By Doug MacCash, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
Artist George Valentine Dureau Jr. died April 7. He was a magnificent New Orleans painter and photographer, known for his wit and bohemian values. On Friday (April 18), Dureau’s friends and fellow members of the Crescent City art community gathered in the Ogden Museum of Art’s splendid Richardson library to remember the great man.
Dureau’s longtime friend Kenneth Holdtich, Ogden curator Bradley Sumrall, Ogden director William Andrews, the artist’s brother Don Dureau, Dureau’s friend Judge Ginger Berrigan and Dureau’s friend and caretaker Katin Nachod recalled the artist movingly and humorously.
Artist Dawn Dedeaux had produced a still-life sculpture strewn with photos and found objects, which imitated Dureau’s home. His ashes were present in the center of the display. Songs by Nina Simone, Dureau’s favorite, echoed in the 19th-century architecture.
Artist George Dureau’s memorial gathering at The Ogden Museum of Southern Art, April 18, 2014 (Photo by Doug MacCash / NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
Artist George Dureau’s memorial gathering at The Ogden Museum of Southern Art, April 18, 2014 (Photo by Doug MacCash / NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
Artist George Dureau’s memorial gathering at The Ogden Museum of Southern Art, April 18, 2014 — tribute still life sculpture by Dawn Dedeaux (Photo by Doug MacCash / NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
- Artist George Dureau’s memorial gathering at The Ogden Museum of Southern Art, April 18, 2014 — tribute still life sculpture by Dawn Dedeaux (Photo by Doug MacCash / NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
Artist George Dureau’s memorial gathering at The Ogden Museum of Southern Art, April 18, 2014 — tribute still life sculpture by Dawn Dedeaux (Photo by Doug MacCash / NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
Artist George Dureau’s memorial gathering at The Ogden Museum of Southern Art, April 18, 2014 — Ogden curator Bradley Sumrall and director William Andrews (Photo by DougMacCash / NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
- Artist George Dureau’s memorial gathering at The Ogden Museum of Southern Art, April 18, 2014 — brother Don Dureau (Photo by Doug MacCash / NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
- Artist George Dureau’s memorial gathering at The Ogden Museum of Southern Art, April 18, 2014 — Dureau’s friend and model ‘Brother’ Al Mims (Photo by Doug MacCash / NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
Artist George Dureau’s memorial gathering at The Ogden Museum of Southern Art, April 18, 2014 — a collection of photo portraits (Photo by Doug MacCash / NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
Artist George Dureau’s memorial gathering at The Ogden Museum of Southern Art, April 18, 2014 an unplanned self-portrait. Goodbye George. (Photo by Doug MacCash / NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)