George Rodrigue We Will Rise Again George Rodrigue

Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, similar everyone on the Gulf Coast, our lives were in turmoil. In addition to the logistics of basic needs such every bit shelter, phone service and, about important, tracking down friends and loved ones, in that location was a business organisation and a staff, several of whom lost everything they endemic, to consider.

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

This was something people exterior of the area could non understand:

But the French Quarter didn't flood! Why aren't you lot 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 simply far from destroyed, and our business, nosotros knew, would open again.

Still, there were hiccups. Our warehouse was basically a total loss. And although we saved most of the artwork, we lost millions of dollars in silkscreen prints, in some cases entire editions wiped out. Furthermore the structure was no longer viable as a place to house art. Earlier George could address returning to his easel (which meant painting in his son's Tv room in Lafayette), nosotros needed a new home for our inventory and archives. And nosotros needed it fast, because Hurricane Rita was on its mode.

Inside two weeks we moved a career's worth of artwork from a crumbling warehouse in New Orleans to a new infinite in Lafayette, Louisiana. We found a temporary gallery location (also in Lafayette), arranged housing for our staff, and put everyone dorsum to work. And by the terminate of September, George Rodrigue was committed to a relief print.

Nosotros Volition Ascension Again originated, oddly enough, from an before tragedy, September 11, 2001. On that horrible twenty-four hour period George painted God Bless America, surprising everyone, including himself, when the one thousand prints raised $500,000 for the American Scarlet Cantankerous in merely a few weeks. (For the paradigm and story, visit here).

We discussed how much more money nosotros could have raised had nosotros not limited the edition!

Like and then many people afterwards Katrina, nosotros were devastated for our metropolis, for the loss of lives, neighborhoods, and communities, for the suffering of thousands, and we felt desperate to help.

Following the lesson of God Bless America, George produced an open edition of We Will Rise Again, limiting the offer instead by time rather than number, so that people felt an urgency non just to aid, merely also to aid now. Within a few months this one impress raised nearly $700,000 for area relief, mostly for a special designated fund for the southeast Louisiana Affiliate of the American Ruby-red Cross but also afterwards, combined with six more than prints (initially called 'Bluish Dog Relief' and at present the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts), for numerous humanitarian, education, and arts organizations, totaling more than than $1.5 1000000 for Gulf Declension causes, and more than $2.5 million in all (details in my next post).

In add-on, creating a print for Katrina relief was far unlike for George than creating a impress for nine/11, considering he was personally affected. He faced this tragedy in his own backyard, suffering forth with the remainder of his dearest state and the Gulf Declension, and he struggled to express these emotions on his canvass.

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

In the end he photographed the water in a friend's swimming puddle, printed the image on a large canvas, and then painted the flag and dog on peak.

Rather than describe the piece of work whatsoever farther, I reproduce here George's own words, written late September 2005:

"Those of us from southward Louisiana grew up with the aftermaths of hurricanes Audrey, Betsy, Camille … and now Katrina. Every bit in times before, "We volition rise again." Tears and rising water threaten to drown us. Just don't be deceived. The state may exist under h2o, just the spirit of New Orleans and the civilisation of Louisiana concord their heads high.

We Will Rise Over again shows the American flag covered with h2o. The bluish domestic dog is partly submerged, and its optics, usually yellowish, are red with a broken heart. Like a ship's SOS, the red cross on the domestic dog's chest calls out for help.

Katrina hit me personally at ground zero.My immediate thought was for the prophylactic of people I know, followed by the daze of seeing helicopters and boats alongside familiar street signs, as rescuers assisted people from rooftops and attics.For the second time in this young twenty-first century I sat at my easel weighted by personal sorrow and my want to help, this fourth dimension also reflecting on the devastation of my city and the suffering of my neighbors.

New Orleans has been home to my gallery and studio for xvi years; it is where the Blue Dog was built-in. My married woman is a third generation New Orleanian, and the Big Easy remains the "big urban center" to my Cajun hometown of New Iberia. Wendy and I bring together thousands of New Orleans residents in our pledge to go HOME, to rebuild our city, and to pay tribute to those who lost their lives with a commitment to care for our citizens, embrace our civilization, and brand the good times roll … once again" – G.R.

Finally, George and I want to thank the thousands of you who purchased We Will Rising Over again and the other prints from Blue Canis familiaris Relief, also as the many publications, websites, and other media that promoted our efforts. Y'all helped a community rebuild; yous contributed to the truth in the statement,

"New Orleans is back and meliorate than ever."

That said, few would describe our metropolis as perfect, and there are certainly those nevertheless struggling with rebuilding, with insurance claims, and even trying to return home. These days, in my opinion, the best way to help New Orleans is by visiting the city and having a nifty time. You lot'll feed our economic system, ensure our jobs, and stroke the pride of one of the most unique, various, and downright gratifying cultures in America.

Wendy

*Or the contrary: One day in the spring of 2006 not long afterward we re-opened, I happened to respond the telephone when a adult female called the gallery and asked if we were still under water … as though I were disposed to business while floating on a raft (I remember thinking).

Other than Blueish Canis familiaris Relief, it was many months earlier George returned to his easel. To see these post-Katrina paintings, visit "Bluish Dog: The Dark Period"

For our personal story following Katrina, run across the postal service "For New Orleans"

For a few comments well-nigh the upcoming 5th anniversary of the storm, run into last calendar week's mail, "A Sentimental Mood"

Coming this Saturday: "Blue Domestic dog Relief"

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

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