"Boat Tree," Raine Bedsole (Callan Conptemporary)

Myesha Francis

For the rest of us, there is only one day left to get the lightweight look just right for White Linen Night. But inside Julia Street's galleries, the artists are getting their own scenes ready. 

On Saturday, August 3 from 6-9pm, Julia St. promises its usual sea of white garments, Whitney Bank-sponsored paper fans, and plastic cups of wine. Amid all the being seen, it's easy to forget that galleries exist as something other than a reprieve from the heat. The night is first and foremost a celebration of New Orleans’ artists. 

NoDef talked to a Julia St. veteran as well as a new artist to the White Linen scene, and both are excited to share their work with a fresh audience. 

Gallery owner Myesha Francis (M. Francis Gallery, 604 Julia St.) has opened her doors for many White Linen Nights in the past, and she feels that the event allows art novices to check out local artists without feeling judged.

“I think it gives the community the opportunity to visit the galleries without feeling intimidated or shy, and I think it absolutely brings new customers,” she said. 

Francis is looking forward to her own opening on Saturday, entitled, Evolution: The Spirit of An Artist. Her experience growing up in New Orleans as an African-American woman is a major influence in her work, as is her spirituality. Paintings usually feature a female subject and incorporate iconic images of New Orleans such as piano keys, shotgun houses, and fleur de lis. Bright colors weave separate images together, with the canvas often spiralling into one whimsical piece. 

“They’re intuitive in a communicative type of way. It’s sort of a visual or colorful prayer. I paint when I feel something I can’t express, I use color to get that energy out of me and communicate with the creator,” said Francis.

Many past collections of hers utiliize readily identifiable images as a conceptual framework, but Francis said that her new collection contains less literal pieces.

“Most of these pieces are abstract. Of course I have new pieces that feed off older works that I’ve done. I’ll also have a whole new collection of work that doesn’t feed off anything I’ve ever done,” Francis said. 

White Linen Rookie

Raine Bedsole is a sculptor, painter, and mixed media artist who has been showing her work in New Orleans for over 20 years. Whether executed on a massive scale or small enough to hold in one’s hands, Bedsole’s work evokes a sense of boundlessness from its viewers.

Not surprisingly, boats are a trend in her work, perhaps her most famous boat sculpture being her piece, “Remembering Boat,” that was displayed in West End Park during 2009’s citywide installation, “Prospect 1.” Although this particular boat was sturdy and stood on stilts above water, most float on the walls of galleries as figurative vessels.  

Bedsole’s exhibition, Dream Documents, is opening at Callan Contemporary (518 Julia St.) on Saturday night.  Bedsole is a White Linen Night rookie, but the artist is hopeful about the event’s potential to bring in revenue for Julia St. artists.

“I think it introduces young, new potential buyers. This is the first time I’ve shown on White Linen Night, but I think people will see and come back,” she said.

The collection’s title is fitting, since many of the pieces within it are found objects, repurposed and imbued with meaning through Bedsole’s coloring and arrangement.

“I use antique documents, some of them from my family from the late 1800’s. They’re very specific documents, not terribly interesting on their own. I’ve combined them in a way that’s almost a dream state,” Bedsole explained.

The artist believes that dreams are rich with significance, if only people would take the time to record them and identify patterns.

“They’re the most important part of our days. If you write them down, you start remembering more than what you can write down. It’s amazing what you can get out of it,” Bedsole said. 

Although Bedsole recognizes constants in her work, she promises her new work will not be redundant.

“There is some continuum, I still have a boat sculpture, but there’s a lot of new work,” she said.

For full listings of art, food, music and parties on Saturday night, check out the NOLA Defender Guide to White Linen Night.