Wizard of Odds ArtVenture with Michael deMeng: Day Four, Five and Six

Wizard of Odds ArtVenture

New Orleans, LA

January, 2016


Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Today's breakfast was at one of our favorite places to eat:  Camellia Grill.  The wait staff could be described as "entertaining" to say the least.  

Now its times to get busy in the workshop on my project. 

Here is where I made a decision to switch to a different tintype for my Wizard.  This guy just had more of the character that I was looking for to match the movie.  

For the second straight year, Katherine Engen organized a Second Line Parade for our group as a part of the activities.  Here is the definition of a Second Line from Wikipedia:  "Second line is a tradition in brass band parades in New Orleans, Louisiana. The 'main line' or 'first line' is the main section of the parade, or the members of the actual club with the parading permit as well as the brass band. Those who follow the band just to enjoy the music are called the 'second line.'"  

This year everyone picked characters from the Wizard of Oz world to dress up and march behind the band.  Because I was in the parade, I did not take any photographs but here are some from my friends.

Here is what all the banners looked like at the end of Andrea's workshop.

(Photo by Thom Ciulla)

Here is what the banners looked like with us in costume.  

(Photo by Thom Ciulla)

K. D. and me (Selfie by K. D.)

(Photographer unknown)

Michael deMeng and Katherine Engen (Photo by Thom Ciulla)

As Coroner I must aver, I thoroughly examined her, and she's not only merely dead, 

she's really most sincerely dead.

(Photo by Lynn Ovenden)

(Photo by Michael deMeng)

(Photo by Thom Ciulla)

I have to admit that dressing up in costumes is not really my thing but there is something really fun about doing it on Bourbon Street in New Orleans.  Afterwards, we all went out to dinner at the Bourbon House, some of us in costume (but not me!)

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Today I was up early on a foggy day in NOLA.

We are in the workshop all day today and this is how the painting is going.  

Friday, January 22, 2016

Here is how the painting is going on this day.

Think it is all fun and games in a Michael deMeng workshop?

 And after one long morning of painting, the piece is complete.

This afternoon we are all heading out on the Creole Queen Steamboat Cruise which takes us out on the river and down to the Civil War battlefield.  It is a cold day but we had a good time.  The highlight for me was the dramatic account of Katrina that was performed by a local actor on the way back up river.

As if the day has not been busy enough, this night we went to the Studio Flux Gallery of Thomas Mann.

Thomas Mann was kind enough to share with us the recent work he has been doing.  His recent efforts have been on big public installations.  It was a fascinating chance to hear how he conceptualizes a project and then brings it to completion.