In my previous Arts in New Orleans I and II posts I wrote about the Ogden Museum of Southern Art and the New Orleans Museum of Art. Today’s post is about the Contemporary Arts Center located at 900 Camp Street, across the street from the Ogden. Many years ago the building was a K&B Drugstore warehouse. Today, it’s a spacious, 10,000 square-foot multi-disciplinary arts center. The entire building shouts “creative.” Even the transition between the first and second floor is a cool circular ramp.
During my visit to CAC one of the exhibits was called “Something from Nothing.” Fifteen international artists were invited to New Orleans to create something from nothing. Jay Weigel, CAV Executive/Artistic Director, explained the artists started their projects without any supplies and were to beg, borrow, barter, or find the items used in their works. My interest was piqued. And that explained the hard-to-miss “cloud” suspended over the entrance. Moms, can you find the “Boppy” among the mesh of mattresses and pillows in the photo above?
Another display of interest consisted of stacks of filing cabinets filled with live plants and a water-fountain. Genius! Who would think unattractive office filing cabinets could be turned into something serene? Interestingly, the CAC’s eye-catching front desk (made of colorful glass plates and shaped in a semicircle) was designed by Gene Koss whose work is displayed in the Harrah’s hotel lobby where I stayed during this trip to New Orleans. Admission is $5 and students and seniors are $3. Be sure to stop in, you never know what may be on exhibit.
