That’s right, ten years ago on this very day, the nation—if not the world—was watching the tragedy of a major American city descending into chaos as the authorities proved themselves entirely unable to (a) adequately protect New Orleans from a major storm and (b) come to the aid of that city once it was in distress. The whole nation learned of the identity of such great Americans as Ray Nagin, Michael Brown, and the federal agency known as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Kanye West called George W. Bush a racist on national TV while Michael Myers looked surprised, it was all harrowing, grim fun in a way—outrage always is.
To a whole generation of Americans, Katrina was the first sign that we were just going to have to face a multitude of extreme weather events as well as our own inability to assist people in large numbers in an emergency.
Black and gold “Geaux Saints” model
According to the Times-Picayune of New Orleans, artist Brad Maltby has irritated some people with a snow globe that uses mordant humor—at a minimum—to commemorate the grim events of August and September 2005. Maltby actually moved to New Orleans to assist with the city’s rebuilding process.
It’s easy to see why the globes have annoyed some: As the Times-Picayune wrote, “Maltby’s snow globes are a Katrina-themed version of old-fashioned holiday novelties. Liquid rises to the roof-line of the tiny shotgun house inside the glass globe. Shake the globe, and miniature debris and glitter swirls. Wind it up, and a music box plays ‘When the Saints Go Marching In.’”
The funds are going to rebuild libraries and supply books for children, according to the artist. For his part, Maltby says that he was caught unawares because his Katrina snow globes are not a new product and were not designed to cash in on the 10th anniversary hoopla. He began selling them in 2009 and nobody seemed particularly offended back then, said Maltby.
Black and gold “Geaux Saints” model
“I never intended to mock anybody,” Maltby said in a telephone interview with the Times Picayune. “I never intended it to be hurtful at all. ... The waterline, the Katrina crosses, the blue tarp; it was all what happened in New Orleans. I designed it and found a manufacturer.”
According to WWL television news, the CBS affiliate in New Orleans, Maltby has received death threats over the snow globes: “Now, as the unsold snow globes are becoming popular again, the artist is getting death threats, on Facebook, by text and calls to his family.”
On Maltby’s website (where you can buy the snow globes), there is the following message: “Thanks for all your support and opinions! We recognize the globes are controversial and it’s the choice of anyone who wants to continue to create so much attention for the globes. With the recent spike in sales, we will continue to deliver orders anywhere, and continue as always, to support various charities in New Orleans!”
Kudos to my old friend Brian Boucher at artnet for spotting this remarkable story that touches on the 10th anniversary of the calamitous progress of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.
via artnet