What’s Hot for Art

A fall tradition embraced by art lovers and partygoers is “Art for Arts’ Sake,” held annually on the first Saturday of October. Galleries around town will be showcasing the work of talented artists—many of them local—and the Contemporary Arts Center will debut a number of exhibits and host a “Hot Jazz” themed party. So there’s no excuse not be out and about on Oct. 6 for this most festive of occasions!
What's Hot for Art
1. Taking an element and imbuing in it a sense of place and beauty can be found in New Orleanian Gretchen Weller Howard’s work. This month, her show “Bridge,” is on exhibit.“This show represents a natural progression for me. Where the boat form was significant in my last body of work, the bridge has now become the central image. Both relate to a journey…” says Howard in her artist statement. Soren Christensen Gallery, 400 Julia St., 569-9501.

What's Hot for Art
2. Tim Trapolin is well known in the city for his portraits—but in November, other genres will be on exhibit at Uptown Gallery. The show, “Secret Works,” consists of his private collection of nude and landscape watercolors he completed while on vacation in Maine. Uptown Gallery, 139 Broadway, 715-1140.

What's Hot for Art
3. Maps have been a source of information and fascination for ages—and those of New Orleans continue to spark interest. If you want a piece of the past in your own home, the Historic New Orleans Collection’s gift shop has a number of prints of maps that are in its collection. This one by Joseph Antoine Vinache is from 1803 and depicts New Orleans at the time of the Louisiana Purchase, when the land was transferred to the United States. Also shown are the first “faubourgs,” or suburbs, and earlier settlements along Bayou St. John. Historic New Orleans Collection,533 Royal St., 523-4662.

What's Hot for Art
4. Painted in a realistic manner, “Fairway Grocery” by Shirley Rabe Masinter is a gritty look at New Orleans post-Katrina. Masinter’s work is always on display at LeMieux Galleries, and she will have a show there in December. LeMieux Galleries, 332 Julia St., 522-5988.
What's Hot for Art

5. After an afternoon of gazing at art at the New Orleans Museum of Art, head over to its gift shop and educate yourself some more when you buy a book or two. The selection includes books on different types of art (painting, photography and other media) as well as artists. Catalogues from select past museum exhibits are also for sale. New Orleans Museum of Art,1 Collins Diboll Circle, 658-4100.

What's Hot for Art
6. In the market for a Picasso? No problem, as Martin Lawrence Gallery is the only gallery in the city that sells his work. This linocut, “Portrait de Jacqueline de Face II,” was created in 1962 and is just one of the works you can buy. Martin Lawrence Gallery, 433 Royal St., 299-9055.

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