be okay .” With a glass of iced tea in one hand and a ham sandwich in the other , I watched my cousins come and go from baseball games and swimming lessons . I watched the hot days of summer pass . And I realized I did like these changes , and I wasn ’ t missing a thing , except maybe extra mayo on my ham sandwich .
Change is good , change is fun , and most importantly , change is a necessary part of being alive . As we stayed home in Quarantine , and slowly came out of our Covid stupor , we all noticed that our beloved French Quarter had experienced some really interesting changes , as well as some really impressive consistencies . Restaurants closed , restaurants opened , galleries closed , galleries moved to new addresses , the faces we saw everyday changed and our routines changed , in many ways for the better .
Antieau Gallery said so long to the 900 block of Royal Street when it relocated two block up to 719 Royal Street , tucked at the feet of “ Touchdown Jesus ”. As the dream child of artist Chris Roberts- Antieau , her gallery is a delightful departure from reality from the moment you step through the door . Allowing you to take a break from the real world while still celebrating the important things in our lives , her signature embroidery and fabric appliques have taken a fresh , new turn . My Grandma ’ s Parakeet gives us a glimpse into something that we can all identify with : memories of grandmothers that not only showed us the light in hard times , but also were the light in hard times . The piece presents as a collage at first with fabric and embroidery taking a backseat to the whimsical composition and vibrant colors . The parakeet barely fits in its cage , with its tail extended beyond the boundaries of the enclosure . Yet there ’ s no sense of a trapped bird , simply an empowered free spirit choosing to sit in that cage knowing it can fly away whenever it feels the wind hit its wings .
Another piece , one I have to say I adore more than the first , is The Best Kind of Love . In it , a human hand is just coming into the frame , to pet the dog that makes up the vast majority of the composition . In the canine ’ s face we sense warmth and humor , its little eyes squinting with excitement , and we are left to wonder whose love is being depicted . Is it the love he shows his owner , or is it the love being extended by the delicate and loving touch of the hand ? Figuring it out is irrelevant , the creation exudes love , and will surely plaster a smile across your face . Check out the entire gallery ’ s collection at the brand-new location at 719 Royal Street .
www . FrenchQuarterly . com
While some things changed , some things thankfully stayed the same , anchoring us to our regular lives and giving us a sense of normalcy . Sutton Galleries remains solid in place at 519 Royal Street . With 100 years in the business , this family-owned gallery and its affiliates , have become known for their dynamic textural art and brightly decorated windows . Their celebrated artists include Isabelle Dupuy , Juan Medina , and Antonio Torres , alongside Mario Jung and his line of single standing trees rich in texture against a backdrop of the smooth , clean countryside . His colors are pure and decadent , and the trees themselves are coming off of the canvas , literally , with texture so impressive , it commands you to reach out and touch it .
Galerie Rue Toulouse at 509 Royal Street continues her reign as Galerie Rue Royale ’ s smaller but equally impressive little sister . French Art Network ’ s little sister gallery . However , what is new at this show space , is the company ’ s quest to represent some of the world ’ s most impressive female artists coming into their prime . It says # girlpower with a capitol #. Figurative artist Esther Barend has been with the gallery for years now , however , right now , you can see the largest piece she has ever created for the United States . The piece titled Multicolored Angel stands as a testament to the dedication this gallery is placing on bringing the talents of women artists to the forefront of the new and modern art world . Barend paints beautiful women with layers of opulent textures , smooth corners and edges , and a grasp of realism not too often seen in an artist who isn ’ t over-blending or heavy handed with her paint .
Antieau Gallery
Holiday 2021 | 19