Written by: Leslie Joseph

The effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on Louisiana and the United States continue to manifest in the media, politics, and society. Attitudes of fear, loss, cynicism, and hope continue to be expressed in a multitude of ways. Political upheaval, governmental scrutiny, racial strife, class warfare, financial changes, and geographical concerns have been explored, grappled with, and continue to be of crucial importance to the future of New Orleans. Society and popular culture are facets of the state, and it's place in the United States, that merit continued attention as well. New Orleans has long been lauded and condemned for it's inimitable culture. A haven for artists, musicians, and writers, the city is a mini-melting pot that houses a diverse and rich multi-cultural community. A brand of popular culture like no other is cultivated and emanates from New Orleans. Citizens of the city, state, and beyond have commented on New Orleans and Louisiana culture by expressing, mourning, and celebrating the hurricanes and their effects through various forms of art.

In a recent exhibition entitled, 'Art With A View,'� Brad Arender presented his expression of the impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on perceptions, psyches, and everyday lives of citizens of Louisiana and the United States. On December 14th, 2006, Arender showed with other artists at the Premier Plaza in Monroe, Louisiana, a few hundred miles from New Orleans. Diverse techniques, backgrounds, and audiences were represented in the show. The exhibits included in 'Art With A View'� were open to the public. Jazz music, regional Cajun food, and a diverse stream of attendees created an ambience, if slightly sanitized, of the heritage of New Orleans.

Brad Arender, a regional photographer, featured a body of work entitled, 'Your Life.'� According to the artist, the intent of the installation was to document Arender's own experiences and perceptions of the place he considers to be his home. Arender expressed his struggle with the impossibility of telling a complete story of the hurricanes, and focused rather on objects that seemed out of place in their new surroundings after the storm. The city swirled when it was seized by the hurricanes, and Arender's careful eye captured the aesthetic and emotion of the state and citizens when things literally and figuratively settled. Arender displayed 9 20 x 30 photos and 30 6 x 9 photos, all of which were printed with enhanced color on metallic film to give the images a 3-D effect. The large pieces were hung in a neat succession. Each large photographed emanated a color-saturated light, creating an ultra modern, yet contemplative, effect. The smaller pieces, which seemed to glow from within, were framed in ornate antique frames and hung on backdrops of gently patterned textiles. The effect was of the richness, decadence, and ruin that have been the legacy of New Orleans both before the hurricanes and after. The content of Arender's work ranged from the government's meticulous cataloguing of buildings and houses with spray paint to moving images of oddly juxtaposed personal effects. Vintage chandeliers, hung as lighting in the exhibit, created a purposeful atmosphere that evoked the charm, timelessness, and even the seasoned seediness for which the Crescent City is so infamous. Arender created a layered experience by playing radio coverage of the hurricanes as it was broadcast during the storms on local public radio station, 90.3 KEDM. The radio coverage was interspersed with clips from a radio special on New Orleans broadcast by KEDM's Adrienne LaFrance. 'Your Life'� was an experience as well as display, and the photographs hung as testaments to both the art and personal struggles involved in the continued push to revive and rebuild the culture and city of New Orleans.

Art collectors, hurricane survivors, socialites, artists, and supporters alike gathered at the Premier Plaza for a variety of purposes. Arender offered a visual and emotional experience by offering timely, sensitive, and forward-thinking comments, through his work, on the state of New Orleans and Louisiana today. Dynamic techniques and presentation addressed a range of concepts. The photos expressed the simultaneous chagrin and pride so ingrained in the citizens of New Orleans. Highly stylized and boldly experimental works evoked the popular culture and spirit of New Orleans as a culture is rebuilt, piece by piece.

More information on the artist mentioned is available at www.bradarender.com.

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