This was the last day in New Orleans. We staid by our hotel in the French Quarter, then visited the Lower Ninth Ward in the afternoon.
After exploring the French quarter for the last couple days, we looked into the quaint cultural French quarter a little closer. For Julie’s class we continued the project from the day before which we were separated into teams to look at the facade of the apartments and businesses on certain streets. We went back to the same street and focused on the materials and details of the streetscape. We chose 3 blocks in a row and mapped out where outlets for water, sewage, drainage, electrical, and other street covers were.
I passed a small house on the street where there was a man putting on new gutters. After talking to him for a while about where we were from and what we were doing with our sketch books. He gave me a old nail, that he said was close to 100 years old from the house. It was a great souvenir and ‘found object’ (which is another project for Studio). The mapping of the streetscape is a project that will be continued when back in Ames. Many of us went out to lunch, some ate leftovers from the night before to save money; then connecting all back at the hotel to leave for the Lower Ninth Ward for the afternoon.
I passed a small house on the street where there was a man putting on new gutters. After talking to him for a while about where we were from and what we were doing with our sketch books. He gave me a old nail, that he said was close to 100 years old from the house. It was a great souvenir and ‘found object’ (which is another project for Studio). The mapping of the streetscape is a project that will be continued when back in Ames. Many of us went out to lunch, some ate leftovers from the night before to save money; then connecting all back at the hotel to leave for the Lower Ninth Ward for the afternoon.
We all packed up into the vans and made our way to the Lower 9th Ward, as many of you know the 9th Ward the area most heavily affected by hurricane Katrina, just 5 short years ago. Upon arrival we were greeted by Robert Green Sr., a Hurricane Katrina survivor. Robert Green shared his story of the heart ache and the experience for him during Katrina. Hearing just his story alone made many of us realize how many other stories there were from those dreadful times. Although Green had to deal with the loss of a granddaughter and his mother, and a whole structured community, he gladly shared his story. He not only shared his story but the story the community. Even 5 years later there is a lot of work still to be done in the Lower 9th Ward. Houses that survived Katrina and the levy break, still stand in the area but few are livable.
What Mr. Green really wanted us to understand was the hope that the community has for the future of the Lower 9th Ward. People that moved away from the area after the tragedy are starting to return. Green explained to us that there are many foundations that have helped many people back on their feet. Such as the “Make It Right Foundation" that have substantially helped those who lived in the Lower 9th Ward before Katrina, fund the building of a new home. 
The well known actor Brad Pitt has been an advocate for the "Make It Right Foundation". The Construction crews are busy all over this area, building multiple new homes, and demolishing the remnants of others. It stood out to me the most was the sense of community that this place seemed to still maintain after a horrific event. A Thanks to Mr. Robert Green Sr. for opening his home, and giving us a personal tour of the Lower 9th Ward.
-Morgan and Kaci
No comments:
Post a Comment