Friday, September 30, 2011

Infuriating!!!!

When I go to New Orleans, one of my favorite places to go is actually not Bourbon Street (though I do end up there, eventually), but I can be found in the park named for my idol, Louis Armstrong.

Now, since Hurricane Katrina, the park has been open off and on, partially due to construction and whatnot. I think I read somewhere that it is in a high crime area, and that a woman was recently raped and killed there.

Those are topics for a different post, but I want to focus on this

With Louis Armstrong's birthday festival less than a month away, jazz fans and art lovers were distraught to hear that a careless contractor had damaged his statue in Armstrong Park.

Michael DeMocker / The Times-PicayuneRutted mud and puddles lead from the promenade to the park's iconic statue of Louis Armstrong, which had been fronted by a newly poured plaza for the garden's unveiling in April.
"I'm so disturbed, I can't tell you, " said Phoebe Jacobs, vice president of the Louis Armstrong Foundation and a close friend of the Armstrong family.
Jacobs said that when she helped raise money for the statue during the mid-1970s, the largest donation came from Armstrong friend and fellow singer Bing Crosby, who turned over the proceeds of an all-star concert he gave in San Francisco.

Since then, Jacobs and others from the foundation have organized park cleanups and made sure the statue is cared for.

"This is like our baby, " she said. "How could this happen?"

Mayor Mitch Landrieu announced Thursday that he has ordered contractor A.M.E. Disaster Recovery Services off the job after the city found that, in addition to the countless other mishaps, A.M.E. crews had cracked part of the Armstrong statue. Observers said workers continued to lift the bronze even though crooked bolts set in its base were stuck, stretching the bronze and separating Armstrong's left shoe from the statue's base.

Sculptor Elizabeth Catlett, 95, lives in Mexico and couldn't be reached for comment.

But New Orleans gallery owner Stella Jones, who represents Catlett's work, said she believes Catlett would be quite unhappy, as she was when a man twisted off the statue's trumpet in 1988.

"I know she was upset that it had been disfigured, " said Jones, noting that Catlett quickly recast the damaged part of the trumpet, which was cracked in five places and missing its mouthpiece. Three weeks after the incident, a photo in The Times-Picayune showed two men welding a new 80-pound horn into Armstrong's left hand.

This time, that sort of swift response by the artist herself is nearly impossible, given her age and distance from New Orleans, Jones said.

Catlett felt a bond with Louis Armstrong, said Catlett biographer Samella Lewis, who was Catlett's student when they first met in the 1940s at Dillard University, where Catlett founded the art department. The sculptor loved New Orleans and its music, was a good singer herself and was a friend to many jazz musicians here and in New York, Lewis said.

Lewis said black residents weren't allowed in City Park at the time but Catlett was determined that her students see a Pablo Picasso show at what was then the Delgado Art Museum.

Michael DeMocker / The Times-PicayuneArmstrong Park's Rampart Street entrance arch overlooks a muddy mess. Brand-new concrete walkways began cracking last month, days after Mayor Ray Nagin's grand unveiling of the park's sculpture garden.

"So she rented a bus with her own money and drove us to the steps of the museum, who let us in, " said Lewis, a New Orleans native. "I had never seen anyone act like that in New Orleans, to defend their rights."

Over the years, Lewis said, Catlett turned down many artistic commissions but always wanted to create a bronze of gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, which the city commissioned last year for Armstrong Park's new Roots of Music sculpture garden. Her only other public work is a 2003 commission in Manhattan's Riverside Park that honors writer Ralph Ellison, a Harlem Renaissance contemporary of Catlett's, Lewis said.

City officials are now consulting with art-restoration specialists to decide what should be done about the Armstrong statue, said mayoral spokesman Ryan Berni. "Obviously after what this park's been through, we're committed to restoring the statue using qualified art experts and expert art movers, " he said.

New Orleans sculptor Sheleen Jones-Adenle said she's seen the damage and it can be repaired. "That area down by the shoe is the weakest part: It's mostly decorative and not as thick as the piece itself, so it gave before any other piece did, " said Jones-Adenle, who often works with bronze and created the Rev. Avery Alexander statue in Duncan Plaza and two works for the new Armstrong Park sculpture garden, a statue of Tootie Montana and another of a New Orleans brass band.

Jones-Adenle said anyone repairing the damage will likely heat the bronze to make it malleable, gently push the shoe back into place and then finish the area in a way that the repair can't be seen. The hardest part will be getting the finish right, "the way Ms. Catlett wanted it to look, " she said.

In early August, during SatchmoFest, crowds typically second-line from the statue to the grounds of the Old U.S. Mint, where the festival is held. Jacobs predicted that ardent jazz fans will be in disbelief at the damage to Armstrong's statue.

"Louis Armstrong put New Orleans on the map and sang about it every place he went, " Jacobs said. "How could the city do such a thing?"





Isn't that depressing to see? You should see it in person!

I was last there for Satchmo Summerfest back in August and the park was closed. Granted, it was past the hours, but it looked as if it hadn't been open in years.

I ask you....what kind of way is this to treat one of the city's greatest citizens who helped put it on the map? On top of that, when the place isn't a dilapidated shell of its former self, it is really quite beautiful. If I lived in NOLA, I'd be sure to make my way there every chance I got.

This is very disconcerting, though, especially considering how these pictures were taken last year, and nothing has really changed.

I guess it should be mentioned that somewhere during the park's restoration, the statue was severely damaged by incompetent contractors hired by the former mayor of New Orleans (the same guy that was in charge during the hurricanes).

He apparently hired some second rate contractors and they screwed everything up. I'm not sure of the damage exactly, but as you can see, it is enough that no one is allowed near it until further notice.

The new mayor and former Lt. Governor has since fired those contractors and, last I heard, things were moving along to get things back open. As a matter of fact, it is quite possible that the park will be back open in time for next year's Satchmo Summerfest (which I actually think should be held there instead of the old U.S. Mint, but that's just me).

So, what are your thoughts on this, dear readers? Can you believe that they let such a beautiful place fall into such disarray? What about the fact that the statue honoring one of the greatest musicians of all time was damaged by incompetent contractors?

Retro Commerical Friday

Do you remember...

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Quote of the day

Money is no object...I have a credit card!!!

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Doesn't this just warm your heart?

First off, watch this...

Check out this great MSN video: Marching band serenades teen’s dying grandma

Doesn't that just warm your heart? I know it did mine, especially since my grandfather passed away without ever having the opportunity to see my marching band.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Musical Monday

Happy Musical Monday, everyone! This week, let's go back to the early 2000s with one of Maroon 5's first hits. Please enjoy "This Love"





Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the ACTUAL LINK POST here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.
 
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Saturday, September 24, 2011

Quote of the week

In a thousand years, archaeologists will dig up tanning beds and think we fried people as punishment - Olivia Wilde

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Musical Monday

Happy Musical Monday, everyone! This week, I figured we could do a current hit. So, please enjoy "Party Rock Anthem" by LMFAO.




Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the ACTUAL LINK POST here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.
 
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Saturday, September 17, 2011

Quote of the week

The severity of the itch is proportional to the reach

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Too dependent

This weekend was one of the best ones I've had in quite some time. Why, you may ask? Well, it was my first time going to a game at (LSU) Tiger Stadium. The reason for my caving in and going to a game was that they were playing my alma mater.

Even though they whupped us pretty good, it was still a great time, despite the overabundance of drunken frat boys and sorority girls and bumper to bumper to traffic. It was good to see friends from college, former professors, and of course students (past and present).

Speaking of which, it warmed my heart to know that both drum majors for my alma mater are former students of mine. Guess I did something right, huh?

So, anyway, in an effort to save gas and whatnot, I had the little woman drop me off on campus and I'd call her when the game was over to come get me. Little do I know after a couple of texts from some friends, my phone was dead.

Now, you may be asking yourself, why didn't I use a friend's phone. I would have more than happy to, except for my seat wasn't anywhere near anyone I knew. As a matter of fact, I was forced to sit on the LSU side. I guess I really shouldn't complain about that, though, since it was a free ticket.

Back to what I was saying, before my phone died, I texted her to say pick me up where she dropped me off. It was just a matter of how long that would be, especially since she doesn't watch football.

Ok, so, we all know how dependent we are on cell phones these days. I know some people who depend more on their cell phone than they do food and water! I remember when I was in college, there were pay phones, but these days, since almost everyone has a cell phone....well, they are nearly impossible to find. Lord knows I could have used one instead of having to sit around for a couple of hours.

Of course, there was some nice eye candy to be seen while i was waiting...lol

So, that was my weekend! Thanks for reading!

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Musical Monday

Happy Musical Monday, everyone! This week, we're gonna slow it down with a nice little hit by Anita Baker that you can often here on those soft soul station, you know the "Quiet Storm" types? Please enjoy "Sweet Love".




Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the ACTUAL LINK POST here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.
 
PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Swing on by

For those of you interested, over on my other blog, I've posted what I think have been the top 10 movies (that I've seen) for the year. Swing on by and check it out. Comments are requested, but not required.

http://thankyounetflix.wordpress.com/2011/09/08/the-best-of-2011-so-far/

Quote of the week

98% of the people who get the magazine say they read the cartoons first - and the other 2% are lying.

Monday, September 5, 2011

Musical Monday

Happy Musical Monday (and Labor Day) everyone! This week I bring you a hit from the funk band Cameo. Please enjoy "Talking Out the Side of Your Neck"




Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the ACTUAL LINK POST here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.
 
PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Quote of the week

You know the world is going crazy when the best rapper is a white guy, the best golfer is a black guy, the tallest guy in the NBA is Chinese, the Swiss hold the America's Cup, France is accusing the U.S. of arrogance, Germany doesn't want to go to war, and the three most powerful men in America are named, "Bush," "Dick," and "Colon." Need I say more? - Chris Rock

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Weather channel stupidity

Apparently, we are set for some bad weather down this way...or at least some heavy rain. With a football game tomorrow night, I was keeping my eye on the Weather Channel to see what the weather would be doing.

Much to my surprise, they were handing out nuggets of knowledge, courtesy of Jim Cantore. For instance, did you know that a drought in Texas is what's keeping them dry. Did you know that?

Oh, and how about this one...New Orleans is under sea level (common knowledge for those of us that live in La, and the south for that matter), but did you know that a few years back there were a couple of hurricanes that nearly destroyed the entire city? That's news to me...lol

These are just a couple of things he mentioned. Ugh! Sometimes I wonder how stupid these people think we are.