Art Is All We Need

Melinda Palacio

  

Panelists Stacey Balkun in flower dress, Maddie Stratton, Margie Perez (hidden), Christopher Romaguera, Francis Wong

Wednesday's panel, sponsored by One Book One New Orleans, featured four diverse artists, five if you count Clint Smith in asbsentia, whose book, Counting Descent, was meant to inform the panel. Counting Descent, an incredible book of poems, is this year's One Book One New Orleans read. If you don't know this poet, stop what you're doing and read one or more of his poems. The four panelists included painter and visual artist Francis Wong, aka the Asian Cajun, painter and sculptor Maddie Stratton, Singer and Songwriter Margie Perez, poet and writer Chris Romaguera, and moderator poet Stacey Balkun. 

One of the more common themes that kept circling back to the panelist was the question of how the creative process is so unique to each individual person. Maddie discussed the need to create in her studio. Sure she allowed herself access to her sketchbook and could carry that to different places, but when it came time to create her masterpiece, she needed to be in the space of her studio, with access to all of her tools, especially her blank canvas. She enjoyed the element of surprise a blank canvas gave her.

Whereas Francis, the Asian Cajun, sometimes prefers a muddied canvas. One of his favorite mediums was water damaged paper or canvas that he salvaged post Katrina. As an undergrad artist, he scavenged items and repurposed artifacts and materials from derelict houses that would have gone to the landfill. He found beauty in some of the water damaged paper that he found. Some of the items Francis scavenged  and turned to art were pieces of wood to paint on, as well as blueprints. He considered himself an "urban explorer." However, there are times when he prefers a blank slate, such as when he is doing his "rain paintings." He says he has to develop a relationship with the material first and have a dialogue and history with it. To get an idea of his range of art exploration, see his Instagram account: goodtimefrancis. 

Both artists shared their love for music playing in the background as they worked.

Personally, I cannot have music on while I work. The distraction is overwhelming for me. I have such a strong relationship with music. I find it difficult to concentrate on my own rhythm and story because I easily get caught up with a song's rhythm and story. This is why writing in coffee shops doesn't work for me. I end of observing and daydreaming rather than writing.

The panel took place at Peaches Record Shop, formerly a Woolworths. 

Something that all the panelists shared was how they replenished or fed their creative soul by delving into other forms of art. In other words, just as energy creates energy, art begets art, a concept that makes much sense to me. When I feel frustrated because a story or poem is not leading me to the last lines or words of the work, I try do something different. I'll take a walk and try to get outside my head.

Lately, I've returned to learning how to play the guitar. I am the shower singer's version of a guitar player and if it were possible, I would limit my guitar practice to the shower and spare Steve's musically attuned ears. I'm always impressed when poets are natural musicians, like panelist and poet Chris Romaguera. Chris wears a tiny silver four-hole harmonica around his wrist that I thought was a razor turned into a bracelet, but he played it for me and with the sampling of a few notes, I could tell he is a fine musician.

Speaking of musicians, the highlight of the panel was meeting New Orleans singer and song writer Margie Perez. She is a musician with a voice that cannot be boxed in. I first heard her four years ago at Cafe Istanbul. She channeled Grace Slick's "White Rabbit," in a rendition that blew the roof off the building. In addition to writing original songs, she has an amazing ability to cover songs and make them her own. She has one band dedicated to performing songs by Celia Cruz. I wasn't surprised when I learned that she also performs sets that cover songs by Madonna. She performs Blues, Pop, and Latin with a New Orleans funky touch, is the band leader of Muevelo, and performs with six other bands. It's no wonder she's hailed as one of the hardest working musicians in New Orleans by Offbeat Magazine. I enjoyed hearing about what motivated her work.

A happy fan moment with Margie Perez.

Margie mentioned she sometimes loses ideas in the great creative backburner. She told the story of visiting the homeland of her parents, Cuba, and being inspired to write a song. The lyrics and melody came to her so easily that she was she would remember it. However, when she returned to New Orleans that beautiful song sprung wings and flew away. A lesson to all creative people, keep pen and paper with you at all times.