We've heard estimates ranging from 1600 to 1800 souls lost a year ago in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Whatever the exact number, most of us agree it was far too many. According to the demographic research firm Claritas, the overall population of New Orleans still remains at only 47% of the pre-Katrina total. Moreover, the city that had been 37% black is today only 22% black. (This is true even despite the fact that the decimated St. Bernard Parish has more than doubled in population in the first half of 2006.) A Mediaweek report notes that many media companies and agencies set up shop in Baton Rouge, Atlanta, and other hospitable cities just before the hurricane. Some have returned, some have not.
We've noticed several art events related to the 1-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Here are three:
In Washington, DC, the Royal Netherlands Embassy is presenting "Seeing is Believing, Seeing is Healing," featuring 24 paintings and photographs of New Orleans made by 4 artists from Louisiana and Mississippi.
"Faces of Katrina" in Shreveport, Louisiana features the stories and photographs of more than 100 Katrina evacuees and the volunteers who helped them.
The Louisiana Bucket Brigade, a Louisiana environmental health and justice organization, has assembled an exhibition titled "St. Bernard Parish Photo Exhibit: Life in the Wake of Katrina" that features photographs taken by 18 St. Bernard Parish residents and four visiting photographers. The traveling show is currently at the Galveston Arts Center.
