Grant Summary
Open House, a series of architectural charrettes in the Upper Tremé neighborhood in New Orleans that envisions its development.
Keywords
Artist Statement
We are a collaborative inspired to unite natives of and newcomers to New Orleans in the design of a new model for development that shares the tools for locals to build the destinies of their own neighborhoods. By working collectively in an experiential learning process, we seek to demystify and democratize development for ourselves and the city-at-large, offering our process as a transparent and accessible model for replication. Our experiential method of “performing architecture” asks: “what are the sensibilities of place; where is the soul of a home?”, “what is ownership; where are the commons?”, “what is community; what inspires people to unite in action?”, and “how do we meet the needs of a neighborhood outside of a profit-driven framework?” These considerations guide us through the purchase, restoration, and transformation of a blighted structure into a home base for creative action on issues of blight, gentrification, and housing affordability.
  • Live Action Painting 2015, Katrina Andry with Blights Out, Social Practice/ Performance/ Architecture. Photo by H. Hickman.

  • Home Court Crawl 2014, Blights Out, Social Practice/ Performance/ Architecture. Photo by Scott McCrossen/FIVE65 Design.

  • Home Court Crawl- Hollywood/Burning 2014, Frederick "Hollywood" Delahoussaye with Blights Out, Social Practice/ Performance/ Architecture. Photo by Scott McCrossen/FIVE65 Design.

  • Design as Protest 2015, Blights Out with National Organization of Minority Architects, Social Practice/ Performance/ Architecture. Photo by Patrick Mellon.