We Will Rise Again George Rodrigue

Post-obit Hurricane Katrina in 2005, like everyone on the Gulf Declension, our lives were in turmoil. In addition to the logistics of basic needs such equally shelter, phone service and, virtually of import, tracking downward friends and loved ones, there was a business organisation and a staff, several of whom lost everything they owned, to consider.

Although the gallery was undamaged, information technology would be months before it regained basic business organisation necessities such as electricity, plumbing, phone service, mail and fedex commitment, an available staff and, needless to say, customers.

This was something people exterior of the area could not understand:

Only the French Quarter didn't flood! Why aren't you open? Why isn't George painting?*

As I described in our post-Katrina story in an earlier essay, we were the lucky ones. Our home was damaged but far from destroyed, and our business concern, we knew, would open again.

Still, there were hiccups. Our warehouse was basically a total loss. And although we saved about of the artwork, nosotros lost millions of dollars in silkscreen prints, in some cases unabridged editions wiped out. Furthermore the structure was no longer feasible as a place to business firm art. Before George could address returning to his easel (which meant painting in his son's Tv set room in Lafayette), we needed a new domicile for our inventory and archives. And nosotros needed information technology fast, because Hurricane Rita was on its way.

Within 2 weeks we moved a career'due south worth of artwork from a aging warehouse in New Orleans to a new space in Lafayette, Louisiana. Nosotros found a temporary gallery location (also in Lafayette), bundled housing for our staff, and put everyone back to piece of work. And by the end of September, George Rodrigue was committed to a relief print.

We Will Rise Over again originated, oddly enough, from an earlier tragedy, September 11, 2001. On that horrible day George painted God Bless America, surprising anybody, including himself, when the ane thousand prints raised $500,000 for the American Red Cross in just a few weeks. (For the image and story, visit here).

We discussed how much more than money we could have raised had we non express the edition!

Like so many people after Katrina, we were devastated for our city, for the loss of lives, neighborhoods, and communities, for the suffering of thousands, and we felt drastic to aid.

Following the lesson of God Bless America, George produced an open up edition of Nosotros Will Rise Once more, limiting the offer instead past time rather than number, so that people felt an urgency not merely to assistance, merely also to help at present. Within a few months this 1 print raised nearly $700,000 for area relief, mostly for a special designated fund for the southeast Louisiana Chapter of the American Ruddy Cross simply also afterward, combined with half-dozen more prints (initially called 'Blue Dog Relief' and now the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts), for numerous humanitarian, educational activity, and arts organizations, totaling more than $one.5 million for Gulf Coast causes, and more than $two.five one thousand thousand in all (details in my next postal service).

In addition, creating a impress for Katrina relief was far different for George than creating a print for 9/xi, because he was personally affected. He faced this tragedy in his own backyard, suffering along with the rest of his honey state and the Gulf Coast, and he struggled to express these emotions on his canvas.

Once he formed the concept (detailed below), he faced the challenge of effectively producing a silkscreen without access to his studio, supplies or printer. In add-on, his initial attempts at painting the water resulted in a marble-type effect, something he rejected even as he tried painting it numerous times.

In the end he photographed the water in a friend'south pond pool, printed the image on a large sail, and so painted the flag and dog on top.

Rather than describe the work whatever further, I reproduce here George'south ain words, written belatedly September 2005:

"Those of the states from south Louisiana grew up with the aftermaths of hurricanes Audrey, Betsy, Camille … and now Katrina. As in times before, "We will rise again." Tears and rising water threaten to drown us. But don't be deceived. The land may exist under water, but the spirit of New Orleans and the civilisation of Louisiana agree their heads high.

We Will Rise Again shows the American flag covered with water. The blue dog is partly submerged, and its optics, normally yellow, are ruby with a cleaved heart. Like a ship'southward SOS, the carmine cross on the dog'due south chest calls out for aid.

Katrina hit me personally at footing goose egg.My immediate thought was for the rubber of people I know, followed past the stupor of seeing helicopters and boats alongside familiar street signs, equally rescuers assisted people from rooftops and attics.For the second time in this young twenty-kickoff century I sat at my easel weighted past personal sorrow and my want to help, this time as well reflecting on the devastation of my city and the suffering of my neighbors.

New Orleans has been home to my gallery and studio for sixteen years; information technology is where the Bluish Dog was born. My married woman is a third generation New Orleanian, and the Large Piece of cake remains the "large city" to my Cajun hometown of New Iberia. Wendy and I join thousands of New Orleans residents in our pledge to become HOME, to rebuild our city, and to pay tribute to those who lost their lives with a delivery to care for our citizens, encompass our culture, and make the good times coil … again" – Thou.R.

Finally, George and I want to give thanks the thousands of you who purchased We Will Rise Again and the other prints from Blue Dog Relief, as well as the many publications, websites, and other media that promoted our efforts. You helped a community rebuild; you contributed to the truth in the statement,

"New Orleans is dorsum and amend than always."

That said, few would describe our city as perfect, and there are certainly those however struggling with rebuilding, with insurance claims, and fifty-fifty trying to return home. These days, in my opinion, the best style to assistance New Orleans is past visiting the city and having a great fourth dimension. You'll feed our economy, ensure our jobs, and stroke the pride of one of the most unique, diverse, and downright gratifying cultures in America.

Wendy

*Or the opposite: Ane day in the spring of 2006 non long after we re-opened, I happened to answer the telephone when a woman called the gallery and asked if we were all the same under water … as though I were tending to business concern while floating on a raft (I remember thinking).

Other than Bluish Dog Relief, it was many months before George returned to his easel. To run across these mail service-Katrina paintings, visit "Blue Dog: The Dark Period"

For our personal story following Katrina, run into the post "For New Orleans"

For a few comments about the upcoming fifth anniversary of the storm, run into last calendar week'south mail service, "A Sentimental Mood"

Coming this Saturday: "Blue Dog Relief"

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Source: https://legacyarttour.org/2010/08/23/we-will-rise-again/

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