Armstrong Park ~ New Orleans

Turn up the volume and click the video.
The music is pure New Orleans.

Just off the French Quarter, across Rampart Street, in the Treme neighborhood, lies Armstrong Park. New Orleans has dedicated this stately common to Louis Armstrong, the great jazz trumpeter.

Louis isn’t the only musician honored here. Statues of others that contributed to the sound of New Orleans grace the park landscape.

In the 1800’s this area was called Congo Square. On Sunday afternoons black slaves gathered here to dance, sing – be African. One of the most poignant of the park’s bronzes depicts such an occasion.

Today Armstrong Park is host to countless celebrations, concerts and festivals. The Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts holds center stage. Fountains, bridges, art, and grand old trees make this park an inviting spot to cool off, listen to music, picnic, and relax.

Figures of Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong, Charles “Buddy” Bolden, Allison “Big Chief Tootie” Montana, unknown slaves, and an unidentified Second Line band are the art I choose to use in the 3rd of my ‘Have Art’ videos.

Thanks for stopping by, MaryGo