House Of Dance And Feathers In New Orleans

Another cultural treasure that highlights the Mardi Gras traditions and Black cultural history in New Orleans is a museum called House Of Dance And Feathers.

Ronald Lewis, who is the director and curator, offers an inside look at the groups who bring Mardi Gras and the parades in the community to life. You'll see the beadwork gallery for the Mardi Gras Indians and costumes worn by the Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs and groups like the Skull and Bone Gang as well as Baby Dolls.

The image gallery on the site shows off the amazing beauty of the feathered suits worn by the Mardi Gras Indian tribes. He also provides an insight into the detailed work that goes into making a new one each year.

Being the president of Big Nine Social Aid and Pleasure Club as well former King of Krewe de Vieux  and former Council Chief of the Choctaw Hunters (which is a Mardi Gras Indian tribe he founded) Ronald W. Lewis brings an intimate knowledge of the local culture he wants to share with the world.

A survivor of Hurricane Katrina he and his wife reside in the Lower Ninth Ward. Contact them in advance for an appointment to visit since the museum is set up in the Lewis' backyard of their home.

For more information and to arrange viewing times check out their website: http://houseofdanceandfeathers.org

Feel free to leave comments below. Thanks for stopping by!


Sondra Carpenter
The Mardi Gras Girl
TheMardiGrasGirl.com

Photo Credit
House Of Dance And Feathers
http://houseofdanceandfeathers.org

Mardi Gras Everyday At Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World

Ever want to see where a lot of the action begins for the amazing Mardi Gras parades? It starts with the parade floats! Since 1984 Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World has offered tours of their warehouse where you can even watch some of the artists working.

Blaine Kern Studios has actually been creating the imaginative floats and props for New Orleans Mardi Gras parades since 1947. They also make them for Philadelphia's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Universal Studios in Florida, Toho Park in Japan as well as amusement parks and casinos worldwide.

The space is part museum and part art studio. Many of the the floats are stored here from the New Orleans celebrations and may be re-used and updated. Costumes and figures are also available to view. You're offered and up close and personal look at how they make all the magic happen.

Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World is located at 1380 Port of New Orleans Pl., New Orleans, LA 70114, you can visit their website at: http://www.mardigrasworld.com

Feel free to post comments below. Thanks for visiting.


Sondra Carpenter
The Mardi Gras Girl

Mardi Gras Open House At The Backstreet Cultural Museum And See The Skull And Bone Gangs

The ongoing tradition on the morning of Mardi Gras Day is the Open House at the Backstreet Cultural Museum in the Treme section of New Orleans, right outside of the French Quarter.

This is where you can get a look up close and personal of the Mardi Gras tribes in their new suits, carefully handcrafted over the last year. 

Also the Open House starts off at 8AM with "Breakfast With The Bone Gang" celebrating one of the many New Orleans traditions, they date back to the 1800's. The Skull and Bone Gangs, dressed in costumes resembling skeletons, go around very early in the neighborhood on Mardi Gras Day and tell children to live right or the spirits may come and get them soon. They remind us all to live for the moment and enjoy each day we are blessed with. 

Click here to check out my previous post about the Backstreet Cultural Museum.

Thanks for reading, Happy Mardi Gras!

Photo credit: LA Reno Photography - www.larenophotography.com

Sondra Carpenter
The Mardi Gras Girl

The Backstreet Cultural Museum In New Orleans

There are so many cultural treasures in New Orleans and one of my favorites is the Backstreet Cultural Museum in the Faubourg Treme. Faubourg is French for district or neighborhood outside of the city limits. The Backstreet Cultural Museum offers an extensive selection of Mardi Gras Indian suits as well as costumes worn by some of the original New Orleans brass bands and social aid and pleasure club members throughout the years.

Photographs, videos, collections and exhibits provide an inside look into the African American culture in New Orleans.

During my travels to New Orleans for Mardi Gras that year I was told about the museum by some hotel staff, so I decided to check it out. While I was there I was able to take pictures of some of the displays. Also I had the pleasure to be able to speak to the founder of the museum, Sylvestor Francis, who opened it's doors in 1999. Several years ago he was a member of the Gentlemen of Leisure Social Aid And Pleasure Club.

He originally started gathering collectibles from the Mardi Gras Indians, brass bands and social clubs. Because of his love of the African American Mardi Gras culture in Treme, he gave pictures to anyone who participated in parades that he photographed. He was rewarded for his generosity when people who he gave photographs to started giving him costumes, suits and keepsakes.

The picture below is of Sylvestor Francis in the museum.

He took time to discuss the museum displays and their history. Also he had me watch a documentary called "All In A Mardi Gras Day" which I purchased a copy of. It's a great reference for anyone interested in the African American Mardi Gras culture in New Orleans. It covers the Mardi Gras Indians, Zulu Krewe, Skull and Bone Gang and lots more.

Click here to view The Backstreet Cultural Museum website. You'll find information on exhibitions, community programs and hours of operation.

Hope you enjoyed this post as much as I did sharing it. Feel free to leave comments below.

Sondra Carpenter
The Mardi Gras Girl