OTHER WAYS TO SAY

Works by Emmy Levitas and Sara Quinn

Throughout the porch, studio, den and stairwell.

OTHER WAYS TO SAY explores human communication beyond the bounds of language. Through wordless books, movement, sculpture, and performance, OTHER WAYS both describes and embodies interpersonal expression and exchange that occurs across language barriers, or in inherently non-linguistic forms. How do we read each other’s bodies? Each other’s refuse?

A product of dialogue between the artists, this project presents objects imbued with sedimentary human presences, and experimental movement conjuring and capturing moments of empathy.

»Sally Caraway
Idols. Painting. In the Studio.

»Caesar Meadows.
What The Hell Are You Thinking?!! Empty Thought Qömik Portraits.
In the Den.

»Still Life Parlor
A collaborative endeavor brought to you by Kayla Risko with Amanda Cassingham-Bardwell. In the Stairwell.

»How to Use Your Magical Powers: Your Past Lives
A collaborative endeavor brought to you by Ashley Brett Chipman and Amanda Cassingham-Bardwell. On the Porch

What?!! Digest is EVOLVING?!!

I’ve been hosting projects at 723 Louisa Street Digest since November 2010, and since then a lot of great people have potlucked in by displaying projects, helping put on shows, and bringing brunch sundries. This month I want to acknowledge a couple of people who’ve been taking a big part in this endeavor for a long time, and who have future plans!

Also I want to announce that March is the last month for events in the current second Saturday style. Starting next month, brunch will continue the Sunday after the St. Claude openings, but night openings will be at different times and in new formats, including but not limited to Yard Sales as well as Porch TV Night. Next month, Sara Quinn and Emmy Levitas will present a variety of projects througout the house on Friday, April 13th. Watch this email and the Digest website and facebook for scheduling of future projects!

Ashley Brett Chipman 723 Louisa Video Shaman

Ashley and I met in November 2010 during the first open studios event at Digest. Soon afterward she created a video installation in the Stairwell called Swagger for a Lost Magnificence. Since then, Ashley and I worked together to create a series of videos screened on the Porch, which educate the public about using their magical powers. Ashley helped run the Kickstarter so that we could buy a projector to show these videos and has shown some additional videos of her own. She has introduced many artists to Digest that have since then presented projects here. Soon Ashley will be curating video work from artists around town and the country for screenings on the porch.

Kayla Rikso 723 Louisa Artist in Residence Program Fellow

Kayla first arrived in New Orleans in September 2011 to participate as the first official artist in residence in the 723 Louisa Street Artist in Residence Program. During October, she showed a series of drawings created while at 723 Louisa Street and we also collaborated on (A Fishy Surprise!) in the Stairwell. In November, Kayla hosted a satelitte exhibition and website launch event of the Museum of Fictional Art. After returning to New Orleans in January 2012, Kayla has continued to assist in the production of projects at Digest, including curating and creating the Still Life Parlor in the Stairwell this month. Later this spring, Kayla will host an event celebrating a new exhibition of work in the Museum of Fictional Art.

Sally Caraway is a local artist who works at Steve Martin Fine Art on Julia Street. She attended the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts/Riverfront and graduated with a BFA in Painting from the Memphis College of Art in Tennessee. “Idols” is a group of paintings drawing links between the land and sea, humanity and nature, and this city with the surrounding environment.

Caesar Meadows

Still Life Parlor

Curated by Kayla Risko with Amanda Cassingham-Bardwell. What wonders await for you in this expansive, interactive still life with its cornucopia of sensual and tactile experiences!

How to Use Your Magical Powers: Your Past Lives

Ashley Brett Chipman and Amanda Cassingham-Bardwell present to the final video in a series of educational and instructional films about magic.

»Sabri Reed. (Artist in Residence.)
Stand in place with a tool in your hand for a long time. Happening.
In the Studio, and Kitchen.

»Margaret Hull.
Embroidery.
In the Den.

»Francis Wong.
Summer in Winter. Works on paper and video.
In the Stairwell.

Join us for a brunch of the machines on Sunday. Don't forget to bring something to juice in the juicer or something to fry in the deep fryer!

Sabri Reed is a performance artist, sculptor, baker, teacher, facilitator and patron of the United States Postal Service.  From North Carolina, she is currently based out of Chicago, IL where she is an MFA in Performance candidate at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.  Currently her attention has been focused on the poetry and resonance of everyday activities.  She is researching and developing ways to use art to engage these activities more fully herself as well as create instruction sets, kits and other formats for drawing other people into the intensity of boiling water, shredding lettuce, growing salt crystals, baking a cake and sharpening pencils.

image: Sabri Reed. Unmade Cake.

Margaret Hull

image: Margaret Hull. Geostudies. (Detail)

Francis Wong grew up on the Northshore but visited the Southshore very often. He attended NOCCA for the summer program and during his senior year in high school, He attended the University of New Orleans pre Katrina and experienced the aftermath in southeast Louisiana. He moved back to New Orleans after a year and has trained under water for the past 5-6 years. He also got a Zulu coconut curse during his first ZULU parade and has not been able to stop taking pictures or having good times. He now goes by GoodtimeFrancis and Dr.Wong. He lives in an old cottagehouse in the Bywater.

image: Francis Wong. Nature.

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This month 723 Louisa Street celebrates the awesome work of Fringe Fest Artists with a party featuring installations of costumes and puppets from the following Fringe Fest 2011 shows:

»Pchile Goyin.
NEW NOISE / Mondo Bizarro.
In the Studio.

»The Wedding.
Kat Sotelo and Jee-Horne Kan.
In the Den.

»The Bride of Black Lake.
The Mudlark Puppeteers.
In the Stairwell.

In addition, you are invited to witness:
»Cookie Day 2011.
Brought to you by Ashley Brett Chipman & Amanda Cassingham.
On the Porch.

Pchile Goyin is the story of a woman swallowed by a lake. She wakes on the other side, surrounded by colossal spiders and shape-shifting trees. Where a snake charmer gives lessons in shedding your own skin. Huge puppets, intricate masks, live music, and physical performance lead audiences on a spectacle-sized journey through this folk tale of transformation.

The Wedding Guests were cordially invited to witness THE WEDDING, a violent and partially nude celebration of marital un-traditions in the name (or maim) of Love. Combining pop sing-alongs, dance, transforming costumes, and invented rituals… the performance  served as the ACTUAL-REAL-LIFE Wedding ceremony for long-time collaborators Kat Sotelo and Jee-Horne Kan.

The Bride of Black Lake Lida, a young Jewish Bride, is attacked on her way to her wedding. When Lida is cast into the waters of the Black Lake, she is approached by the rusalki, unquiet spirits of drowned women. They offer her a final wish. Will Lida make the ultimate sacrifice in the name of love or be forever lost in darkness? Features bunraku, marionette and shadow puppetry.

On Sunday, December 11, 2011; sweet buttery goodness will rain from the sky into the awaiting hands of those who truly believe in Cookie Day. Are you a true believer? Seek out a Cookie Day 2011 token near you, and arrive at 723 Louisa Street after 1pm on Sunday. Be prepared for Cookie Day!