Gate

Imagine my happiness and excitement when I received this gorgeous photograph for Christmas last year from my friends, Adam and Amy Farrington. The artist, photographer Jennifer Shaw quickly become one of my favorites.

Jennifer has a way of capturing her subject matter that gives each photograph a monumental feel. They are both ethereal and operatic. Each one seems to portray a kind of drama which elevates the subject or situation that is presented.

Jennifer's personal impressions of New Orleans, which she presents so gracefully, reflect both the tender and the passionate feelings New Orlenians have for their home.

Railroad Bridge

Young Indians

Winged Statue

Adam and Amy are partners in a wonderful gallery with their friend Scott Smith and this month they are showing new and amazing works by this talented artist.

In my town, we are all still processing and dealing with the emotional effects that Hurricane Katrina had on each one of us. For everyone living in New Orleans at that time, the experience of evacuating their homes, seeing their town devastated by the worst natural and manmade disaster in our nation's history, and then returning to pick up the pieces of their homes and their lives has left a mark on each of us that will never go away.

Jennifer Shaw chose to chronicle her experience through her art. It is an amazing piece of work.

In Shaw’s own words:

“I was nine months pregnant and due in less than a week when Hurricane Katrina blew into the Gulf. In the early hours of August 28, 2005 my husband and I loaded up our small truck with two cats, two dogs, several crates containing my favorite negatives, all our important papers and a few changes of clothes. We evacuated to a motel in southern Alabama and tried not to watch the news. Monday, August 29 brought the convergence of two major life changing events; the destruction of New Orleans and the birth of our son. It was two long months and 6000 miles before we were able to return home.”

We Left in the Dark of Night

It Was Nice to Have a Distraction

Jobs Were Offered and Declined

In Spite of it all There's No Place Like Home

“Hurricane Story is a depiction of that evacuation experience - the birth, the travels and the return. These photographs represent various elements of our ordeal. The project began as a cathartic way to process some of the lingering anger and anxiety over that bittersweet journey, and grew into a narrative series of self portraits in toys that illustrate both my experiences and emotional state during our time in exile.”

Shaw has self-published a book of her photos, and they are for sale at the gallery at 504-942-8600 or farringtonsmithgallery@gmail.com for more information.

Shadow

I love the dreamy, sultry old New Orleans feel of this one. It could be a still from "A Streetcar Named Desire."

Palm Pilot

I'll close with this one; it embodies so much of what we're all about: This gorgeous, timeless, tropical photograph with a title and subject that shows the subtle humor that underlies life in New Orleans.