The Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans (CAC) and the Krewe of Red Beans announced an extension of their pop-up House Float art exhibition and auction through Sunday, April 11, 2021. House floats dotted New Orleans’ neighborhoods during Mardi Gras and captured the attention of the world during the COVID-restricted Carnival season of 2021. Artistic creations from select house floats are on view at the CAC, and are available for bidding online. Proceeds from the auction benefit New Orleans’ culture-bearers and the CAC.
After the cancellation of Mardi Gras parades due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the idea of transforming porches and yards into Mardi Gras house floats quickly gained traction among New Orleans residents. Mardi Gras artist Caroline Thomas, thought it would be great to provide jobs to laid off and under-employed Carnival artists. She then collaborated with Krewe of Red Beans and “Feed the Second Line” founder Devin De Wulf to launch the “Hire a Mardi Gras Artist” initiative to enlist artists to bring Mardi Gras magic to New Orleans neighborhoods. The initiative raised more than $330,000 to employ 48 Mardi Gras artists and the construction of 23 “house floats” across the city. As a sponsor, the CAC provided the Krewe’s artists with float-building space before Mardi Gras, and is now proud to host the full exhibition of house floats in the CAC warehouse, with generous support from Domain Companies.
“Community collaboration through art is at the heart of New Orleans’ unique culture. The CAC is thrilled that locals and visitors will have a last chance to see these incredible works of art and take home a piece of Carnival history,” said George Scheer, executive director of the CAC.
The extension allows more attendees to view the exhibition and take home a piece of Mardi Gras history. Admission to the exhibition is free and open to the public, Saturday and Sundays only April 3-4 and April 10-11 from 11:30 am – 4:30 p.m. at the CAC’s warehouse with entry on St. Joseph Street. Advance online reservations are required. In adherence with COVID-19 safety guidelines, capacity is limited to 50 patrons per hour on a timed-ticketed basis, with social distancing and mask-wearing required.
Patrons are invited to view exhibitions on display through April 25: Make America What America Must Become, An Exhibition of Gulf South Artists, and SOLOS featuring new works by CAC artists-in-residence Shana M. griffin, Ana Hernandez, and Sarah Hill. For more information about CAC exhibitions, hours, timed-ticketing, and to review the CAC’s enhanced Health and Safety guidelines, visit cacno.org.
Patrons are invited to plan their visit and experience art safely at the CAC, including its current exhibitions on view through April 25: Make America What America Must Become, An Exhibition of Gulf South Artists, and SOLOS featuring new works by CAC artists-in-residence Shana M. griffin, Ana Hernandez, and Sarah Hill. For more information about CAC exhibitions, hours, timed-ticketing, and to review the CAC’s enhanced Health and Safety guidelines, visit cacno.org.
