My Side of Town: New works of Pre-Katrina New Orleans from Bruce Davenport, Jr.

Native New Orleanian, Bruce Davenport, Jr. has received critical acclaim for his images of the infamous New Orleans marching bands. Paying strict attention to the cultural activities of the community, Bruce Davenport, Jr. was profoundly influenced by the sights and sounds that surrounded him in the Lafitte Projects and throughout the city of New Orleans. Perhaps the most significant influence, the sounds and appearance of the middle and high school marching bands would eventually serve as a key theme in the art of Bruce Davenport, Jr. With no formal training, Mr. Davenport has relied on memory to guide his post-Katrina works of the Black community in New Orleans. While receiving praise for his marching bands, in this exhibit, Bruce explores another side of life in New Orleans. He delves deeper into his memory of what the African American experience in New Orleans looked like pre-Katrina. He tells stories of preachers and sinners, Mardi Gras Indians and Xavier Prep students, secondlines and mass. This exhibit expresses a deep love for memories shared by many, memories that took place on “My Side of Town.”