Katrina Convoy

New Orleans was my home for over 10 years. A week after the Hurricane Katrina, I returned for a month as a volunteer, trying to help victims collect their recovery checks, find housing and other needed services. Hearing their stories affected me deeply. This seven float convoy is my post-Katrina meditation on what happened and what was woefully lacking in the rescue effort. It was important to use “found” materials as much as possible, respecting the resourcefulness of survivors.

January 2006

Gator: Alligators are active and aggressive members of the Louisiana swamps. The breaking levees resulting in flooding waters consumed and destroyed houses and lives. The “Gator” seemed the most appropriate leading image for the Convoy.

Crown-Dome: The Super Dome was the place where the poorest people were taken, a crowded and inhospitable refuge. Putting the crown of Mardi Gras Kings on the Super Dome expresses the rage I felt toward the frivolity of privilege. The babies (which are hidden in “King Cakes” enjoyed during the weeks before Lent) when painted, seemed the perfect symbol for the Super Dome victims.

Rescue Boats: Heroic rescues and life savings were carried out by many individuals who came from all over the country. If there had been more boats…

Supplies Arriving: Tea bags are containers of aromatic herbs that are often enjoyed while relaxing and socializing. Here they came to symbolize the needed supplies that didn’t come soon enough.

Housing: The flood destroyed many homes in a city known for its architecture. It seemed important to bring in strings of shotgun houses (a hallmark of New Orleans) as fast as possible.

Saving Mama’s Treasures: While many people struggled to stay alive, others worried about their family china and heirlooms.

Chicken or Egg: At the end, all the unanswered questions…Survivors ask, “How do we rebuild our neighborhood if there’s no electricity, water, and sewer line?”  The City argues, “Why put electricity, water and sewer lines into areas where no one lives?  …And so what comes first? How do you begin?