts
This event has been postponed. We look forward to announcing a new date soon.

This day-long workshop provides a space for collaborative learning about ethnic, gendered, and cultural practices that define our collective history and present reality. Led by Dianne Honoré, one of NOMA’s Creative Assembly Cohort members, program participants will explore local histories, cultures, and approaches to interpreting history and culture through talks, performances, and healing rituals.
The series promotes healing through safe, engaging, and respectful dialogue and activities among participants. Participants will adopt a traditional view of healing that emphasizes the power of narrative to promote well-being, balance, and harmony.
Indigenous elders believe that health is connected to understanding the story of our lives, summed up in four questions: Who are we? Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where are we going? It is important to explore these questions as a collective to heal historical trauma within and between our communities.
This event is free and open to the public.

Program Schedule
Land Acknowledgment
Scierra LeGarde, member of the Bayou Lacombe Band of Choctaw and People of the Sacred Medicine Trail
Introduction
Dianne Honoré
Talk and Q&A | Historical Trauma and Healing Practices
Heather Goltz, Professor of Social Work, University of Houston
Healing Dance
Scierra LeGarde and the Bayou Lacombe Band of Choctaw
Talk and Q+A | A Place Called Desire: Researching and Documenting Your History as a Healing Journey
Leonard Smith III, producer and director of the documentary A Place Called Desire
Ancestor Acknowledgement Poem Accompanied by Creole Chant
Poem written by Laurita Marie, Iyanifa, Mambo Asogwe, Nuisettes Noir Baby Doll. Original Louisiana Creole chant, Vyé paran-yé, written by Dianne Honoré.
Reflection on Acting as a Healing Modality
Leslie Nipkow, actor and writer
Talk and Q&A | A City without Care: 300 Years of Racism, Health Disparities, and Health Care Activism in New Orleans
Dr. Kevin McQueeney, Assistant Professor of History at Nicholls State University
Auricular Acupuncture Demo: Healing and Releasing Energy
Bianca San Martin and Eva Hurst, acupuncturists
African Drumming and Chanting and Discussion on the Mbongi Circles
Papa Titos Sompa, musician and cultural activist
Black Keywords for Louisiana
Dr. Jessica M. Johnson, Associate Professor in the Department of History at Johns Hopkins University
Discussion | Healing through Passing on Tradition
Master Plasterer Jeff Poree’ and Big Chief Darryl Montana of the Yellow Pocahontas Hunters Black Masking Indian Tribe
Closing Performance and Reception

POSTPONED | Virtual Program: Created to Create with Creative Assembly Member Simone Immanuel
2024-09-15 14:00 - 15:00
This event has been postponed. We look forward to announcing a new date soon.

Created to Create, a talk show hosted by NOMA Creative Assembly artist Simone Immanuel, is designed to foster honest conversations about creativity with local Black artists in New Orleans. The show’s goal is to spotlight local artists’ work, promote community growth, and amplify the voices of cultural bearers in the city. Featuring different artists in each episode, the show’s emphasis on personal transformation and the human experience aligns with the museum’s mission to support and showcase diverse perspectives within the arts.
On Sunday, September 15, at 2 pm, join a livestream of Created to Create being filmed in NOMA’s Lapis Center for the Arts. This episode will feature celebrity chef, host, and social media influencer Jo Jackson, as well as fellow NOMA Creative Assembly member and hip-hop artist Kr3wcial. Together they will discuss entrepreneurship, social media influence, and the power of technology in artistry.
Follow @is_fierce and @createdtocreatetalkshow on Instagram for more information on Created to Create.
This virtual program is free and will be available for live streaming.
LINK AVAILABLE SOON

ABOUT SIMONE IMMANUEL
Simone Immanuel is a multidisciplinary artist and writer from New Orleans, Louisiana. She attended the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and graduated with her BFA in theatre from Ball State University. She recently finished the Broadway Advocacy Coalition’s Artivism Fellowship and made her Off-Broadway debut in the play 7 Minutes by Stefano Massini. Immanuel’s play I’m Gonna Let it Shine was a Kennedy Center John Cauble Award finalist. Recently, Immanuel worked as an Artist at Work Resident with the Ashé Cultural Arts Center and the Office of Art and Film. She worked on projects that highlight the positive impacts of artistic civic engagement in her community. Immanuel’s goal is to use her unique experiences to show why representation is one of the most important purposes of art.
Learn More About Creative Assembly

Hispanic Heritage Month Gallery Talk with Museum Educator Laura Moreno
2024-09-18 12:30, 2024-09-18 18:00
Join us in the galleries each Wednesday for weekly talks with artists, curators, and other special guests. During these casual conversations, we’ll take a close look at different works currently on view at NOMA.
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, join Laura Moreno, NOMA Museum Educator, for a conversation on an Aztec Maize Goddess sculpture. The talk will begin on the museum’s third floor and will be offered at 12:30 pm and 6 pm.
Check our calendar for more gallery talks in our Hispanic Heritage Month series!

Free with museum admission. Louisiana residents receive free admission on Wednesdays courtesy of The Helis Foundation’s Art for All initiative.

Hispanic Heritage Month Cocktail Demonstration and Gallery Talk with Café NOMA Mixologist Virna Castillo
2024-09-25 12:30
Join us in the galleries each Wednesday for weekly talks with artists, curators, and other special guests. During these casual conversations, we’ll take a close look at different works currently on view at NOMA.
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, join Virna Castillo, Café NOMA Mixologist, for a cocktail demonstration and gallery talk. After the talk, guests will be invited to the café to sample the month’s specialty cocktail. This talk will be offered at 12:30 pm at Café NOMA on the first floor.
Check our calendar for more gallery talks in our Hispanic Heritage Month series!

Free with museum admission. Louisiana residents receive free admission on Wednesdays courtesy of The Helis Foundation’s Art for All initiative.

Elders Sacred Talk Series with Luther Gray and Jamilah Peters-Muhammad
2024-09-25 18:00 - 19:15
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 to learn firsthand about the impact they’ve had on our city.
On September 25, in NOMA’s Lapis Center for the Arts, the program will feature Luther Gray and Jamilah Yejide Peters-Muhammad, co-founders of the Congo Square Preservation Society, in a conversation moderated by Kelly Harris Deberry, local poet and author. The program will also include a drumming performance by Timothy Brown and Wesley “Kamau” Phillips.
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 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.
About the Speakers
Luther Gray
Luther Gray has been an active and important part of the New Orleans arts community since 1984. Gray co-founded the Congo Square Foundation, which is now the Congo Square Preservation Society. The organization was instrumental in the restoration of drumming and cultural activities in Congo Square. Due to the efforts of the Congo Square Foundation, Congo Square is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the organization led the effort to erect the Congo Square historic marker.
Gray led a team of artists, which included visual artist Douglas Redd, that carved three Bamboula drums from a one-hundred-year-old cypress tree, which are now on display at the Louisiana State Museum in New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Gray founded and directed two bands, Percussion Incorporated and Bamboula 2000, for which he won the Big Easy Music Award in the World Music Category twice. Gray has produced several records; served as lead drummer for the Guardians of the Flame Mardi Gras Indians; and led workshops and tours for thousands of school-age children and adults yearly; and provided African drumming for events in Congo Square and throughout the city as the founding leader of the Congo Square Drum Circle, which dates back to 1988.
Jamilah Yejide Peters-Muhammad
Jamilah Yejide Peters-Muhammad, affectionately known as Mama Jamilah, is a lifelong resident of New Orleans. Peters-Muhammad is a graduate of Dillard University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. Peters-Muhammad also holds a degree in Faith Community Nursing. During Peters-Muhammad’s career, she worked at Touro Infirmary and Tulane Medical Center, among others, but left the hospital setting over three decades ago to pursue community-oriented practices.
In addition to community wellness, Peters-Muhammad serves as a leader in preserving and promoting the cultural traditions of her African ancestors. Peters-Muhammad co-founded the Congo Square Preservation Society, Kumbuka African Drum and Dance collective, and Bamboula 2000. Peters-Muhammad has performed and taught African dance and culture for over 40 years. Peters-Muhammad is a gifted healer, dancer, singer, percussionist, and choreographer. Peters-Muhammad has been a part of the Black Masking Mardi Gras Indian tradition since age 16 and is presently a member of Guardians of the Flame Maroon Society.
Peters-Muhammad is a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She is a health and wellness consultant at the Ashé Cultural Arts Center, the community outreach nurse for the New Orleans Musicians Assistance Foundation; and the leader of the health as well as the dance ministries at her church, Christian Unity.

Hispanic Heritage Month Gallery Talk with Curator Orlando Hernández Ying
2024-10-02 12:30, 2024-10-02 18:00
Join us in the galleries each Wednesday for weekly talks with artists, curators, and other special guests. During these casual conversations, we’ll take a close look at different works currently on view at NOMA.
Join Orlando Hernández Ying, NOMA’s Lapis Curator of the Arts of the Americas, for a gallery talk celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. This talk will be offered at 12:30 pm and 6 pm.
Check our calendar for more gallery talks in our Hispanic Heritage Month series!

Free with museum admission. Louisiana residents receive free admission on Wednesdays courtesy of The Helis Foundation’s Art for All initiative.

An Evening Exploring Sand, Ash, Heat: Glass at New Orleans Museum of Art
2024-10-04 17:00 - 21:00 | New Orleans Museum of Art, 1 Collins Diboll Circle, New Orleans, LA, 70119
Join the museum in celebrating Sand, Ash, Heat: Glass at the New Orleans Museum of Art with an evening of gallery talks by catalogue contributors Zella Palmer, Chair and Director of the Dillard University Ray Charles Program in African-American Material Culture, and chromatography chemist Alex Sanchez; a screening of a glass art film; an art-making activity inspired by the exhibition; a DJ set by Sasha Masakowski; and a book signing with Mel Buchanan, NOMA’s RosaMary Curator of Decorative Arts and Design. Attendees receive 10% off and members receive 20% off of the catalogue at the NOMA Museum Shop during this special event.
Additionally, throughout the evening enjoy specialty cocktails from Café NOMA inspired by the exhibition.
Free with advance registration. Catalogues and drinks are available for purchase at the museum and online at the NOMA Museum Shop.
REGISTER NOW
This program is in connection with this month’s NOMA book club meeting. Join curator Mel Buchanan for a discussion of the catalogue on Thursday, October 17.

About the Speakers
Zella Palmer
Zella Palmer is a professor, food historian, cook, author, and filmmaker. She serves as the Chair and Director of the Dillard University Ray Charles Program in African-American Material Culture in New Orleans, Louisiana. In 2019, under Palmer’s leadership, Dillard University launched a Food Studies academic program. Palmer is also the author of Recipes and Remembrances of Fair Dillard: 1869–2019 (2019) and Ed Mitchell’s Barbeque (2023).
Alex Sanchez
Alex Sanchez is a New Orleans–based gas chromatography chemist in the Natural Resources Division of SGS North America. He has more than ten years of experience in an industrial laboratory setting and employs specialized instrumentation for analyses of organic samples for quality and purity determination. Sanchez holds a degree in chemistry from the University of New Orleans.

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION AND CATALOGUE
On view through February 10, Sand, Ash, Heat: Glass at the New Orleans Museum of Art explores how one material has inspired innovation in the arts and science from ancient civilizations to today. An accompanying 176-page catalogue—Glass: Sand, Ash, Heat—is published by Scala Arts & Heritage Publishers. The book features texts by Mel Buchanan, NOMA’s RosaMary Curator of Decorative Arts and Design, and includes contributions from:

Black Masking Indian Big Chief Dow M. Edwards of the Timbuktu Warriors with Amanda M. Maples, Françoise Billion Richardson Curator of African Art at NOMA
Christopher Maxwell, Samuel and M. Patricia Grober Curator in the Department of Applied Arts of Europe at the Art Institute of Chicago
Laura Ochoa Rincon, Decorative Arts Trust Curatorial Fellow at NOMA
Zella Palmer, Chair and Director of the Dillard University Ray Charles Program in African-American Material Culture
Brian Piper, Freeman Family Curator of Photographs, Prints, and Drawings at NOMA
Alex Sanchez, Chromatography chemist
Ingrid Seyb, Conservator of Objects at NOMA

LEARN MORE

Sand, Ash, Heat: Glass at the New Orleans Museum of Art is sponsored by the Eugenie and Joseph Jones Family Foundation. Additional support is provided by Susanne and David Purvis, the Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass, Harvey and Marie Orth, Robert and Pamela Steeg, Mary Beth and Sheldon Ray, in honor of Bettie Pendley, and Lori and John Solon.

Gallery Talk on Sand, Ash, Heat: Glass at the New Orleans Museum of Art
2024-10-09 12:30, 2024-10-09 18:00 | New Orleans Museum of Art, 1 Collins Diboll Circle, New Orleans, LA, 70119
Join us in the galleries each Wednesday for weekly talks with artists, curators, and other special guests. During these casual conversations, we’ll take a close look at different works currently on view at NOMA.
This week, join Mel Buchanan, RosaMary Curator of Decorative Arts and Design for a conversation about the new exhibition Sand, Ash, Heat: Glass at the New Orleans Museum of Art. This talk will be offered at 12:30 pm and 6:00 pm.
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 front desk for directions to the appropriate gallery.

Creative Writing Poetry Showcase with Creative Assembly Artist Daniel Fitzpatrick
2024-10-09 17:00 - 19:00
Celebrate the power of words at the New Orleans Museum of Art. Join us for a captivating evening hosted by Creative Assembly Cohort member Daniel Fitzpatrick, and immerse yourself in the inspiring verses crafted during Fitzpatrick’s September poetry workshops in partnership with the New Orleans Public Library.
Each poem is a reflection of the vibrant neighborhoods of New Orleans, capturing the essence of our unique community. If you’re a poetry lover, come and enjoy the artistry of words.
This event is free and open to the public.

About Daniel Fitzpatrick
Daniel Fitzpatrick is the author of the novel Only the Lover Sings. Born in New Orleans, he studied philosophy at the University of Dallas, and he holds an MA in philosophy from Holy Apostles College and an MPhil in creative writing from Trinity College Dublin. His translation of the Divine Comedy was published in 2021 for the 700th anniversary of Dante Alighieri’s death. His poetry and essays have appeared in places like Dappled Things, New Oxford Review, and Ocean State Review. He is the editor of Joie de Vivre, a journal of art, culture, and letters for South Louisiana, and he teaches English at Jesuit High School in New Orleans.
LEARN MORE ABOUT CREATIVE ASSEMBLY

Gallery Talk with Creative Assembly Cohort Member Daniel Fitzpatrick
2024-10-16 12:30
Join us in the galleries each Wednesday for weekly talks with artists, curators, and other special guests. During these casual conversations, we’ll take a close look at different works currently on view at NOMA.
This week, join Creative Assembly Cohort member Daniel Fitzpatrick for a poetic journey through NOMA’s permanent collection. With his poetry and an interactive discussion, Fitzpatrick will connect the museum and its galleries with New Orleans culture and communities, encouraging viewers to see their own lives and traditions reflected in NOMA’s art and spaces. This talk will be offered at 12:30 pm and begin on the museum’s second floor.
Free with museum admission. Louisiana residents receive free admission on Wednesdays courtesy of The Helis Foundation’s Art for All initiative.

Created to Create Live with Creative Assembly Member Simone Immanuel
2024-10-20 14:00 - 15:00
Created to Create, a talk show hosted by NOMA Creative Assembly artist Simone Immanuel, is designed to foster honest conversations about creativity with local Black artists in New Orleans. The show’s goal is to spotlight local artists’ work, promote community growth, and amplify the voices of cultural bearers in the city. Featuring different artists in each episode, the show’s emphasis on personal transformation and the human experience aligns with the museum’s mission to support and showcase diverse perspectives within the arts.
On Sunday, October 20, at 2 pm, join us in person or on a livestream for a special Created to Create episode filmed in NOMA’s Lapis Center for the Arts. This episode will feature celebrity chef, host, and social media influencer Jo Jackson, as well as fellow NOMA Creative Assembly member and hip-hop artist Kr3wcial. Together they will discuss entrepreneurship, social media influence, and the power of technology in artistry.
Follow @is_fierce and @createdtocreatetalkshow on Instagram for more information on Created to Create.
This program is free and open to the public. A livestream link will be available soon.
Watch the Stream
Note: Streaming will begin when the program starts at 2 pm on Sunday, October 20.

ABOUT SIMONE IMMANUEL
Simone Immanuel is a multidisciplinary artist and writer from New Orleans, Louisiana. She attended the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and graduated with her BFA in theatre from Ball State University. She recently finished the Broadway Advocacy Coalition’s Artivism Fellowship and made her Off-Broadway debut in the play 7 Minutes by Stefano Massini. Immanuel’s play I’m Gonna Let it Shine was a Kennedy Center John Cauble Award finalist. Recently, Immanuel worked as an Artist at Work Resident with the Ashé Cultural Arts Center and the Office of Art and Film. She worked on projects that highlight the positive impacts of artistic civic engagement in her community. Immanuel’s goal is to use her unique experiences to show why representation is one of the most important purposes of art.
Learn More About Creative Assembly

Gallery Talk with Curator Lisa Rotondo-McCord
2024-10-23 12:30
Join us in the galleries each Wednesday for weekly talks with artists, curators, and other special guests. During these casual conversations, we’ll take a close look at different works currently on view at NOMA.
In preparation for this week’s Japan Fest, Lisa Rotondo-McCord, NOMA’s Deputy Director and Curator of Asian Art, will give a gallery talk about the exhibition Envisioning Japan: Transformational Gifts from Kurt A. Gitter, M.D. and Alice Yelen Gitter. This talk will be offered at 12:30 pm and 6:00 pm.
Free with museum admission. Louisiana residents receive free admission on Wednesdays courtesy of The Helis Foundation’s Art for All initiative.

Elders Sacred Talk Series with Willie Birch and Big Chief Joseph Pierre “Monk” Boudreaux
2024-10-23 18:00 - 19:15
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.

Gallery Talk with Curator Brian Piper
2024-10-30 12:30, 2024-10-30 18:00
Join us in the galleries each Wednesday for weekly talks with artists, curators, and other special guests. During these casual conversations, we’ll take a close look at different works currently on view at NOMA.
This week, join Brian Piper, Freeman Family Curator of Photographs, Prints, and Drawings, for a discussion on Show & Tell: A Brief History of Photography and Text. This talk will be offered at 12:30 pm and 6:00 pm
Free with museum admission. Louisiana residents receive free admission on Wednesdays courtesy of The Helis Foundation’s Art for All initiative.

Elders Sacred Talk Series with Tribal Queen Bee and Carol Bebelle
2024-11-20 18:00 - 19:15
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 November 20, in NOMA’s Lapis Center for the Arts, the program will feature Tribal Queen Bee, the oldest living Black Masking Queen, and Carol Bebelle, visual artist and activist, in a conversation moderated by Denise Graves.
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
Tribal Queen Bee
Tribal Queen Bee was born Littdell S. Banister on October 5, 1934, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Queen Bee is the Tribal Queen of the Creole Wild West tribe and is the oldest actively masking Queen in the Black Masking Indian tradition. Queen Bee is 90 years old and started masking in 1973. After introducing her six year-old son Honey to masking, Queen Bee joined the Creole Wild West tribe where Honey is now Gang Flag of the Tribe. This began her journey as a Black Masking Indian. Queen Bee later ascended to the position of Tribal Queen of the Creole Wild West, which, as she explains, “It’s different from a Big Queen. A Big Queen is the Chief’s Queen and must always be next to the Chief. A Tribal Queen is over the entire tribe.” Together Tribal Queen Bee and her son Gang Flag Honey have been masking for over fifty years.
Carol Bebelle
Carol Bebelle, known affectionately as Mama Carol, is a steady voice for the influence of culture on the quality of our lives. Bebelle is the co-founder of Efforts of Grace and Ashé Cultural Arts Center, where for two decades her ground-breaking leadership promoted the intersection of culture, community, and art. As a proud, lifelong New Orleanian, Bebelle received her primary through graduate education in the city and worked nearly 20 years in the public sector as an administrator and planner of education, social, cultural, and health programs.
Bebelle is also the founder and principal of AKUA Productions NOLA, which specializes in cultural, social, and human development. Her album, The Medicine Bag, features a series of jazz and blues songs dedicated to healing. Bebelle published works include her book of poetry “In a Manner of Speaking” as well as poems in “From a Bend in the River,” a chapter in “Civic Engagement in the Wake of Katrina,” and an essay in “Ashé to Amen.” Bebelle’s numerous local and national awards include the 2023 Champion of Culture Award from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities and a recognition from the city’s tricentennial celebration as one of 300 people who helped to make New Orleans what it is and is helping to shape its future.

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.

Gallery Talk on John Scott: Blues Poem for the Urban Landscape with Ayo Scott
2024-12-04 12:30
Join us in the galleries each Wednesday for weekly talks with artists, curators, and other special guests. During these casual conversations, we’ll take a close look at different works currently on view at NOMA.
This week, join Ayo Scott, local artist and son of John Scott, in NOMA’s Great Hall for a discussion on John Scott’s print series Blues Poem for the Urban Landscape. This talk will be offered at 12:30PM.
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 front desk for directions to the appropriate gallery.

About Ayo Scott
Ayo Scott was born from and into art. By age 7, he’d cast bronze and made paper from blue jeans under the tutelage of his renowned father, Macarthur fellow John Scott. A lifelong resident of New Orleans, Scott attended St. Augustine High School for a year, graduating from Ben Franklin in 1998. On any given day, Ron Bechet, Martin Payton, Ellis Marsalis and a host of other artists could be found at the Scott home talking art and inspiring Scott’s path. Scott received his bachelor’s of art from Xavier University in 2003, continuing his master’s degree at The Institute of Design in Chicago, although he would ultimately leave the program after Hurricane Katrina to rebuild his parents’s home. Scott’s early series spoke to his journey as the son of an artist, the 2004 Tsunami in the Indian Ocean, and his own post-Katrina reclaiming of New Orleans. Collectively with friends, Scott started his design and clothing company, NOYO Designs Inc. and an open mic showcase highlighted by spoken word poetry, music and visual art named Pass It On in tribute to his father’s mantra. A favorite of many for Scott’s portraits of New Orleanians, the artist’s most recognizable works are his large-scale murals along Homer Plessy Way, on the wall of the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities and at Louis Armstrong Airport memorializing Leah Chase and several other places around the city of New Orleans. Over the years, Scott has worked in commercial graphic design while building on his art. Scott’s work incorporates digital design, paint, wood, cloth, paper, and found objects.

Gallery Talk on Show & Tell: A Brief History of Photography and Text with Curator Brian Piper
2024-12-11 12:30
Join us in the galleries each Wednesday for weekly talks with artists, curators, and other special guests. During these casual conversations, we’ll take a close look at different works currently on view at NOMA.
Celebrating PhotoNOLA festival week, join Brian Piper, Freeman Family Curator of Photographs, Prints, and Drawings, for a conversation on Show & Tell: A Brief History of Photography and Text. This talk will be offered at 12:30 pm.
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 front desk for directions to the appropriate gallery.

Ideas in Glass: Panel Discussion with Gene Koss and Deborah Czeresko
2024-12-11 18:30 - 20:00
In celebration of the exhibition Sand, Ash, Heat: Glass at the New Orleans Museum of Art, the museum is hosting studio glass artists Gene Koss and Deborah Czeresko in conversation with exhibition curator Mel Buchanan in NOMA’s Lapis Center for the Arts.
Doors open at 6 pm.The panel discussion begins at 6:30 pm and will be followed by a Q&A.
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.
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About the Speakers
Gene Koss
Gene Koss founded the glass art program at Tulane University nearly fifty years ago and served as its head until his 2024 retirement. Koss’s exploration of glass began in the early 1970s alongside the emergence of the studio glass movement in the United States. The New Orleans– and Wisconsin-based artist has mentored generations of students while maintaining his own award-winning multimedia sculptural practice.
Deborah Czeresko
Deborah Czeresko brought her artistic voice in glass to a wider audience as the winner of the inaugural season of Netflix’s Blown Away in 2019. The New York City-based artist has been exploring her experiences as a queer, woman artist since the early 1990s, when she graduated from Tulane’s glass program.

Sand, Ash, Heat: Glass at the New Orleans Museum of Art is sponsored by the Eugenie and Joseph Jones Family Foundation. Additional support is provided by Susanne and David Purvis, the Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass, Harvey and Marie Orth, Robert and Pamela Steeg, Mary Beth & Sheldon Ray, in honor of Bettie Pendley, and Lori and John Solon.

Gallery Talk with NOMA’s Conservator of Objects Ingrid Seyb
2024-12-18 12:30
Join us in the galleries each Wednesday for weekly talks with artists, curators, and other special guests. During these casual conversations, we’ll take a close look at different works currently on view at NOMA.
This week, join Ingrid Seyb, NOMA’s Conservator of Objects, for a conservation on Sand, Ash, Heat: Glass at the New Orleans Museum of Art. This talk will be offered at 12:30 pm.
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 front desk for directions to the appropriate gallery.

Elders Sacred Talk Series
2024-12-18 18:00 - 19:15
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.
This month’s program honors Jennifer Turner and Chakula cha Jua.
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 Jennifer Turner
Jennifer Turner, affectionately known as “Mama Jen,” is a community griot, an avid reader, and the longtime manager of Community Book Center, the literary hub of Black New Orleans. Born and reared in Central City on Liberty Street, Turner prides herself with studying and promulgating the history of African people in New Orleans, the nation, and the world. As a captivating storyteller, she weaves lessons that spark imagination, introspection, and a reverence for the contributions of peoples of African heritage. As the visionary of HomeFest, an annual celebration of culture and economic development on Bayou Road, she champions local Black artists and businesses. In the words of Ashé Cultural Arts Center Chief Equity Officer Asali DeVan Ecclesiastes, “Mama Jen is a reading missionary, progenitor of parables, connoisseur of information, and builder of intellect.” In 2022, the Southern University at New Orleans Center for African and African American Studies honored her with its Living Legend Award.
About Chakula cha Jua
Chakula cha Jua, an actor, playwright, poet, producer/director and educator, is a native New Orleanian and has been an active voice in the New Orleans Black community theater scene for more than fifty years. He performed and directed with the Free Southern Theater, the Congo Square Theater, the ACT I Players, Ashé Cultural Arts Center, Dillard and Xavier Universities, and his own company, the Chakula cha Jua Theater. His directorial treatment of Tom Dent’s Ritual Murder is one of his longest running productions. He has written plays for children and adults, and his poetry and essays have been published in Callaloo, The African American Review, A Bend in The River, and Word Up. A retired New Orleans Public School Talented in the Arts (Theater) teacher, cha Jua has received numerous awards including the Gambit Weekly’s Big Easy Award, the Mayor’s Arts Award, the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Artie Award, and the Big Chief Donald Harrison, Sr. Excellence in Teaching Award.
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.

Public Tours Every Wednesday and Saturday
2024-12-21 14:00 | New Orleans Museum of Art, 1 Collins Diboll Circle, New Orleans, LA, 70119
NOMA provides guided tours of the galleries with museum docents and staff every Wednesday and Saturday. During these tours, you’ll explore the museum’s permanent collection of nearly 50,000 works of art and exhibitions currently on view.
Included with museum admission, which is free for Louisiana residents every Wednesday courtesy of The Helis Foundation’s Art for All initiative. When you arrive at NOMA, check in at the admissions desk for directions to the appropriate location.

Gallery Talk on Thomas J Price’s Time Unfolding
2025-01-22 12:30
Join us in the galleries each Wednesday for weekly talks with artists, curators, and other special guests. During these casual conversations, we’ll take a close look at different works currently on view at NOMA.
This week, join Eric Blanchard, NOMA Sculpture Garden Lead, in the Besthoff Sculpture Garden for a discussion on Time Unfolding by Thomas J Price. This work was recently installed as part of the Besthoff Sculpture Garden’s 20th anniversary.
The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden is free and open to the public seven days a week. When you arrive, please wait at the Besthoff Sculpture Garden office for directions.

Black History Month Gallery Talk with Big Chief Dow Edwards
2025-02-05 18:00 - 18:30 | New Orleans Museum of Art, 1 Collins Diboll Circle, New Orleans, LA, 70119
Every week, NOMA hosts gallery talks in the museum and the Besthoff Sculpture Garden led by curators, artists, and other special guests. These lively, participatory conversations provide a moment to take a close look at one work—or a selection of works—currently on view.
For the month of February, weekly gallery talks will focus on topics and artworks in celebration of Black History Month. This week, join Big Chief Dow Edwards of the Timbuktu Warriors for a conversation about his Spyboy Shango Suit currently on view in Sand Ash Heat: Glass at the New Orleans Museum of Art.
Included with museum admission, which is free for Louisiana residents every Wednesday courtesy of The Helis Foundation’s Art for All initiative. When you arrive at NOMA, check in at the admissions desk for directions to the appropriate location.

To celebrate Black history & Black futures all year round, visit and support some of these Louisiana museums and cultural institutions:

Amistad Research Center
Ashé Cultural Arts Center
Backstreet Cultural Museum
Baton Rouge African American Museum
Baton Rouge Black History Trail
Community Book Center
Creole Heritage Folklife Center
George & Leah McKenna Museum of African American Art
House of Dance & Feathers
Le Musée de f.p.c.
Louisiana Civil Rights Trail
New Orleans African American Art Museum
River Road African American Museum
Southern University Museum of Art at Shreveport
TEP (Tate, Etienne, and Prevost) Center
Whitney Plantation
