The Magic of Mardi Gras will be cast at the Historic City Hall Arts and Cultural Center starting Saturday, Jan. 7, until Saturday, March 18, with the collection “Mardi Gras Morning” by Lauren Marie Breaux.

The exhibition features 65 paintings, created with acrylic paint, stretched canvas, pencil and varnish, that vibrantly encapsulate up-close images of Fat Tuesday morning in New Orleans Neighborhoods.

Breaux explained that she was inspired to make this collection because the early Tuesday’s morning celebrations are her favorite moments of Mardi Gras. “This magical time is best taken in after waking with the sun, adorning yourself in costume, eating a solid snack and making it Downtown as soon as possible,” she said. “If you’re lucky, you made it in time to catch the St. Anne’s walking parade while it’s still rolling through the neighborhood or the Skeleton Krewe as they saunter into Jackson Square.”

She specifically wanted to immortalize the wearable art that is created and displayed every year during Mardi Gras celebrations. “Every year I am in absolute awe of the creative genius that goes into wearable art pieces.”

The freedom and individualistic styles are her favorite aspects. “There are no rules, just be whatever your heart desires and use anything you find,” she explained. “I wanted to create permanent tributes to these extraordinary costumes and the people who created them. Every single one its own masterpiece.”

Breaux’s goal is to bring the viewer to these moments with her work. “I wanted to create art that made you feel like you were there, which often means major sensory overload in every direction you look,” she said. “Anywhere you turn is another slew of masterful costumes made of cardboard and glitter.”

She explained that she “reflects that energy” with “tons of color, diverse textures, unique palettes that evoke emotion and as many subjects,” as she can fit into one piece.

Her pieces bring you to the moment. For Breaux, it is important to practice experiencing the present during Mardi Gras, as while “standing, watching, you often feel as though you’ll never soak it all in.”

“But that’s okay,” she continued. “because this celebration of community and individual creativity keeps you in the present moment. Really, all you can do is be there and be grateful you experienced it all.”

For one half of the pieces, this is their first exhibition. Breaux stated that the other half has previously been shown at the Lowe Mill Arts Center in Huntsville, Ala. In total, it took her 16 months to create this collection.

She is honored to have the opportunity to represent Louisiana culture artistically. “There is no denying how unique our Mardi Gras celebrations are in Louisiana, and I am mostly just honored to be able to create art inspired by these events.”

“We’ve got something really special down here and I think it is important to create art of all kinds around that.”

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Online: https://laurenmariebreaux.com