The Arthur Roger Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition of beaded portraits by Demond Melancon. The exhibition will be on view at the Arthur Roger@434, located at 434 Julia Street, from August 3–September 21, 2019. The gallery will host a reception with the artist in attendance, Saturday, August 3 from 6–9 p.m. in conjunction with White Linen Night.
This is Big Chief Demond Melancon’s first solo exhibition. The exhibition features beaded portraits of significant people in New Orleans culture as well as the African Diaspora.
Demond Melancon is a multidisciplinary contemporary artist and performer with extensive roots in the Black Masking Culture of New Orleans. With a career spanning almost three decades, Melancon is well-known for his meticulous hand-sewn beadwork used to create massive Mardi Gras Indian suits which are composed of intricately-beaded patches depicting actual and imagined events from African and American history. His complex and multidimensional portrayals draw inspiration from indigenous people in America, enslaved Africans, and inspirational leaders from history. His work draws from a broad variety of stylistic influences, features imagery rich with symbolism and meaning, addresses stereotypical representations of black people and tells powerful stories from his experience of the African diaspora.
When Demond was 14 years old, he had the opportunity to learn from several influential elder Mardi Gras Indian Chiefs. They not only taught him how to sew and bead intricate suits, but also about the history and traditions of the Black Masking Culture of New Orleans – which began over 200 years ago. Prior to the Mardi Gras Indian elders declaring Demond would become the Big Chief, he had become very well-known as being Spy Boy of the Nation, a term of respect among peers. Demond Melancon became the Big Chief of the Young Seminole Hunters after gaining respect from the Mardi Gras Indian elders for his constantly impressive hand-beaded Mardi Gras Indian suits. Melancon has taken his expertise in beading and translated it into the gallery experience with this exhibition.
Melancon has been included in panel discussions at Yale and is slated for an exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum. He has twice exhibited at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival winning Best in Show in 2019. Demond has exhibited in New York at the iconic Bergdorf Goodman as well as the Museum of Contemporary African Disporan Art, and an exhibition of Mardi Gras Indian art at The Golden Triangle in Chicago, IL.
For more information please contact the Arthur Roger Gallery at 504.522.1999 or visit our website at www.arthurrogergallery.com.
