Today is the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.
In the days following the hurricane, as we all watched events unfold, I did what I always do when I’m angry, frustrated, and need to vent: I made art. The result was Paradise Lost, which I wrote about in 2007. I thought it might be good to point everyone there today, because it documents the though process behind making this type of shrine.
And yes, I still have this shrine. It hangs on a sliver of wall space right between my studio and bedroom, at the end of the hall, where nobody but me ever sees it. I’m sure it will stay there for a long time, and that eventually, the Mary medals hanging from the knob will be worn smooth from me rubbing them as I walk by.