NOLA 2012: La Maison Fantôme

So Katherine Engen of Valley Ridge Art Studio and I are teaming up once again for another amazing adventure down in the enchanting and mysterious city of New Orleans.  Jan 30 - Feb 4, 2012 is the date to keep on your calendar.  This year's class: La Maison Fantôme.  Here's the skinny:

La Maison Fantôme

Ghost Story:
In New Orleans there is a restaurant off Jackson Square called Muriels.  Good food, great historic French Quarter atmosphere, and best of all…it’s haunted.  That’s right, oooooooo…..haunted.  Here’s a little back story:  After a devasting fire in the French Quarter, this property was aquired and restored to its orginal grandeur by a man named Pierre Antoine Lepardi Jourdan.  His home was his pride and joy, however he had a nasty gambling habit and one night in 1814 he wagered his most prized possession, his magnificent home.  The cards turned against him and he lost.  Before he could honor his wager he shot himself on the second floor, which is now a séance lounge for the restaurant, where he is said to roam to this day.  
Through the years,  the ghost of Mr. Jourdan caused mischief for the various residents of the property, by breaking wine glasses or appearing as sparkling lights.  The owners of Muriel’s restaurant have found an interesting solution to their resident phantom; they set a table for him each night, where he is served food and drink.  This seems to appease the former master of the house and the business has been thriving, since.

The Class:
It is said that my home is haunted (though I have never seen alleged spirit) but have had a number of friends who swear they exist and have experienced a variety of eerie occurrences with ghostly types.  So it dawned on me that perhaps these ghosts just need a little bit of pampering, and this got me thinking about an interesting idea for a class: la maison fantôme, a ghost house.  


Using found objects and the art of assemblage attendees will create  a little shrine where you can leave little treats or offerings to appease the supernatural inhabitant.  Hopefully this will keep them content and they will no longer move furniture, break wine glasses or make prank phone calls.   Whether you currently have a spirit or need to prevent one from settling in, a Maison Fantome is a must for any home.  Oh remember, whatever you leave as an offering should be: “ectoplasmmm…mmm…good.”

Now doesn't that sound nifty?  Katherine is busy making hotel arrangements and figuring out this year's tours…I think a trip to the Seance Lounge in Muriel's is in order, don't you?  If you're interested you can register here:

http://www.valleyridgeartstudio.com/new-orleans/

See you there!