2012 Pirouette Award Recipients

Camille Baldassar is an artist, teacher, founder of Majorette Productions and creator of the Majorettes of the Mothership – AKA - the Pussy Footers, New Orleans 1st woman marching/ dance troupe. “Pussyfooters are on this earth to raise the consciousness of all women everywhere. Sisters from the Mothership work to support and empower women globally and locally. We honor our imperfections and dance out of love and non-judgement. We are–each and every one of us–shiny diamonds.”

Cree McCree the Queen of the Flea has been organizing flea markets forever creating economic opportunity for artists, clothing designers, chefs, farmers and whatever junk sellers. Author of the book “Flea Market America”, smart and gritty, she can whip up opportunities from nothing. Also the mind behind Righteous Fur, her design label that uses nutria to make stylish clothing, jewelry and accessories. A fashion forward way to save the wetlands. Talk about a sow&rquo;s ear into a silk purse, ~ a nutria&rquo;s pelt into a hip back pack?

Pat Jolly is an amazingly tireless supporter of New Orleans music, arts and underground social scenes. She is an unstoppable documentarian, chronicling the fast paced and lively happenings everywhere. She is a warm and loving, upbeat sparkling fairy behind the camera, flitting about at every not to miss scene in town.

Don Marshall, has worked for the arts in New Orleans, a quiet and humble behind the scenes supporter for decades! The executive director of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and Foundation, has also directed some of the city&rquo;s most prominent cultural institutions, including the Contemporary Arts Center, Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre and was a founder of the Krewe du Vieux in 1987.

Jason Patterson is dedicated to preserving the history of jazz and sharing it with the world living and working in Frenchmen Street Arts & Culture district since 1975. Music programmer for the Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro since 1982. Board member of the Louisiana Jazz Federation in the 80&rquo;s, and its first Executive Director in early 90&rquo;s. Board member of both the New Orleans Film & Video Festival and the New Orleans Music and Entertainment Association. The Executive Director of New Orleans Jazz Celebration since &lquo;96. Developed Nickel a Dance and the UNO Jazz at the Sandbar, jazz studies in Louisiana public schools and touring jazz history exhibits.

Quintron, internationally celebrated Ninth Ward organist and inventor, often performs with wife Miss Pussycat, at their private underground club, the Spellcaster Lodge as well as making, under promoted appearances at other neighborhood haunts. Eccentric or discreet? He keeps a low profile, not tempted by popular culture, his disinterest in the mainstream surely is what keeps his performances real and authentic.

2011 Pirouette Award Recipients

ANN BURR
of Ann Burr Dance Studio (1122 Dublin) has been creating poignant, funny, and out there works of Dance Theater in New Orleans for decades. Her generosity and support of the New Orleans dance community is endless, from offering rehearsal space for free to any and all that need it, donations in kind and financial to other dance organizations and individuals, as well as attending every dance event in town. She is kooky, fearless and lively.

JOHN CALHOUN
an original founder of the New Orleans Food Co-Op, has for much of the last 8 years tirelessly sought out community support and spread awareness in the Marigny and Bywater for the need to provide access to healthy, affordable groceries, and local and regional food production. After mountainous bureaucratic obstacles and miles red tape, the NOLA Food Co-op will finally be realized in the New Orleans Healing Center at 2372 St. Claude Ave.

CHRIS COSTELLO
the president of the Faubourg Marigny Improvement Association diligently, respectfully and diplomatically protects the neighborhood. His intelligent and patient insistence on doing good for the community has put him in both the spear head position and the hot seat on numerous occasions. Successes include stopping the chicken plant from being installed on the Mississippi River on the edge of the Marigny, directing the Riverfont Park project to be an asset and treasure for the neighborhood rather an abuse of it, protecting citizen rights from predatory businesses that are only in it for profit, not for community culture and quality of life. He always has a fair ear, listening to all sides of the story. A man of huge integrity and generosity for his community, Chris always has the neighborhood’s best interest at heart. As evidence of his success, the Marigny was voted one of the Top 10 Great American Neighborhoods in the United States of America, 2009!

KIRAH HAUBRICH
devotes her heart and soul to 3 Ring Circus Productions at the Big Top venue. She heads up community engagement by organizing for adults and kids, including the Friday happy hour / music camp, quilts for homeless, Krewe of Chewbacccus during Mardi Gras, curation of local art exhibitions, and the production of performing arts shows and events. Six days a week year round she generously maintains this local venue as a resource for the creative force of New Orleans. She has integrity, an enormous heart, and likes to be wacky and play while still getting it all handled.

KAREN KERN
As Grants Manager at the Arts Council of New Orleans, Karen has been instrumental in inspiring and supporting hundreds of artists and arts organizations in New Orleans. She is always available to mentor new artists and emerging organizations, providing exceptional advice and detailed information to all who need it. She has often been seen at five places in a single evening supporting art events throughout the city. Go Karen!!!

MARK KIRK
of Unique Products is a long time environmentally conscious "recycle everything" artist. Trashformations are home wares, accessories, and lighting made from what the general public throws into the rubbish heap. Items used are light bulbs, Mardi Gras beads, liquor bottles, old vinyl LP’s, plastic toys and baby bottles, blue roof tarp, MRE bags, rags, china, cable wire, salvaged wood, kitchen utensils…it would be easier to name what he doesn’t use... nothing! Unique Products, “UP”, is committed to eco education and helping bring sustainable ideas and designs to the city, as well as helping their customers create a more socially responsible environment in which to live and work.

BATY LANDIS
is a community powerhouse; owns and operates Sound Cafe and Beth’s Books in the Lower Marigny, organizing the free Tuesday night music jam for kids, is the Executive Director of Young Aspirations/Young Artists (YA/YA), an after school arts and professional enrichment program, as well as a founder of Silence Is Violence, an anti-violence campaign that calls upon citizens and public officials to achieve a safe new Orleans across all communities, engaging youth in positive expressions and actions to counter the culture of violence. She has a passion for Russia, is a travel writer, a mom of 2 and can sport a pair of skinny jeans like no one’s business!

HEATHER MacFARLAND
of Unique Products is a long time environmentally conscious "recycle everything" artist. Trashformations are home wares, accessories and lighting made from what the general public throws into the rubbish heap. Items used are light bulbs, Mardi Gras beads, liquor bottles, old vinyl LP’s, plastic toys and baby bottles, blue roof tarp, MRE bags, rags, china, cable wire, salvaged wood, kitchen utensils…it would be easier to name what she doesn’t use...nothing! Heather can make a clock out of anything! “UP” is committed to eco education and helping bring sustainable ideas and designs to a city, as well as helping their customers create a more socially responsible environment in which to live and work.

DEBORAH OPPENHEIM
is a long time New Orleans positive spirit. As an active member of the Faubourg Marigny Improvement Association, she is the driving force behind Marigny Green, making resources and information available on living green and informing the residents on how to get involved in green initiatives such as tree planting, recycling, using energy efficient lighting, and biking as transportation. With the ReUse District she promotes the awareness and accessibility of reused materials by uniting like-minded organizations. As an educator, she teaches children in a loving and respectful manner, acts as an adviser (off the record) for many parents, teachers and school entities. She has an air of grace and love, but a tough cookie not to be reckoned with.

RACHEL VELLA
General Manager of NOTV and Owner of Vella Vetro Art Glass, organizer of “Hot Glass Cold Cocktails” and “Dirty Linen Night”. Rachel is a super-smart, sharp business woman and a spring of support & energy for and within the arts. She connects people in a way that is positive and intimate, and is one of the elements that make New Orleans sparkle. A true New Orleans creative spirit.

2010 Pirouette Award Recipients

REX DINGLER / NOLA RISING
NoLA Rising began after Hurricane Katrina as a public art initiative to improve the day to day lives of the people living in New Orleans. Believing that "Art Can Heal the Wounded Soul", Michael "Rex" Dingler spread the message that while we, as New Orleanians, were down, we certainly weren't out. Through custom posters, random quotes and hand painted street signs, NoLA Rising became a cultural movement for social justice proving the power of a positive message.

JERRY EDGAR
New Orleans socialite, great positive spirit, always doing things for the community and for artists, a gifted photographer and partner owner of Cafe Degas.

SCOTT HERON
Dancer, performing artist immersed himself in the NYC performance art scenes in the 1980's in spaces like P.S. 122, Dixon Place and others. He presented works with numerous ground breaking companies and performing artists. In the 1990's he settled into an art and performance commune in Tennessee where he continued to develop works to perform in NYC. Now in New Orleans since 2005 he performs with local dance troupes and individually, teaches circus arts and runs the Sidearm Gallery and Theater that he opened adjoining to his home on St. Roch Ave.

ROBBIE JOY
Creative visual artist, decorator, glitters 60 pairs of shoes for MUSES, including royalty ( w/o compensation!). Set decorator, window decorator(also w/o compensation, ), film set landscape designer and painter. Giving, supportive, funny and contributes to the energy and visual look of New Orleans.

MO LAPIN (HOWLPOP)
New Orleans cutting edge clothing and costume designer, deconstruction and reconstruction, recycling second hand garments into fabulous, ultra creative and out there creations. Always unbelievably affordable. Her design style is now widely copied amongst local designers.

DONALD LEWIS
Storyteller, teacher, actor, director, singer, volunteer at WRBH, stage mgr. KIDS TENT- a great inspiration and supporter of other artists. All around great guy who deserves more recognition and opportunities.

CHIEF AL MORRIS OF THE NORTHSIDE SKULL AND BONE GANG
Since Chief Al had his stroke, (the result of a horrible post Katrina story), he has been in a less than nursing home. He is out at "Good" Samaritan Nursing Home in New Orleans East, and we would like to find out what it would take to move him to St. Margret's on St. Claude. Anything that can be done to make his life more comfortable and bring him closer to his community would be great. There are efforts being made to have him moved to a better home, closer to his people. Each year he is taken out on Fat Tuesday, and for the Krewe of 6 t 9's Halloween Parade. He is the 6t'9 Krewe Storm King for Life and has reigned for 5 years, but this year they could not afford bring him out for the Halloween Parade, as his situation became more complicated.

ECHO OLANDER / KID smART
KID smART’s focus is arts integration, linking the arts with the existing academic curriculum. Their programming is designed to benefit under-resourced children in public schools in the New Orleans area, including charter schools. Arts Integration is an inquiry-based approach that lends depth to the learning process by using the arts to create new connections between content and the different ways children learn. The arts become a method in a teacher's repertoire across the curriculum. Echo Olander is the Executive Director, she manages the day-to-day logistics and directs the vision and the mission of KID smART.

ANN MARIE POPKO
An accessory designer, New Orleans party girl, supporter of the arts, other artists, community, volunteers for arts events and brings fun and a great energy to New Orleans.

MARK SINDLER / NEW ORLEANS PHOTO ALLIANCE
This is a true, grassroots, post-Katrina arts organization with an enormous volunteer spirit (no paid staff). They encourage the understanding and appreciation of photography through exhibitions, opportunities and educational programs. They are comprised of a diverse group of photographers who joined forces to create unity and opportunity for photographers in the Gulf South. It is an artist run organization including more than 300 members. Mark Sindler is the president of the New Orleans Photo Alliance.