Streetcar Art

The Times Picayune’s Metairie section did a little write-up about Paulette Lizano and her streetcar, “Perley’s Barnyard Party.” The article has some general info on the Young Leadership Council and A Streetcar Named Inspire project as a whole.

We’ve been following Paulette’s progress (here, here and here) from sketch to installation (which will be coming soon at Canal Place). You can read the piece here. Congratulations to her, all the streetcar artists and the folks at the YLC!

Note: The TP article states that funds raised through A Streetcar Named Inspire will go towards a streetcar museum. The Young Leadership Council states, however, that the beneficiary of the project is the Downtown Development District and its development of a space on Canal Street at Basin Street relative to the Broadway South initiative.

Kathy Miller Stone’s streetcar invites all to join the riders inside and “Laissez Le Bontemps Roulez.” The car is inside the lobby at One Shell Square on Poydras at St. Charles and is sponsored by Shell Pipeline Company. For more of Kathy’s work (lots of nice watercolors) go to KathyStone.net.

Steve Ulness, a sculptor for Mardi Gras Decorators, is the artist of the streetcar sponsored by and located at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel.  Ulness’ streetcar is entitled, “Greetings from New Orleans.”  Ulness is also the artist that designed the streetcar blanks.

Water color artist Karen Larmeau Stakelum’s, “The Heartbeat of New Orleans” streetcar is located at 1415 Tulane Avenue.  The sponsors of this medical-themed car are, aptly, HCA/Tulane.

YLC Streetcar artists Paulette Lizano and Will Smith popped up during Tales of the Cocktail at the event’s Cocktail Marketplace on Saturday. Paulette, who is in the process of building her streetcar, “Perley’s Barnyard Party” was there selling glass coasters and plates featuring martini glasses and S&WB meter cover designs.

Will Smith’s (WMSJR) streetcar is located at the Prytania Theatre. It features Stella and Stanley from Streetcar Named Desire. He added sponsors John and Gayle Gish to it as well. Will was at Tales selling his Mardi Gras krewe giclees. He also had a new line of burlesque girl paintings on hand for sale. See more WMSJR art at WMSJR.com.

Also posted at MyBigEasyLife.com.

Paulette Lizano has continued her work on her glass streetcar and has allowed us in again to see her progress. The animals in the windows are mostly installed. She expects to be grouting it next week!

As I was leaving Paulette’s studio, my eye was caught by this lovely streetcar in the window:

Not only does Lizano’s Glass Haus sell these lovely streetcars, there are rumors that some of them will be auctioned at the YLC event when the Streetcar Named Inspired cars are auctioned, too!

What inspires Mark Schroeder, Architect, about New Orleans is obvious in his streetcar creation: a triple-decker Mardi Gras float. “A Streetcar Named Maison Blanche” is sponsored by and located in front of the Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans hotel at 921 Canal Street. Schroeder has transformed the car into a massive float that resembles the historic building the Ritz-Carlton houses, the former Maison Blanche building, with, by my count, 94 riders per side.

John and Gayle Gish have sponsored artist Will Smith’s (WMSJR) Streetcar Named Desire-inspired Streetcar Named Inspire, which is entitled “Desire.” Wow. My head is spinning after that one. It is appropriately placed at the Prytania Theatre, founded in 1917 and the only single-screen theater left in Louisiana. These treasures (theater and streetcar) can be found at 5339 Prytania Street, near the corner at Jefferson.

“Streetcar Full of Jazz” is Sandra Samuel’s streetcar located at 1205 St. Charles Avenue. Local real estate development company The KFK Group sponsored the car, which is located in front of its headquarters. It will soon be moved to its new home at 1201 Canal. KFK is converting the Krauss building there into residential and retail space, set to open in December of 2008. At the corner of Basin Street, it will be a great home for the “Streetcar Full of Jazz.”

Right now it’s on the RTA streetcar route; Nola was again on the spot to get a photo with one of the big boys passing by.

Barbara Shaw’s Streetcar at Harrah’s. This colorful and whimsical car is sponsored by NOPG (the publisher of New Orleans City Business) and is located on the Poydras Street side of the casino.