A FEW PRECARIOUSLY PLACED emerald green caskets seem an unlikely source of inspiration for an artist who paints the joyous revelry and movement of a city alive with character and characters. But artist James Michalopoulos has tapped into something that New Orleanians have known for a long time. Like a New Orleans jazz funeral draws reverence and celebration from the darkest of days, it seems entirely appropriate that Michalopoulos paints the majority of his works in a former funeral home. What better reminder that life is to be cherished and celebrated— a central theme of Michalopoulos’ work and his latest solo exhibition at The New Orleans Jazz Museum—than to be reminded of the brevity of life? In this sprawling, partially openair studio, located on Elysian Fields in the Marigny, I recently sat down with Michalopoulos, one of Louisiana’s most important, recognized and influential living artist, for a conversation about
The Musical Musings of James Michalopoulos
New Orleans culture, music, his artistic process and his most current musical museum show. From the Fat Man to Mahalia: James Michalopoulos’ Music Paintings is an ambitious exhibition of some of the artist’s most famous works, including a selection adapted to his immensely popular JazzFest posters, as well as a collection of contemporary works created by the artist after a broad, exhaustive retrospection of New Orleans’ musical culture, created during one of the only years since 1718 that live music has not been a staple of the Big Easy. 12
Inside Northside
The impact of a global pandemic and the temporary moratorium on live music in a city defined in no small part by its music scene created a unique challenge for Michalopoulos, who had agreed to the exhibition before the pandemic began. “I have this lush subject matter and this wonderful challenge, and it is on my plate, so present, but I am unable to go out and be in the heart of it, in the mix of it, in the moment. I let it lead me where it will.” Rather, like many during the pandemic, Michalopoulos was >>
photo: CANDRA GEORGE mycreativereality.com
by Cayman Clevenger
