Presbytere has designs on Carnival

• By CYNTHIA V. CAMPBELL
• Travel editor
• Published: Aug 17, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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Exploding with color, feathers and faux jewels, Mardi Gras costumes filling New Orleans ballrooms and floats during carnival season are visions of fantasies past and present. A new exhibition at the Louisiana State Museum — Presbytere explores those visions and how costumes become reality.

The exhibition, Continuing the Legacy: Carnival Costume Design, 1946-2008, presents nearly 100 original costume designs and some costumes from the museum’s vast collection. Featured are the works of New Orleans designers Olga Peters, Lucia and Philip Liuzza, Kathryn Dyer, Larry Youngblood, San Nicholas, Anthony and Shirley Colombo and Susu Kearney.

The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw the rise of professional costume designers in New Orleans. Combining their skills with arcane facts of history and myth, they created lavish costumes. Carnival balls and parades were largely the domain of the privileged class until just before World War II. After the war, Carnival returned and a booming economy led to a new crop of krewes (organizations) that drew members from varying walks of life. Designers emerged to carry on established traditions and strike out in new directions. As the number of Carnival krewes and their membership grew, so did the physical size of the costumes and their headpieces.

“The individual costume designs created by these talented artists are works of art unto themselves,” said Wayne Phillips, the museum’s curator of costumes and textiles. “This exhibition features two-dimensional designs on paper with swatches attached.”
The costume designs are executed in watercolor and often include numerous details. Five costumes are on display with their original design.”

Phillips said, “We have a vast collection of original costume designs and original costumes, but only a small number of costumes for which we have the original designs.”

Two of the featured costumes in the exhibit were worn by kings of the Krewe of Bacchus. “One was worn by Harry Connick Jr. when he was king during Bacchus’ silver anniversary. It is all in silver,” said Phillips. “The other, is the costume worn by actor Dennis Quaid. He was a very jovial king,” said Phillips.

The exhibition is the newly expanded Changing Gallery on the second floor of the Presbytere. The show includes a panel display on each artist’s history and work, as well as a video with interviews on each artist. Continuing the Legacy: Carnival Costume Design, 1946-2008 will be on extended view for at least a year.

The Presbytere, 751 Chartres St. at Jackson Square, is one of five properties in the French Quarter including the Cabildo, 1850 House, Old U.S. Mint and Madame John’s Legacy. Other sites include Baton Rouge, Patterson, Natchitoches and Thibodaux. Call (800) 568-6968.

N.O. tourism expands
The New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau is expanding tourism outreach programs by opening regional offices in Atlanta and St. Louis and adding new members to its sales force team in New Orleans and Washington, D.C.

LaVerne Brown, formerly with Delta Air Lines, will serve as manager of the Atlanta Office, (770) 436-9661. Jennifer McDonald, formerly with Arnaud’s and J.W. Marriott, will cover accounts in Kansas and Missouri in her role as sales manager of the St. Louis office (504) 874-1155.

Helen Misfin, formerly with Destination DC, will serve as the NOCVB’s new eastern regional sales manager, (202) 269-2020. Overseeing regional offices, Stephanie Turner is the new director of business development based at the CVB office in New Orleans, (504) 566-5031.

Shreveport happenings
Pick your choice of entertainment and plan an outing to Shreveport. As August draws to a close the town will offer plenty of action.
The James Burton International Guitar Festival featuring Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame member and Shreveport native James Burton returns Aug. 21-24. The event will feature a variety of music styles and fun for the entire family.

Among those appearing with Burton in the historic Municipal Auditorium  at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, will be Emmylou Harris, Delbert McClinton, Jim Messina, Phil Chen, Lenny LeBlanc, Mark Farner, Danny Seraphine, Charlie McCoy and others. Other events include Party in the Red River District (under the Texas Street Bridge) from 6 p.m. to midnight Friday, Aug. 22, and the Guitars ’n’ Glory concert at 2 p.m. Sunday  in the Municipal Auditorium with local praise and worship bands. For a schedule and ticket info, visit http://www.jamesburtonmusic.com.