written by Kimbrielle Boult
Along with the opening of NOMA’s New African Masquerades: Artistic Innovations and Collaborations exhibition, the Art Thrives program had a six-week long beading workshop led by former Creative Assembly member and New Orleans Culture bearer, Dianne Honoré. During the four weeks of this workshop, Art Thrives participants learned how to bead, practiced beading techniques, and created amazing beadworks. Participants of varying levels were excited to share their experiences, tips, and tricks of beading with each other.
With the help of Renee Gusman and Darryl Montanna, participants learned the songs of Black Masking Indians, as well as the history of Black Masking Indian culture. Renee shared her experience beginning the masking tradition after meeting Dianne while attending an Art Thrives beading workshop. From Adrian Caliste, we saw pieces of a custom made suit, which we also shared with the book club.
Wesley P. Phillips showed us how improvisation is used in the drumming rhythms that Black Masking Indians parade to. Participants were encouraged to come up and play the tambourine to the sound of the drum. Some of us showed off our best moves while others continued to bead to the sound of Wesley’s drum. We learned about the importance of the materials used to make the drums and the different sounds that each material provides. Participants beaded feverishly as our workshops were coming to a close. Finishing their pieces within the last meeting, participants brought in their pieces to be displayed for our showcase.
Located outside of the Art Classroom at the end of the Lupin Decorative Arts wing is a display of the work from those who participated. The showcase was up for two weeks from May 28th until June 13th, and featured the work of both Art Thrives participants and staff members. I set up a sign-up sheet for people who were interested in the showcase to be able to sign up for our next workshop. About thirty people came to see the showcase within the first hour of it being up. Within the first two days of the exhibition, we had received at least 10 new signees.
The following day, May 29th, Art Thrives had a small gathering with participants and some friends to celebrate the completion of the workshop. We celebrated while eating flatbreads and salads catered by Café NOMA. Toasting lemonades while listening to some upbeat jazz, we all sat and talked about the work we created as well as other art that has inspired us to create. When asked of their experience within the Art Thrives workshop, one participant said, “Please continue this program. It’s lots of fun as well as educational and instructive.” Another participant pointed out that there aren’t many in person workshops or classes where you learn things like sewing, and her experience trying to find a program like Art Thrives where she can learn crafts has been difficult as most programs are now online. She enjoyed learning the cultural aspects of beading in New Orleans. She said, “It’s important for people to talk to each other, get tips, and have people to ask questions.” This was a successful workshop and showcase, and I hope to see even more people joining us in the future.