I was talking to my brother the other day the other day he lives in Covington
day the other day he lives in Covington
day the other day he lives in Covington Louisiana and was telling me about the
Louisiana and was telling me about the
Louisiana and was telling me about the floods that hit that area a year ago 18
floods that hit that area a year ago 18
floods that hit that area a year ago 18 feet of water grows out of the river
feet of water grows out of the river
feet of water grows out of the river flooding countless homes and the campus
flooding countless homes and the campus
flooding countless homes and the campus where he works the one-year anniversary
where he works the one-year anniversary
where he works the one-year anniversary is coming up he said so of course we’re
is coming up he said so of course we’re
is coming up he said so of course we’re getting ready for our first flood party
getting ready for our first flood party
getting ready for our first flood party flood party I thought yes
flood party I thought yes
flood party I thought yes flood party it took my brain a minute
flood party it took my brain a minute
flood party it took my brain a minute but I remembered that in Louisiana this
but I remembered that in Louisiana this
but I remembered that in Louisiana this type of celebration happens all the time
type of celebration happens all the time
type of celebration happens all the time people taking harmful difficult
people taking harmful difficult
people taking harmful difficult situations and using them as an
situations and using them as an
situations and using them as an opportunity to celebrate or what poet
opportunity to celebrate or what poet
opportunity to celebrate or what poet Eric Shaw ranked likes to call from harm
Eric Shaw ranked likes to call from harm
Eric Shaw ranked likes to call from harm into harmony it’s everywhere in the
into harmony it’s everywhere in the
into harmony it’s everywhere in the culture it’s in the food it’s in the
culture it’s in the food it’s in the
culture it’s in the food it’s in the music in 2005 when Katrina hurricanes
music in 2005 when Katrina hurricanes
music in 2005 when Katrina hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated the Gulf
Katrina and Rita devastated the Gulf
Katrina and Rita devastated the Gulf Coast you could not stop the Mardi Gras
Coast you could not stop the Mardi Gras
Coast you could not stop the Mardi Gras celebrations in fact people that lost
celebrations in fact people that lost
celebrations in fact people that lost their homes use it as an opportunity to
their homes use it as an opportunity to
their homes use it as an opportunity to brutally satire the politicians and
brutally satire the politicians and
brutally satire the politicians and government organizations that didn’t
government organizations that didn’t
government organizations that didn’t show up when they should have you can
show up when they should have you can
show up when they should have you can see this in the New Orleans Jazz
see this in the New Orleans Jazz
see this in the New Orleans Jazz funerals yes jazz funerals if you
funerals yes jazz funerals if you
funerals yes jazz funerals if you haven’t heard of them pallbearers and
haven’t heard of them pallbearers and
haven’t heard of them pallbearers and mostly african-american neighborhoods
mostly african-american neighborhoods
mostly african-american neighborhoods carry caskets with the departed
carry caskets with the departed
carry caskets with the departed alongside a brass band the music usually
alongside a brass band the music usually
alongside a brass band the music usually starts with something slow like a gospel
starts with something slow like a gospel
starts with something slow like a gospel tune just a closer walk with thee then
tune just a closer walk with thee then
tune just a closer walk with thee then at some point the tempo picks up people
at some point the tempo picks up people
at some point the tempo picks up people start dancing and the act of movement
start dancing and the act of movement
start dancing and the act of movement and celebration becomes an act of
and celebration becomes an act of
and celebration becomes an act of healing all the peoples that settle in
healing all the peoples that settle in
healing all the peoples that settle in south Louisiana have some sort of
south Louisiana have some sort of
south Louisiana have some sort of oppression to contend with and some sort
oppression to contend with and some sort
oppression to contend with and some sort of creative survival tools that they
of creative survival tools that they
of creative survival tools that they have learned in order to process them
have learned in order to process them
have learned in order to process them African Irish Cajun Vietnamese and many
African Irish Cajun Vietnamese and many
African Irish Cajun Vietnamese and many many other peoples have all had
many other peoples have all had
many other peoples have all had slavery displacement genocide and
slavery displacement genocide and
slavery displacement genocide and they’ve all held on to some essential
they’ve all held on to some essential
they’ve all held on to some essential aspects of their humanity and used it to
aspects of their humanity and used it to
aspects of their humanity and used it to process grief my people’s the Cajun or
process grief my people’s the Cajun or
process grief my people’s the Cajun or Acadian people’s are French French
Acadian people’s are French French
Acadian people’s are French French heritage people who settled in Nova
heritage people who settled in Nova
heritage people who settled in Nova Scotia became political exiles around
Scotia became political exiles around
Scotia became political exiles around 250 years ago and the ones that weren’t
250 years ago and the ones that weren’t
250 years ago and the ones that weren’t killed managed to settle and the East
killed managed to settle and the East
killed managed to settle and the East Coast and then down to French friendly
Coast and then down to French friendly
Coast and then down to French friendly Louisiana they had to learn these
Louisiana they had to learn these
Louisiana they had to learn these creative survival tools those creative
creative survival tools those creative
creative survival tools those creative survival tools were tested for me most
survival tools were tested for me most
survival tools were tested for me most personally in 2010 when the BP oil spill
personally in 2010 when the BP oil spill
personally in 2010 when the BP oil spill hit my hometown I was living in
hit my hometown I was living in
hit my hometown I was living in Louisiana that summer went four point
Louisiana that summer went four point
Louisiana that summer went four point nine million barrels of tar and oil
nine million barrels of tar and oil
nine million barrels of tar and oil flowed from a broken well into the Gulf
flowed from a broken well into the Gulf
flowed from a broken well into the Gulf in in the largest man-made disaster in
in in the largest man-made disaster in
in in the largest man-made disaster in history workers died eleven workers died
history workers died eleven workers died
history workers died eleven workers died BP decided to cover up the problem they
BP decided to cover up the problem they
BP decided to cover up the problem they were going to release toxic chemicals
were going to release toxic chemicals
were going to release toxic chemicals into the water cleverly rebranded
into the water cleverly rebranded
into the water cleverly rebranded dispersants millions of animals died
dispersants millions of animals died
dispersants millions of animals died people were sick from the chemicals
people were sick from the chemicals
people were sick from the chemicals already vulnerable wetlands eroding at a
already vulnerable wetlands eroding at a
already vulnerable wetlands eroding at a rate of an astronomical something the
rate of an astronomical something the
rate of an astronomical something the size of Manhattan every 10 to 12 months
size of Manhattan every 10 to 12 months
size of Manhattan every 10 to 12 months were now further vulnerable this had
were now further vulnerable this had
were now further vulnerable this had happened to my home and I was pissed and
happened to my home and I was pissed and
happened to my home and I was pissed and you don’t want to piss off an artist so
you don’t want to piss off an artist so
you don’t want to piss off an artist so I took that anger grab the paintbrush
I took that anger grab the paintbrush
I took that anger grab the paintbrush grabbed some of the tar from the spill
grabbed some of the tar from the spill
grabbed some of the tar from the spill and went to work this is what I made oil
and went to work this is what I made oil
and went to work this is what I made oil paintings with the very tar and oil that
paintings with the very tar and oil that
paintings with the very tar and oil that washed up on my home this is an uncommon
washed up on my home this is an uncommon
washed up on my home this is an uncommon portrait of Tony Hayward the CEO of BP
portrait of Tony Hayward the CEO of BP
portrait of Tony Hayward the CEO of BP at the time
it was very therapeutic to smear it all
it was very therapeutic to smear it all over his face and in fact some places it
over his face and in fact some places it
over his face and in fact some places it sticks up about an inch so it felt
sticks up about an inch so it felt
sticks up about an inch so it felt really good but after a while it became
really good but after a while it became
really good but after a while it became it left me in a bit of a dark place
it left me in a bit of a dark place
it left me in a bit of a dark place emotionally only painting those
emotionally only painting those
emotionally only painting those responsible so I decided to pivot and
responsible so I decided to pivot and
responsible so I decided to pivot and paint the people that I grew up with to
paint the people that I grew up with to
paint the people that I grew up with to paint the human face of the oil spill
paint the human face of the oil spill
paint the human face of the oil spill with their permission of course it was
with their permission of course it was
with their permission of course it was important for me to show their stories
important for me to show their stories
important for me to show their stories outside of the stereotypes you often see
outside of the stereotypes you often see
outside of the stereotypes you often see of Gulf Coast southerners this is Lois
of Gulf Coast southerners this is Lois
of Gulf Coast southerners this is Lois he owns a shrimp plant and his
he owns a shrimp plant and his
he owns a shrimp plant and his livelihood was in question this is
livelihood was in question this is
livelihood was in question this is Alyssa
Alyssa
Alyssa she’s a 12 year old who lives in the
she’s a 12 year old who lives in the
she’s a 12 year old who lives in the flood prone area of town what kind of
flood prone area of town what kind of
flood prone area of town what kind of world are we leaving her I should
world are we leaving her I should
world are we leaving her I should mention that many of these are most of
mention that many of these are most of
mention that many of these are most of them are about five feet tall or larger
them are about five feet tall or larger
them are about five feet tall or larger it was important for me to show these
it was important for me to show these
it was important for me to show these people with the dignity that they
people with the dignity that they
people with the dignity that they deserved
deserved
deserved while the drips of its heart told a
while the drips of its heart told a
while the drips of its heart told a different story this is Moses welder in
different story this is Moses welder in
different story this is Moses welder in the oil industry an artist and community
the oil industry an artist and community
the oil industry an artist and community organizer he was a great inspiration to
organizer he was a great inspiration to
organizer he was a great inspiration to me for the community projects that I
me for the community projects that I
me for the community projects that I developed but I will tell you about
developed but I will tell you about
developed but I will tell you about shortly
shortly
shortly this is Jamie another community leader
this is Jamie another community leader
this is Jamie another community leader and member of the United Holman nation
and member of the United Holman nation
and member of the United Holman nation her people’s land sit on some of the
her people’s land sit on some of the
her people’s land sit on some of the most vulnerable wetlands and in fact
most vulnerable wetlands and in fact
most vulnerable wetlands and in fact while they are the largest tribe in
while they are the largest tribe in
while they are the largest tribe in Louisiana they are the only tribe that
Louisiana they are the only tribe that
Louisiana they are the only tribe that is federally unrecognized this is
is federally unrecognized this is
is federally unrecognized this is because oil industry lobbyists in
because oil industry lobbyists in
because oil industry lobbyists in Washington do not want them to have
Washington do not want them to have
Washington do not want them to have sovereignty over this land that’s so
sovereignty over this land that’s so
sovereignty over this land that’s so rich in oil and gas so I showed the work
rich in oil and gas so I showed the work
rich in oil and gas so I showed the work in New York and in Arkansas and some
in New York and in Arkansas and some
in New York and in Arkansas and some other places but I wanted to take it to
other places but I wanted to take it to
other places but I wanted to take it to my hometown I wanted it to be amidst the
my hometown I wanted it to be amidst the
my hometown I wanted it to be amidst the people who the paintings were of so with
people who the paintings were of so with
people who the paintings were of so with the help of a grant I shipped the work
the help of a grant I shipped the work
the help of a grant I shipped the work down to my hometown at home Louise
down to my hometown at home Louise
down to my hometown at home Louise and had not an opening an art opening
and had not an opening an art opening
and had not an opening an art opening and it went okay people saw the work
and it went okay people saw the work
and it went okay people saw the work they were polite but it didn’t quite
they were polite but it didn’t quite
they were polite but it didn’t quite have that irreverent sense of fun and
have that irreverent sense of fun and
have that irreverent sense of fun and celebration that I grew up with and knew
celebration that I grew up with and knew
celebration that I grew up with and knew so well so with the help of Jamie and
so well so with the help of Jamie and
so well so with the help of Jamie and Moses and many other artists I decided
Moses and many other artists I decided
Moses and many other artists I decided to throw a Louisiana style oil spell
to throw a Louisiana style oil spell
to throw a Louisiana style oil spell party there was an oil spill queen who
party there was an oil spill queen who
party there was an oil spill queen who was a representative of the oil industry
was a representative of the oil industry
was a representative of the oil industry lording over us telling us what to do
lording over us telling us what to do
lording over us telling us what to do she’s being scowled upon by siren swerve
she’s being scowled upon by siren swerve
she’s being scowled upon by siren swerve the mermaid who told kid-friendly
the mermaid who told kid-friendly
the mermaid who told kid-friendly stories of her and her mermaid friends
stories of her and her mermaid friends
stories of her and her mermaid friends escaping from the dark mysterious
escaping from the dark mysterious
escaping from the dark mysterious substance there was power an event Cajun
substance there was power an event Cajun
substance there was power an event Cajun humorist and satirist it’s really out of
humorist and satirist it’s really out of
humorist and satirist it’s really out of season but I’d like to play one of my
season but I’d like to play one of my
season but I’d like to play one of my favorite excerpts from one of his songs
favorite excerpts from one of his songs
favorite excerpts from one of his songs that doesn’t deal with the oil spill but
that doesn’t deal with the oil spill but
that doesn’t deal with the oil spill but hurricanes close enough you better stock
hurricanes close enough you better stock
hurricanes close enough you better stock up and get some supplies
up and get some supplies
up and get some supplies the levee just broke now the waters real
the levee just broke now the waters real
the levee just broke now the waters real high a hurricane is coming to nine
hurricane is coming to that sense of
hurricane is coming to that sense of irreverent fun and celebration was
irreverent fun and celebration was
irreverent fun and celebration was continued when with spill mo a physical
continued when with spill mo a physical
continued when with spill mo a physical manifestation of the oil spill kids and
manifestation of the oil spill kids and
manifestation of the oil spill kids and adults alike got to beat him with a
adults alike got to beat him with a
adults alike got to beat him with a stick
residents were encouraged to write
residents were encouraged to write letters to their future home what did
letters to their future home what did
letters to their future home what did what did they want to tell people about
what did they want to tell people about
what did they want to tell people about the environment about a healthy place to
the environment about a healthy place to
the environment about a healthy place to live and then Jamie who I mentioned
live and then Jamie who I mentioned
live and then Jamie who I mentioned earlier is in the middle feature in the
earlier is in the middle feature in the
earlier is in the middle feature in the middle she finished off the event with a
middle she finished off the event with a
middle she finished off the event with a friendship dance a symbol of tribal
friendship dance a symbol of tribal
friendship dance a symbol of tribal unity that she extended to us it made me
unity that she extended to us it made me
unity that she extended to us it made me really happy that I had to be got to be
really happy that I had to be got to be
really happy that I had to be got to be a small part of organizing something
a small part of organizing something
a small part of organizing something that Louisianans do Louisianians do so
that Louisianans do Louisianians do so
that Louisianans do Louisianians do so well which is to take a difficult
well which is to take a difficult
well which is to take a difficult situation and turn it into a party in
situation and turn it into a party in
situation and turn it into a party in fact people there were from all
fact people there were from all
fact people there were from all different backgrounds and political
different backgrounds and political
different backgrounds and political political persuasions but we were all
political persuasions but we were all
political persuasions but we were all united under the banner of clean water
united under the banner of clean water
united under the banner of clean water and the love of the Arts and then I came
and the love of the Arts and then I came
and the love of the Arts and then I came back to my home in Brooklyn I want to
back to my home in Brooklyn I want to
back to my home in Brooklyn I want to see if this type of celebration could
see if this type of celebration could
see if this type of celebration could work here too and unfortunately I got
work here too and unfortunately I got
work here too and unfortunately I got the opportunity my wife and I were
the opportunity my wife and I were
the opportunity my wife and I were evicted last year and because the
evicted last year and because the
evicted last year and because the landlord wanted to charge seven or eight
landlord wanted to charge seven or eight
landlord wanted to charge seven or eight times the amount of money that’s an
times the amount of money that’s an
times the amount of money that’s an actual figure so while we fought it it
actual figure so while we fought it it
actual figure so while we fought it it became clear at some point that it we
became clear at some point that it we
became clear at some point that it we weren’t going to win and we decided to
weren’t going to win and we decided to
weren’t going to win and we decided to throw an eviction party
throw an eviction party
throw an eviction party complete with games gumbo and live music
complete with games gumbo and live music
complete with games gumbo and live music a few weeks later I got to take part in
a few weeks later I got to take part in
a few weeks later I got to take part in a Louisiana style second line or jazz
a Louisiana style second line or jazz
a Louisiana style second line or jazz funeral for the death of affordable
funeral for the death of affordable
funeral for the death of affordable housing in Brooklyn that’s me playing
housing in Brooklyn that’s me playing
housing in Brooklyn that’s me playing trumpet down Atlantic Avenue um so what
trumpet down Atlantic Avenue um so what
trumpet down Atlantic Avenue um so what now in this political climate can the
now in this political climate can the
now in this political climate can the act of celebration become an act of
act of celebration become an act of
act of celebration become an act of resistance it seems like now more than
resistance it seems like now more than
resistance it seems like now more than ever this is needed and I’m not
ever this is needed and I’m not
ever this is needed and I’m not suggesting that we gloss over trauma
suggesting that we gloss over trauma
suggesting that we gloss over trauma that needs to be processed or not to be
that needs to be processed or not to be
that needs to be processed or not to be God forcefully against the injustice
God forcefully against the injustice
God forcefully against the injustice –is that are currently going on but my
–is that are currently going on but my
–is that are currently going on but my thinking is and taking a cue from
thinking is and taking a cue from
thinking is and taking a cue from Louisiana why not make it funny fun can
Louisiana why not make it funny fun can
Louisiana why not make it funny fun can make struggle sustainable celebration
make struggle sustainable celebration
make struggle sustainable celebration can interrupt the parts of our brain
can interrupt the parts of our brain
can interrupt the parts of our brain that are in pain and open the doors for
that are in pain and open the doors for
that are in pain and open the doors for healing
healing
healing I believe the communities with the
I believe the communities with the
I believe the communities with the resources they currently have can become
resources they currently have can become
resources they currently have can become powerful agents for change and that
powerful agents for change and that
powerful agents for change and that celebration can open up the doors for
celebration can open up the doors for
celebration can open up the doors for human connection and lead us away from
human connection and lead us away from
human connection and lead us away from fear these creative collaborative
fear these creative collaborative
fear these creative collaborative communities will be happier healthier
communities will be happier healthier
communities will be happier healthier and in better shape to affect their
and in better shape to affect their
and in better shape to affect their change if art can be made with tar and
change if art can be made with tar and
change if art can be made with tar and residents of Louisiana can have fun with
residents of Louisiana can have fun with
residents of Louisiana can have fun with death hurricanes and oil spills what
death hurricanes and oil spills what
death hurricanes and oil spills what could we have fun with climate change
could we have fun with climate change
could we have fun with climate change racism sexism corrupt presidential
racism sexism corrupt presidential
racism sexism corrupt presidential administrations
what if we were to add this tool to our
what if we were to add this tool to our toolkit
toolkit
toolkit what could we accomplish how could we
what could we accomplish how could we
what could we accomplish how could we turn our harms into harmonies thank you
turn our harms into harmonies thank you
turn our harms into harmonies thank you [Applause]
”
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