NEW ORLEANS: 2002 Memories and Now

Because my son and daughter-in-law, Nick and Leanne, were living in New Orleans in 2002, I decided to take This Dirt Museum on the road. With their help, I connected to delightful people, hospitality, and an introduction to the city's delightful  enthusiasm for the unexpected.

Ever since beginning this blog, I've wanted to express my concern about the present and future of New Orleans and the Guf Coast.  Up to now  the website link to Common Ground Collective has been a stand-in for my wish to DO SOMETHING useful.  That's a feeling shared by all Americans of good will.  We wish for a more personal connection--after we've sent money for relief efforts, books to the New Orleans library.

Is this urge too self-serving?  It certainly is the right instinct when we see that our government's response is no-response.  So much could have been different if the feds had created massive programs along the lines of the 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps to clean up and re-build.  Though this elderblogger is not able to join the thousands of college students and medical professionals running a clinic who have volunteered at the Common Ground site, I hope that writing about the area reminds you to do what you can.  Send money, if possible, encourage young people to participate in hands-on relief efforts.

In my "Favorites" file, I keep the link to The Times Picayune, New Orleans' daily paper.  The image at the top of this page is the best piece ever written about my life with worms. It appeared April 12, 2002, as an alert about my many performances at Kingsley House, Crescent City Farmers Market, Tulane University, and the Botanical Garden.  (I was younger then.)  Arranging red wigglers to spell "Compost" was inspired. A readable copy is on the wall of my current installation at Knitty City.

Sadly, the Times Pic, as its known, carries bad news this week.   FEMA is closing the facility that housed up to 40,000 volunteers who have been giving their time and energy to re-building efforts.  What can we do?  Write our congressmen/women, lobby those running for national office.

Wanting to end this post with some upbeat nostalgia, I offer a view of one of the objects New Orleanians particularly enjoyed.  Before I plunged into kitchen composting, my art form was neckpieces crafted from weathered shells, beads, hardware.  Once I discovered that wet compost could be handled like clay, would dry very hard, I had an exotic new medium--vermicompost, a/k/a, transformed garbage, to use as beads. 

Compost Necklace.  Components, starting from bottom:  Manhattan compost (center square bead, note white eggshell), carved bone beads,  flattened bottle caps, Mexican compost (round and small square beads), Italian glass beads, Jute cord, copper clasp.                                                                              

"It is just not natural to speak of New Orleans in the past tense. There is an element about it that is timeless, that is always the present. The past in New Orleans cohabits with the present to an extent not even approximated in any other North American city." -- Tom Piazza, Why New Orleans Matters, 2005                                                                                                                              

Comments

[Njoya Angrum/The Harlem Knitting Circle]

It was great to see that you have a link to Common Ground in New Orleans! Their work is heroic and they must be supported! The struggle continues,especially since the US government has turned their back on the survivors and is just focused on stealing land! The Harlem Knitting Circle is sending their blankets to the children of the survivors and will be sending other supplies too! Here is my letter to Common Ground Women's Center & Common Ground Medical Center:
Hello Common Ground Health Clinic and Women's Shelter in Algiers, New Orleans!
I've always been told that "things will be done not on my schedule, but on God's schedule" and again that saying is held up as a lesson for me today!
The Harlem Knitting Circle, like many other organizations around the globe wanted to, in some small way, help the community of New Orleans. I'm sure those that those that could send money did that, but not all of us have the capability or resources to do so, but it doesn't mean we couldn't help.
As the founder of The Harlem Knitting Circle, and my father's side of the family is from Louisiana, I knew I had to do my part.
I remain shocked and saddened by the second onslaught and devastation that the survivors that came to NYC had to deal with..., and sadly are still going through.
The items that my group made were ready to be sent in Dec'05, but after all the up and downs, and meetings, and introductions, and people telling me "it's wonderful what you did" and then disappearing or not returning calls or emails, I knew I just wanted to send the items directly into the heart of New Orleans!
I teach 2nd grade and children are always my "first line of defense."
These blankets that are being sent are for the children who survived Katrina and all the aftermath-natural and man-made.
I have been very vocal about the "glass ceiling" I've run into while trying to help my brothers and sisters! I represent not the elite, but those that know they can't "write a check" or "snap their fingers and build a house," but realize they can "help with their humanity."
No..., I personally couldn't write a check either, but oh..., can I organize!
And I am of the opinion that a check can bounce, money will dry up, and governments will ask for it back, but the well for humanity is bottomless!
I hope that these blankets that I will start sending out on this Memorial Day Weekend will bring comfort to the children of New Orleans. We must never forget this devastation of human life and use our memories to build anew!
It is with these blankets that they are forever embraced and wrapped in our prayers and love!
Sincerely,
Njoya Angrum-
Founder/Director of "The Harlem Knitting Circle"
&
The Knitters and Crocheters of "The Harlem Knitting Circle" and CO.