New Orleans art colony shows hopeful disaster recovery

We often recall the worst about an area following a weather disaster and seldom learn what happens later, after the worst has past and recovery has occurred.  So here's the story of how one area of New Orleans has bounced back from one of the most high profile disasters every to hit that city.

When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, it hit the artists hard.  People who make their living on the streets, selling art out in the open found it difficult after the wind and rain made it impossible to work.

And the tourists were afraid to return, even as the artists had difficulty making a living, as they made their living from people who visit New Orleans for just plain fun or part of a forum or conference.

The tourists came back, however it took some time before that happened in earnest.  And now a few years later, where are the artists and what is happening now?

Around Jackson Square the artists are back, but not like they were in those good old days. Some of these old-timers are the survivors who hope for better days ahead even as they mourn those good old days that at the time of the flooding of the city seemed just a long ago hope.

According to an artist named "Babs" those good old days meant artists with style whose paintings were on demand as visitors walked around Jackson Square, lingering here and there for a look. These days, however, the artists have to share their space with tarot carot readers who come and go while luring tourists with their tricks.

This oldest art colony in America stands out for its uniqueness. Artists
obtain licenses from city hall on an annual basis. For years the only
way an artist could set up around the square was to be recommended by
another artist. Now it is a first-come, first-served basis, with annual
identification and licenses available every January. This allows the
city to have some semblance of authority with the artists, who have
become part of the merchant culture on Jackson Square. 

For years, the artists and fortune-tellers quarreled over spots along the fence, at various times having serious and audible quarrels. These days a peaceful
truce exists, haven taken place sometime between the late 1990's and the days after Hurricane Katrina. The artists line up on the front and sides of the
square; the fortune tellers and musicians occupy the section in front of
St. Louis Cathedral and the Cabildo, sharing their spots with a
sprinkling few of artists on both corners. They can also be seen in the
art galleries that abound through the Quarter.

The art colony of New Orleans underlines its place in history.  It has been connected with tourism over many years.  Artists recall its tenure and its culture with both affection and disdain for the life of never knowing each day if one will win or lose a customer.  It is a hard scrabble life at times, with the money flowing when times are good and wasting away when it is bad.

When the oil economy is booming, artists have made good money.  These days, however, it is literally a wonder that many of them survive with the cost of living as it is these days.

Yet the art colony's survival at all is a testament to recovery itself.  The hurricane came and went and the memories remain.  So do many of the artists, many who drifted away, then drifted on back.  It was a habit that could not be broken.

Just like the city of New Orleans itself, the resilience of the artists demonstrates the authenticity of courage, as people find a way to make it work, make home again, wherever that is in some flood-driven or fire-torched place somewhere or a historic city like New Orleans.  People find ways to survive and live again as they once did---or at least try.

The hopeful know the art colony will always be part of the French Quarter and the future of New Orleans, whether in good times or bad.

The artists, like others, continue to say, "Let the good times roll, and hopefully I can be part of it."