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Prospect.5: Yesterday We Said Tomorrow

A black and white photo of a narrow canal stretching through a grassy field with trees on either side. The sky is partly cloudy, creating a serene and symmetrical landscape scene.
Irrigation Ditch by Dawoud Bey, 2019
Presented by Prospect New Orleans

Prospect.5

Yesterday We Said Tomorrow

The city-wide triennial exhibition returns to HNOC, featuring works by Dawoud Bey, Josh Kun, and George Dureau.

October 23, 2021 to January 23, 2022

520 and 533 Royal Street

The Historic New Orleans Collection plays host to three installations for Prospect New Orleans, a citywide contemporary art triennial and the only exhibition of its kind in the US with a decade-long history. Every three years, Prospect brings new art to an old city by inviting artists from all over the world to create projects in a wide variety of venues spread throughout New Orleans. Each iteration of Prospect is organized by a leading voice in the curatorial field. For residents and visitors alike, Prospect is an invitation to experience the city through the eyes of artists.

Yesterday We Said Tomorrow, a title inspired by the 2010 album Yesterday You Said Tomorrow by New Orleans jazz musician Christian Scott, features 51 artists in more than 15 venues around the city. Prospect.5 is curated by Artistic Directors Naima J. Keith and Diana Nawi. Visitors to HNOC will be able to see the following exhibitions.

Dawoud Bey: In This Here Place and Evergreen

520 Royal Street, Tricentennial Wing, 3rd Floor

Working in both color and black-and-white, photographer Dawoud Bey creates intimate portraits of people and places that illuminate individual presence while exploring and creating a historical record. His Prospect.5 installation, In This Here Place, is a series of large-scale, black-and-white photographs made at Louisiana plantations. The installation also features the multimedia presentation Evergreen, which incorporates music performed by Imani Uzuri.

A person stands in an art gallery observing a framed photograph on a dark wall. In the background, another person sits on a bench facing illuminated screens displaying images of trees. The floor reflects the light, adding to the serene atmosphere.
A dimly lit room features a bench facing three large screens displaying close-up images of tree branches with green leaves against a bright sky, creating a serene, nature-inspired scene.
Two black-and-white framed photographs displayed on a dark wall. The left image shows a wooden porch with steps, while the right image features a small wooden house with trees in the background. Both evoke a rustic, serene atmosphere.
Photos by Amber Johnson, HNOC

George Dureau: Photographs

Curated by Grace Deveney

520 Royal Street, Tricentennial Wing, 2nd Floor

Prospect.5 presents a selection of photographs by George Dureau (1930–2014), a New Orleans native described as “a quintessential New Orleans artist” who achieved regional and national acclaim for his work, which included paintings, drawings, sculpture, and photography. This exhibition displays studio photographs of many of Dureau’s frequent subjects, as well as images captured in the French Quarter, near Lake Pontchartrain, and other locations around the city.

A modern art gallery with wooden floors and beige walls displays framed black-and-white photographs. The space features glass railings, recessed lighting, and a mezzanine view with artworks lining the walls.
A gallery wall displaying four framed black and white photographs of a person posing in various seated positions. The largest photograph is centrally placed with three smaller ones surrounding it. The wall is off-white, creating a stark contrast with the frames.
Three black-and-white framed photographs on a wall. The first shows a group of people sitting and standing in a grassy area. The second features an intimate beach scene. The third depicts a person with a horse in an outdoor setting.
Photos by Amber Johnson, HNOC

Josh Kun: Over and Over the Waves

533 Royal Street, Counting House

Cultural historian Josh Kun is curator of an Over and Over the Waves, an exhibition recalling the 8th Cavalry Mexican Military Band’s memorable visit to the 1884 World’s Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition, which took place on the current site of Audubon Park in New Orleans. Performing compositions like “Roses and Thorns” and “Over the Waves,” the band was a sensation of the exposition, drawing large crowds and glowing press coverage. “There has never been a band which has taken such hold on the affections of the people of New Orleans, not only on account of its artistic ability, but of the individual and social qualifications of its members,” wrote The Daily Picayune in February 1884. In addition to photographs and sheet music, the exhibition, includes a sound installation featuring newly recorded songs once performed by the 19th-century band.

A framed panoramic black and white photo hangs on a gray wall. The photo depicts a large group of people gathered outside a building. A descriptive plaque is mounted below the frame on the wall.
A display case containing historical documents, photographs, and newspaper clippings related to music history. Items are laid out on a cream-colored fabric background under glass.
A display case showcases six music sheet covers laid out in a row. The sheets have various titles and designs. The case rests on a carpet with a blue background and gold circular patterns.
Photos by Amber Johnson, HNOC

TriPod

The Mexican Band

Learn more about the 8th Cavalry Mexican Military Band that inspired Josh Kun's work in the 2018 episode of the podcast TriPod: New Orleans at 300, co-presented with WWNO 90.9 FM.

Listen Listen
A large historical band poses with musical instruments under a large tree. The members are dressed in dark uniforms, and various instruments like drums and brass are visible. A building with a porch is in the background.

Support

This exhibition is presented by Prospect New Orleans, a citywide contemporary art triennial. Learn more at prospectneworleans.org

Prospect New Orleans

Previous Prospect Exhibitions

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Exhibitions

Prospect.4: The Lotus in Spite of the Swamp

November 18, 2017 to February 25, 2018

The city-wide triennial exhibition returns to HNOC, featuring works by Tony Gleaton and Monique Verdin.

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A vintage map from 1849 depicting the inundated district near Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi River. The map shows geographical features, water bodies, and labeled areas with a title and scale at the bottom.

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Prospect.5 spotlights the New Orleans photographer’s “othered” portraits.

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The Mexican Band That Captivated 1884 New Orleans

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Related Books

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Books

Louisiana Lens: Photographs from the Historic New Orleans Collection

by John H. Lawrence
with a foreword by Jeff L. Rosenheim

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Buy Now
Cover of Louisiana Lens by John H. Lawrence. Shows a photograph of an elderly man reflected in a circular mirror, propped on a windowsill next to a wooden chair. The text mentions Photographs from The Historic New Orleans Collection.
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