Bruce Davenport Jr. to be included in Upcoming Documentary

above: "History of A Legend, Part 1" 3rd Series, September 2008. Pen and ink of paper - 22 x 28 inches. Courtesy of the artist and AMMO.

Bruce Davenport will be interviewing and including images of his works in the upcoming film, "The Whole Gritty City", by Richard Barber (Director, Producer, and Editor) and Andre Lambertson (Director of Photography and Co-Producer).

“THE WHOLE GRITTY CITY”

ONE BAND, ONE MARDI GRAS AND A GROUP OF CHILDREN

STRUGGLING TO STAY ALIVE

SYNOPSIS:

“The Whole Gritty City” is a story about survival – about kids and a group of musical mentors who are waging a war against the violent legacy of the streets. The story centers on one very special New Orleans band over the course of two years. 11-year-old Bear, 12-year-old Jazz, and identical twins Dariun and Darius, along with the band’s founder Derrick Tabb are the soldiers waging this war. Their weapons: the musical instruments these kids are just learning to play. In New Orleans, the birthplace of Jazz and America’s murder capital - the stakes are life and death.

For more information about "The Whole Gritty City", contact Richard Barber at 347-534-5570.

Highlights from the Portfolio Reviews

The best thing about being a curator is getting to look at SO MUCH AMAZING WORK, without having to worry about contractual obligations or any of the other BS that keeps an artist from sharing their work with others.

This week, we put out a request for portfolios to see what our Facebook members had to show us. I'd like to share some of my favorites, from artists that I have never heard from before.

The first image is a work on paper by Gulf Coast artist Nathanael Thayer Moss (www.nathanaelthayermoss.com). This piece, "Headpiece" 8.5 x 11 inches, is from his 2008 drawings. If you go all the way down to the bottom of the page, there are several of these that just made my heart want to explode. What I love is how they look like a combination of ceremonial masks, video games, and cross-stitching.

The next image is from a New York based artist named Charnan Lewis (www.charnanlewis.com). Lewis's piece, "Swiss Mountain" is made using recycled styrofoam balls (the ones that became all to familiar to those of us who once owned a bean bag chair) and paint.

I'm a big fan of work made by recycled objects, by breathing life back into things. It comes from a sense of primitivism, that some people, no matter if they have the means to purchase traditional materials or not, will make art out of anything. Those are the ones who remind us that inspiration is everywhere.

I'll have to finish this post later...Life is demanding my attention!

Review: Tony Fitzpatrick

by D. Eric Bookhardt.

http://www.insidenola.org/

Alpha Lubicz

Oh, what a find! Alpha Lubicz's collages are a charming delight!

Check the out online - http://www.ammoarts.com/artists/alpha_lubicz/index.html

Orly Cogan

Orly Cogan. "Wild Poppies". Embroidery on Fabric. Courtesy of the artist.

New works by Orly Cogan are coming soon to AMMO's inventory. Please let us know if you would like to be informed when they arrive.

See more of Cogan's fantastic embroidery, drawings, and collages on her website - www.orlycogan.com

Art Criticism Discussion Group

For all New Orleans Artists and Writers who want to build a stronger arts community: The next meeting of the art criticism discussion group will be Thursday, September 24 at 6:00 p.m. in the CAC cafe. If for any reason we are not able to meet there... (as happened in June), ask at the information desk for the alternate room. Please try to purchase a drink or snack to express our appreciation to the CAC for keeping the cafe open for us. Items to be discussed include the newly revamped website findartnola.com, decision on a name, setting up a meeting between artists and writers, and possible means of attracting and paying good critical writers. Representatives of a writers' group have been invited to attend. Meetings are respectful of your time and last one and a half hours (to 7:30). All members of the contemporary art community are welcome. Cynthia Scott, organizer.

Time:6:00PM Thursday, September 24th

Location:Contemporary Arts Center - 900 Camp Street

AMMO teams up with The Porch

A Mardi Gras Indian dances with neighborhood children during the Porch 7th Ward Cultural Festival.

For Immediate Release:

The directors of AMMO are thrilled to announce their partnership with The Porch 7th Ward Cultural Organization. As The Porch begins their very first workshop for adults, the Mardi Gras Indian Cooperative Workshop, AMMO's directors, Cedric Angeles and Mia Kaplan, will be joining them to assist with the presentation, marketing, and development of the workshop as an ongoing collective.

This October the Porch 7th Ward Cultural Organization is beginning a
Mardi Gras Indian Cooperative Workshop for individuals interested in
the traditional sewing and beading techniques of the Mardi Gras
Indians. the Porch is a community-based cultural organization that
seeks to promote and sustain cultures of the neighborhood, city and
region, and to foster exchange between cultural groups. The workshop
is free and open to all, and hopes to bring together as many different
Mardi Gras Indian styles and histories as possible. It will be held at
the Porch every Thursday evening from 7-9pm, October 1st through July
29th, and will culminate in an exhibition of the collective’s work in
October 2010 at Ammo Gallery in the French Quarter: a contemporary art
gallery that represents emerging to established artists and produces
other innovative projects.

The workshop will be led by “Coach”
Collins Anthony Lewis and Nicole W. Ramsey, and the Porch will supply
all materials. If you would like to participate and you are highly
creative and committed, please come by the Porch at 1941 Pauger
(corner of Urquhart) to fill out an application anytime between 9am
and 7pm from Monday, September 14th through Wednesday, September 23rd.
Participants’ children are welcome to come with them to the workshop.
Please call the Porch Program Coordinator with any questions at
914-714-8757.

visit The Porch online at http://www.theporch-7.com.