Music, Art and Installations: Des Cours 2009
Arts & Entertainment, Recovery
December 10th, 2009
Hosted annually by the American Institute of Architects in New Orleans (AIA), Des Cours is a week-long series of events and exhibitions throughout the city featuring works by local, national, and international artists and architects.
Des Cours is unlike any other set of architectural installations. Not only is the week dotted with musical performances, parties and receptions, but the actual installations are activities within themselves. Many of the artists have incorporated interactive aspects into their works, giving the viewer both something to look at and something to do! CHIME, by Jennifer Hiser, an installation inspired by “the musical heritage of the city and its recent climatic history”, twists one’s idea of a wind chime while relating the idea of man versus nature in New Orleans own post-storm population and culture. Instead of nature creating the music, CHIME allows man to create the music with the use of nature. By controlling a series of fans, each uniquely aimed towards the “inhabitable instrument comprised of glass pendants,” one is able to create, or destroy, as the instrument hangs above like “a grand chandelier”. The CHIME installation is located 401 S. Rampart St.
Des Cours prides itself on its innovation with the use of new technologies, materials and methods while at the same time pays tribute to the city’s history by hosting the events and exhibits in the historic buildings of New Orleans. One “playful venue for conversation and exchange, literally tailored to fit people of all ages” is Itinerate Home by Mary Hale. The project focuses on the much needed alterations to the current structures and shelters in New Orleans, including commercial and residential buildings, as well as physically wearable structures. The installation features wearable, inflatable shelters housing multiple users who must “work together to navigate through the historic neighborhoods and water bodies of New Orleans”. The exhibit stimulates both ideas for the future of New Orleans and reflective of the past recovery efforts made by the city and its population drawing from artist Lucy Orta’s early work “Refugee Wear” and is located at 810 Bienville St in the D.H. Holmes Building.
Des Cour 2009 includes not only amazing installations, but also citywide music events and receptions throughout the week. The week of Des Cours 2009 has already begun, be sure to visit at least a few!
Check out a small preview from HumidBeing cropper dropper and a video from nola.com.
The series runs from December 9-13th at various locations throughout the city. For more information, visit the Des Cours 2009 website.
More event information from HumidBeings.
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