Illuminating my World in New Orleans' Garden District

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The World Tour posts segues into a bit of shameless self-promotion for my new self-published catalog of lumen prints, Crescent City Illumenations.  

Preview/Purchase HERE

For this project, I didn't travel miles to see a new world, I simply gathered flowers and leaves from sidewalks in the Garden District and looked at my surroundings in a new light.  That's what a "lumen" print is. Essentially, a it is a solar photogram.  An object placed on light sensitive paper and then exposed in the sun.   In essence, it can be used as a paper negative to create a positive print, in black and white.  However, I like to keep them as they are, using the colors of the emulsions in the paper to further illuminate the subjects.  This series was done on a now defunct Agfa paper.  That paper can be used years after its expiration gives one of the biggest rewards of lumen printing - recycling.

Cat's Claw    2010

I began working with this process in late 2008.  Crescent City Illumenations was created in 2010.  Three years later, I still walk through the Garden District, picking up leaves and flowers, though I've also added feathers into my luminous reportoire, and I've gotten slightly more adventurous with bug wings.

I created this catalog simply to share "my world", the world I choose to see.  In that respect, this blog entry is no different than my posts on travels to China, Delhi, or Poland.  Hope you enjoy!  I'll be in Quebec soon, I hope.

Feel free to browse thru the book. If you'd like to purchase,  I thank you very much for supporting me, the World Tour, and all my 'nattie concepts'.

Crescent City Illumenations by Natasha Sanchez | Make Your Own Book

Living Life - in Bohemia, Louisiana

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The road to Bohemia is seemingly sparse.

Located about 50 miles Southeast of New Orleans in Plaquemines Parish, Bohemia lies on the East Bank of the Mississippi River, a short ferry ride from Point ala Hache.  (If the ferry was running, that is..)

Getting to Bohemia took some effort.  First I got stuck in traffic waiting for a train in the Bywater.

 I thought I had the angle for this trip all planned out.  I thought I could make some connection about how the artist community in New Orleans keeps migrating further downriver – first it was the French Quarter, then the Marigny, currently the Bywater holds that distinction. I thought it only a matter of time before the artists make it down to Bohemia itself. Hahaha. I even brought Betty the Bullhorn along, the ultimate representative of La Vie Boheme, to further illustrate my point. 

Betty Lives the Bohemian Life  2002

 But as usual, the journey to Bohemia turned out to be much larger than that.  I discovered my roots on the way. While my Isleno ancestry, Spanish descendants from the Canary Islands, comes from a settlement called Valenzuela (now Belle Alliance) near Donaldsonville,  I thought I'd say hello to my peeps at this Isleno dwelling in St. Bernard Parish.  

Canary Islanders Home

 Then it was off to Bohemia.

 It was a simple, yet difficult route – down Hwy 46 to Hwy 39, through Braithewaite and other areas in Plaquemines Parish that were affected by Hurricane Isaac last summer.  I didn’t photograph the miles of destruction I saw, but sights like this were not uncommon:

Houses on Levee

I drove past Phoenix.

And then continued on Hwy 39.

Hwy 39

Finally, I reached Bohemia.

Bohemia, 2013

Bohemia is a small, unincorporated town of Plaquemines Parish. It was nearly destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.  The 25 or so homes here show their determination, resilience and spirit.  For me, Bohemia was a testament of commitment to living our truth, no matter the circumstances.

Concrete Stairs

Bethlehem Lane

There are quite a few Katrina-related articles available online about Bohemia.  I had read that the only thing remaining of the brick Civil-War era Baptist chuch, Bethlehem Judea African Church, was its sign. Yet when I reached Bethlehem Lane, there was a new structure in its place. 

Tree & Steeple

Betty the Bullhorn, along for the ride as a Champion of Living Your Life – no matter how “unconventional” it may seem, was very much moved by the church and, wearing her peace sign outfit,  wanted to lend her support.

 

On Bethlehem Lane, in Bohemia, Louisiana – Betty the Bullhorn shouts out for peace and calm - sometimes much needed when the path isn't always a straight one.

Betty Shouts Out for Peace

And you never know where the road will lead you. 

Bohemian Levee

Til next time..

all content (c) Natasha Sanchez

www.nattie-concepts.com

To connect with Betty the Bullhorn, like her page on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/bettythebullhorn  

To Send a Shout-Out from Betty the Bullhorn, visit her Etsy Store:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/BettyTheBullhorn

On Top of the World - in Himalaya, Louisiana

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Himalaya was everything I thought it would be.   I expected to travel through bayou land country  feeling like I was on top of the world, and my intuition was right.  Sure, the peaks that I encountered were almost incredulous, but I've come to realize that nothing appears out of the norm on the World Tour. 

Himalaya was one of those towns that I discovered on the map late last year while on my way to Istre Cemetery in Mermentau Cove.  Because it only shows up on "select maps",  I did a little research before to find out just what Himalaya is.   I found out that its a former sugar cane plantation located just west of Thibodaux in the Napoleanville/Supreme area.  This suits me just perfect because I love the drive down south. It brings back memories of the late 90's, early Aughts, when it seemed like every movie or video I worked on filmed at Laurel Valley Plantation. (shout out Bossie...)  Anyhoo, the drive to Himalaya afforded me the opportunity to photograph one of my favorite Louisiana spots, this bridge on Hwy 308.

 Once past the familiar sites of Raceland and Thibodaux, I was on my way to experience Himalaya.

There's a reason I chose Himalaya as my first World Tour road trip of the New Year.  Its no secret that I love the openness of the open road, but this time around, I really just wanted to...be.  And Himalaya, even the journey getting there, seemed like the perfect place to do just that.

Of course, there are always surprises along the way, and things aren't always what they seem. 

Case in point, this hamburger stand in the middle of nowhere:  

Here I thought I discovered an ancient relic of the bayou dwellers, but nah..., its a former movie set built a few years ago. Makes for a purty picture, though.  

After this detour I got back on track, cruisin the landscape, looking for Himalaya. 

 Ironically, amongst the fields, it was easy to miss.

So I had to turn to my electronic sherpa for guidance, my GPS.  

 Somehow, I wasn't shocked when my e-sherpa told me first to turn here:

Then, here: 

I drove as directed  towards the summit and photographed my surroundings, 

happy to have reached my destination.

My car couldn't make it straight down Himalaya Road because it got too muddy.  I thought getting to the top was enough, so I started to drive back.  Something though, (intuition!) made me turn on another road, a road that connects to the far end of Himalaya.  And thus, I alighted upon the foothills...

and the towering elevation of Himalaya. 

 Himalaya, Louisiana.  

Sure, it was a photographic triumph to have stumbled upon this Himalayan treasure, but in reality, it just felt ..right.  Of course there would be a towering mound-tain of ..(dirt? bagasse? dunno...) to make my trip to Himalaya complete.  Because the purpose of this trip was to just simply "be", it was only then could I find what I was looking for.  

And I felt like I was on top of the world.  

til next time..

All content (c) Natasha Sanchez

www.nattie-concepts.com

Moon over Mermentau Cove - Istre Cemetery, Louisiana

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Last week, I spent the night in a cemetery.  And no, it was not for the sake of the World Tour.  It was as an accompaniment for my talented artist-of-all-trades friend, Amy Woodruff.  Amy staged an all night  candlelit vigil, dubbed "Toussaint A Thon",  from 2pm to 10am on All Saints Day/All Souls Day (La Toussaint in France)  at her family's resting place, Istre Cemetery,  to raise funds and awareness for the cemetery and her upcoming performance,  Moon Cove.  

 Moon Cove, a Louisiana Tale of Horror from the Cajun Prairie,  is a "fictional ghost story about her non-fictional Acadiana ancestors".  I first met Amy back in 2008 when I was transitioning my music Nattie act to a theatrical setting and she was first staging Moon Cove.  Her family's history is deeply rooted in Acadiana, and to hear her tell stories of her lineage is fascinating.  I knew I should jump at the chance to go on this journey, though i did spend a while pondering scheduling snafus before I said yes. I'm so very glad I did.

And so my World Tour has traveled to a different kind of world, more of a Spirit World, though it should be noted that "Istre" is a town in France, and my World Tour has had spiritual undertones all along,  so technically this does count as a World Tour blog...  :)

Soooo.....I've never spent the night in a cemetery before, much less a remote one that sits on a bayou named for turtles and overlooks a leveled rice field.  You might picture an overnight stay at a rural cemetery to look and feel something like this:

..And you would be correct.
But first...the beginning:


We started La Toussaint off the traditional way, attending an All Saints Day mass at St. John's Cathedral in Lafayette.  (Fun fact:  former governor Kathleen Blanco was in attendance as well).  

We then stopped in Scott, Louisiana for some cemetery camping staples:  boudin and quail eggs.

Istre Cemetery is a historic cemetery located in Mermentau Cove, in Acadia Parish.  I'd say its about 10 or 15 miles southwest of China.   It sits along Bayou Queue de Tortue, and is home to some fascinating structures called "Grave Houses", little wooden houses that sit atop the graves. There are only 3 left of what was once 40.  In 2008, the little houses were listed on the National Historic Register. 

I was prepared to sit in a cemetery in a rice field for 20 hours.  Well, as prepared as one can be, but I was not prepared for the overwhelming beauty of the landscape.  Driving across miles of flat plains, I didnt expect that we would be in an area so lush, so green.  It was truly breathtaking. 

 Once we got there,  we had a little bit of time to acquaint ourselves with our new surroundings, and then Amy got busy with arranging flowers alongside the graves of her father, grandparents, and great-grandparents. 

And I went exploring..

We were joined by our third companion, Amy's friend Kevin who lives in the area, as the sun started to set.  

Then, the candlelight vigil began.

The event was publicized in area newspapers and brought out many local residents.  Some were there because it was All Saints Day and they were tending to their families graves.  Others came out of curiosity and interest for Amy's vigil. From the time we got there, at about 2pm Thursday until sometime in the wee hours of the morning, (not exactly sure what time the interested crew "from the bar" left, they arrived around 1am..)  we had a steady stream of visitors.  Somehow, it wasn't all that strange to greet these people at all hours of the night in the dark, amongst the dead.  They arrived with a handshake and pleasant introductions, they departed with a hug and meaningful salutations. 

In keeping with the La Toussaint tradition, the candles remained lit throughout the night.  

   

The sun rose in the morning, drenching the darkness with light.  

I took quite a few walks during this time, relishing the lighting and..photographing spider webs...

If there were a common theme to this experience, I would have to say it was - validation.  This was an incredible adventure and I am grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of it.  Amy revived an old, historic tradition that seems to have faded with time in these parts.  Keeping an all night candlelit watch over her family, she brought together a whole lot of other people who embraced the honor she was bestowing on not just her family, but on others as well - on life.  The power of the reverence for life is truly amazing. After all, we are the future past... 

At 10am All Souls Day, we said goodbye to the last visitor to the cemetery, blew out the candles, packed up and headed back home.  (Okay, first we had a nap in Jennings, shrimp po-boys in Mermentau, and beer in Lafayette...but then we went home)

You can get more info on the art of Amy Woodruff here:  www.amywoodruff.com
and on her Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmyWoodruffArtGoddess 

Info on Moon Cove:  http://www.theatrelouisiane.com/mooncove.html


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**Being a passenger on this trip allowed me one of my fave pasttimes, reading maps.  Found bunches of new towns to visit...stay tuned!  **

All content (c) Natasha Sanchez

www.nattie-concepts.com