NADINE BLAKE
L’art de l’automobile
Nadine Blake captures the spirit of New Orleans in her street portraits of creole architecture and the auspiciously parked auto on walks to and from her shop on Rue Royal.
Mini Cooper S on St. Philip Street
French Quarter
Land Rover on St. Philip Street
French Quarter
Fiat on Governor Nicholls Street
French Quarter
Mini Cooper on Chartres Street
Faubourg Marigny
Toyota Land Cruiser on Chartres Street
Faubourg Marigny
Mercury Comet on Mandeville Street
Faubourg Marigny
I was originally planning to take only photographs of cars, but this graffiti caught my eye (across the street from the Mercury Comet). New Orleans is having a problem with graffiti and something inside of me wanted to document this one. Maybe it was the ‘FREE MONEY’ that caught my eye. Luckily the graffiti is getting a bit better in places and actually started a mural art movement.
Toyota 4 Runner SR5 on Chartres Street
Faubourg Marigny
Sometimes the colors coordinate and I’ll stop in my tracks— must photograph.
Studio Be on Royal Street
Bywater, New Orleans
“B MIKE” has been transforming abandoned, blighted buildings with his artwork— murals and powerful messages. Now he has his own studio, shown here, with a poem by Cleo Wade painted on the outside. It always makes me smile when I pass by.
“Today’s Mantra: Create” on Royal Street
Bywater
I think this was condoned graffiti. The business has never had it removed and it’s message is perfect for the artistic Bywater neighborhood.
Oldsmobile F85 on Montegut Street
Bywater
There were probably a lot of fun family excursions taken in this car!
“From Bristol to Bywater” on Royal Street
Bywater
I’m not a fan of graffiti, but this is colorful and the owner of the building doesn’t have a problem with it, so everybody’s happy.
Fiat 500 on Montegut Street
Bywater
Honda Civic LX on Desire Street
Bywater
Ninth Ward mural on Bartholomew Street
The Upper Ninth Ward has had an emergence of young, hip, creative people move into a formerly old fashioned, blue-collar neighborhood. And these young people love Star Wars.
Toyota Diesel on France Street
Bywater
Who is Nadine Blake?
I was born and raised in New Orleans, and have also lived in Los Angeles and New York City. All three unique cities have influenced me artistically. I currently have a lifestyle / gift shop in the French Quarter, and it is often on walks to and from my shop that I take photographs. Living in New Orleans, there's always a photograph right around the corner.
www.nadineblake.com
Visit Nadine at her shop on the corner of Ursulines and Royal in the French Quarter.