A collection of 31 photographs taken by Matthew D. White lines the walls of the Hubbell Library in Algiers Point. The pictures are an artistic reflection of the Louisiana Gulf Coast, exposing its current beauty to untapped audiences. White’s exhibit will be on display until January 29 as a part of Prospect 2, the city-wide art biennial that began last October.
The overall feel of the collection reminded me of several major road trips I took post-college, my favorite picture being one of what appeared to be an abandoned public pool. The coast of Louisiana – and southern Louisiana in general – is so unique and beautiful, and I suppose I’m one of many who are guilty of driving by it regularly without pausing to truly appreciate just how extraordinary it is.
Along the Louisiana coast, by Matthew D. White / Nikki Carter
I had the opportunity to ask Matthew some questions about this project. Here’s what he shared with me.
How did you get involved with Prospect 2? I got involved with Prospect 2 just by sending in my wares to the people involved. They liked what they saw and included me as one of the non-museum exhibitions. I was really happy that the Prospect 2 people saw merit in my work; I think my collection is unique [no other photographer has such a collection] and I’ve spent many years getting to places on the coast which are very hard to reach, such as Pilottown and Cheniere au Tigre.
What interested you most about our coast? Photographing the Louisiana coast is something I’ve wanted to do since I was a teen; I noticed there is no real existing visual record of the coast other than amateur snapshots and older historic photos, and I wanted to do something for posterity that hopefully would stand the test of time. Everyone knows what the Atlantic coast looks like, but not too many have stopped to consider the beauty of Louisiana’s coast. Aside from that, I’m attracted to the wide-open spaces that just set me at ease – it’s kind of a psychological “safe place” for me. That is the feeling I try to get into my photographs.
The open road and beautiful blue sky along the Louisiana Coast by Matthew D. White / Nikki Carter
What impact do you hope to make with this work? The goal is strictly artistic; although I understand there are important issues about land loss and environmental issues with the Louisiana coast, I don’t consider myself an activist in that regard – the motivation is solely seeking truth and beauty. I am really hoping to attract a major university or trade publisher who would invest in my collection as a work of art, and not a provincial travelogue. I remember after Hurricane Katrina, a lot of the national media were asking why anyone would want to live on the Louisiana coast, and my answer to that would be: look at my photographs – this is why they’d want to live here. I thought most of the books showing endless hurricane destruction were just plain unconscionable. I wanted to show the beauty of this place; it’s still here in spite of the hurricanes.
Admission to the library won’t cost you a dime, but be sure to bring a buck for the tollway. The Hubbell Library is open Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
This article is part of a series on Prospect 2. You can also read about exhibits at The Ogden, New Orleans Museum of Art, Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans African American Museum, and the now-closed Music Box.
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