“Holding On to Other Places,” tells stories of how residents of South Louisiana stay committed to important places in their lives that they cannot visit very often.
Grand opening of the Neighborhood Story Project on the corner of North Miro and Lapeyrouse Street with the John McDonogh Senior High Marching Band in 2006.
Grand opening of the Neighborhood Story Project on the corner of North Miro and Lapeyrouse Street with the John McDonogh Senior High Marching Band in 2006.
Grand opening of the Neighborhood Story Project on the corner of North Miro and Lapeyrouse Street with the John McDonogh Senior High Marching Band in 2006.
Le Kèr Creole: Creole Compositions and Stories from Louisiana
A Collaborative Ethnography by Bruce Sunpie Barnes & Rachel Breunlin
with Original and Traditional Songs by Bruce Sunpie Barnes & Leroy Etienne
and Artwork by Francis X. Pavy
L'Union Creole performing at the Neighborhood Story Project with the San Malo altar on display as part of Francis X. Pavy's exhibit "In the Company of San Malo."
In 2012, developed a long-term collaborative ethnography on Creole language and music with a group of musicians from New Orleans and southwest Louisiana. One of the most endangered languages in the world, its story is deeply connected to the history and culture of Louisiana. Produced with L'Union Creole, led by Bruce Sunpie Barnes and Leroy Etienne, and Matt Hampsey at the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park, we have produced a wide range of programs, exhibits, concerts, as well as a book & CD that connects the language and musical genres of the regions to the broader Creole diaspora.
Inspired by the long lineage of tributes to Louisiana maroon leader Juan San Malo, we have produced a traveling altar, and exhibit with Francis X. Pavy now on display at the Louisiana State Museum's Cabildo to honor his memory in music, stories, artifacts, photographs, and art.
Preview of the Book
Purchase the Book & CD
Prelisten to Songs
Artwork by Francis X. Pavy from Le Kèr Creole.
Le Kér Creole: Runaway Slaves, Music, and Memory in Louisiana on display at the Louisiana State Museum's Arsenal #1 at the Cabildo on Jackson Square will be on display through Labor Day 2020. In the foreground of this image is a slave collar with bells from the museum's permanent collection. Photograph by Bruce Sunpie Barnes.
San Malo's altar on display at Le Kér Creole: Runaway Slaves, Music, and Memory in Louisiana at the Louisiana State Museum's Arsenal #1 at the Cabildo on Jackson Square includes wood carvings by artist Charles Gillam of the Algiers Folk Art Zone. Photograph by Bruce Sunpie Barnes.