Mardi Gras Remembrance

March 4, 2014
With Mardi Gras festivities earlier this week, we would like to feature the work of two photographers. Their work, although separated by 68 years, displays a vitality and uniqueness that can only be found in New Orleans.

In 1937 John Gutmann traveled from his newly adopted home in San Francisco to record the 1937 Mardi Gras celebration. On this trip he also traveled through Alabama, rural Georgia and Atlanta, specifically Spelman College. View Gutmann’s artist page for additional images.

Also unique to New Orleans is the post Katrina portraiture of Thomas Neff. The image shown here is of Antoinette K-Doe, owner and operator of Mother-in-Law Lounge, in the Treme neighborhood of New Orleans. Mrs. K-Doe rode out the storm and defended the lounge through the “lawless” period that followed the levee breaks. Unfortunately, five years ago, Ms. K-Doe passed away on Mardi Gras, February 24, 2009 (NY Times obit). Addition work by Neff including more from the Katrina project can be found on his artist page.

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