What We Fund

​​The Lobby has been reconfigured to feature more prominently what are arguably the two most important works in the collection, those by Willie Birch and John Scott, both referencing New Orleans music giants, a common thread in the exhibition. To those entering the space, the Lobby will immediately communicate not only the caliber of artists contained in the collection, but also the range of media represented within it. The works in the Lobby will tease the subject matter most frequently represented in the collection; masking Indians, second lines, Mardi Gras traditions, and musicians represented with, or playing their instruments. Additionally, many of the common characters in the Lobby are repeated throughout the exhibition, like Louis Armstrong, James Booker, and Uncle Lionel. Color draws the visitor or student into the Lobby hall where the works feature powerful representations of musicians.