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News • Louisiana • United States • 2012-03-01

Robert Tannen \"Art by Committee\" Murals Finding Permanent Homes Throughout New Orleans

On March 1st, the first of a series of unveilings will herald new homes for more than a dozen giant murals that hundreds of artists worked on during Robert Tannen\'s installation for Prospect.2 from October, 2011 through the end of January, 2012. The mural will be on view at the new home of the Louisiana Cultural Economy Foundation, (LCEF) at 1540 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA.

\"We are delighted to present the work of so many artists from Louisiana who worked on the canvas we will permanently display on a wall in our lobby. It will be on view from inside and out since it will face a giant picture window,\" said LCEF CEO, Aimee Smallwood.

Robert Tannen spread giant canvasses on all of the walls of a double shotgun, \"Art House on the Levee\" owned by he and his wife Jeanne Nathan on the Mississippi River levee in the historic Lower 9th Ward neighborhood of Holy Cross. He supplied paints and brushes, and invited all visitors to try their hand at painting on the canvasses. \"I wanted visitors to experience art making instead of just viewing art,\" said Tannen, a leading conceptual artist based in New Orleans who is known for his collaborative works with other artists.

\"While many of those who painted were artists, many who worked on the canvasses said they hadn\'t made art since they were children. Many also brought their children who they said really enjoyed making art. It was very inspiring to see so many people trying their hand with a brush,\" said Tannen.

Tannen encouraged visitors to work according to their own ideas and instincts, resulting in a colorful mélange of images on the canvasses. People painted images from their own ideas or ideas related to previous work on the canvasses. Some canvasses were done within a day...others over several days. Tannen removed murals as they became filled, putting up fresh canvass throughout the exhibit.

The installation was Tannen\'s contribution to the Prospect.2 biennial that took place between October, 2011 and January, 2012. A group exhibition of the canvasses was displayed in a central business district warehouse loaned by Susan Brennan, an organizer of Prospect.2. \"We were delighted to show the murals as a group. They were truly astonishing in their variety and the imagination shown by so many who worked on them. We were especially pleased that many New Orleanians offered to add to Tannen\'s donation of the murals by offering to make contributions to Prospect.2 to sponsor the murals as donations to public facilities,\" said Brennan.

Among those who sponsored the murals were Louellen Berger, Marcel Wisznia, and David Workman. More sponsors are invited to contribute to Prospect.2 on behalf of the murals being placed around the city.

Other locations where murals will go on view include John McDonogh High School, City Park Academy, MLK Academy, Bonnabel School in Metairie, and Ogden Museum of Southern Art. Other confirmations of donations are expected soon. Paint was donated by Helms Paint Company on Earhart Boulevard. Tannen picked up all other costs associated with the installation.

Prospect.2 Director Dan Cameron was thrilled to see the art works made as part of the biennial become a permanent part of the city\'s cultural landscape. \"One of the most gratifying parts of the biennial has been the addition of permanent works to the city\'s cultural assets. The biennial was designed to attract visitors to New Orleans to experience the city\'s unique cultural heritage as well as the work of contemporary artists from the region and around the world\", said Cameron. \"We hope art lovers world wide have come to better appreciate New Orleans as an important cultural destination and an going home for creative artists and the very kind of creative collaboration Tannen\'s installation spawned,\" said Cameron.

Tannen is still looking for homes for more murals and welcomes inquiries at 504.218.4807. He also hopes the idea of encouraging collaborative art works might be picked up by schools and other arts programs in the city.

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