The Carnival season officially starts on January 6, and while Mardi Gras day might not be until March this year, that just means we have much more time to celebrate in the revelry of the season. Benny Anderson is among the artists that are tasked with bringing Carnival to life. The artist is responsible for some of the most eye-catching sculptures at the front of your favorite floats. We ask the artist about his favorite creations and the best part about his job ahead of the “Biggest Free Show on Earth.”
Q: How did you get into an art career?
I’ve always loved art! I elected for more art classes in high school and had a lot of support from my parents and teachers to keep perusing it. I went to college for sculpture at [the Rhode Island School of Design] up in Providence, Rhode Island, and started making work around performances, costumes, masks and puppetry.
Q: How did you start making sculptures for Carnival parades?
A family friend told me about jobs in New Orleans creating Mardi Gras floats, and it felt like a really fun experience to do out of college. I did an internship with Royal Artists the summer before my senior year and moved to New Orleans to continue working with them after graduation.
Q: What is the process for creating for these floats?
I sculpt the figureheads at the front of the floats. I start with a wooden armature as the base, or an old prop from last year, and cover it in layers of cardboard and contact glue (similar to rubber cement) to build up the shapes, then there’s two layers of paper and a water-based glue to soften the shapes, followed by a water-resistant white paint to prime it for painting.
Q: What’s your favorite part about creating for Carnival?
I love working with such a large scale, it feels surreal to go to work surrounded by giants and being part of the process that brings them to life. It’s a lot like being a child again. Every day is different too, it’s fun to be in the warehouse with all the changing backdrops.
Q: Do you have any favorite floats from over the years?
Yes! Last year’s Proteus parade was themed after the commedia ell’arte, filled with caricatures from early Italian comedy plays. I sculpted a woman in rococo-era dress leaning over a balcony to her lover below, that was a lot of fun to add detail to. My favorite, though, has to be two huge “Punch and Judy” hand puppets with moving limbs that rested in a giant theater box. I loved making them both so much and got to keep them after the season.
Lagniappe:
Favorite Carnival Parade?
Muses! Great throws, great riders, great energy every time.
Favorite medium outside of sculpting?
Sewing/embroidery, especially to make clothes.
Favorite thing to do in the city?
I love walking around in costume downtown!
