MESSAGES episode

Animals suffered right along with the humans as victims of Hurricane Katrina. I found this dog named "Wall Street" through the animal rescue volunteers who set up shop a block from my studio. These women went out all over the city. Wall Street's owner had not returned so they spray painted messages on the house such as, "Do not take this dog" and "This dog is being fed by volunteers."

I found this collapsed church near the corner of Peniston and Baronne Streets. It was probably suffering from termite problems, but the storm winds literally blew it down. In the midst of the ruins was a statue of an angel, missing a wing, but upright. I found it inspirational. I felt it was important to the spiritual renewal of the city to have a piece like this in the Storm Cycle series.

Tom & Athene Paquin, 9 mos. pregnant, evacuated their home. Charlotte was born 3 days later. They returned to extensive damage, especially in the baby's room. The salty slurry of mud & sand infiltrated everything. They got a FEMA trailer two months later, and it was so small they needed to use a room of the house, so Tom had to build a porch to connect to the two, creating a home for his family.

This panel shows a test tube of bleach and a kitchen counter top with incredible impressions left by containers and appliances after the water receded. When the water leaves, the mold and mildew start to grow. To rid your home of the mold spore, which penetrates the walls, floors and ceilings, you have to gut the house of drywall and spray down every stud, rafter and floorboard with bleach.

After Katrina, 350,000 discarded refrigerators ended up on the curbs with magnets still on them! Chris Cressione is a New Orleans artist who collected magnets from the refrigerators and put them all over his car. Occasionally he'd run into the owner and ask permission to take the magnets. He was never denied. They loved what he was doing, which shows the sense of humor of the people in this city.

Structures were inspected by teams from all over the USA in the early days after the storm. They marked dwellings with an "X" graphic to indicate the date, who had done the inspection, & if bodies or pets were found. These markings were full of import & visually interesting, especially those with contrasting color combinations. New Orleanians are fond of painting homes in bright tropical colors.

Curator George Ciscle seated in front of Rodin's "The Thinker" at the Baltimore Museum of Art, explores the messages embedded in works by Joyce J. Scott, including the "No Mommy, Me" series and "Man Eating Watermelon." Joyce J. Scott learned quilting and beading from her mother and draws from references as wide-ranging as Africa and comic books to focus on issues such as race and stereotyping.

Watch a preview of the MESSAGES episode. MESSAGES looks at the ways many craft artists go beyond skill to personal and political expression. They use craft to tell a story, prove a point, or bring attention to contemporary issues. Artists featured include glass artist Beth Lipman, santero Charles M. Carrillo, bead artist Joyce J. Scott; and jewelry artist and sculptor Thomas Mann.

Curator Amy Raehse and Artist Joyce J. Scott on her "Soul Erased" print series. MESSAGES episode PBS premiere: May 24, 2011.

Thomas Mann talks about the heart form and his "Techno-Romantic" design series. MESSAGES episode PBS premiere: May 24, 2011.

Meet three generations of the Moulthrop family of woodturners. Ed Moulthrop, known as the father of modern woodturning, was an architect who found his passion in large-scale turned wood. Like his father, Philip Moulthrop trained as a lawyer, but found greater satisfaction in making uniquely patterned wood bowls. Matt Moulthrop apprenticed with his father and grandfather, continues the tradition.