Bring More Roux and Bigger Pots

by Seaux-N-Seau Soileau

Title

Bring More Roux and Bigger Pots

Artist

Seaux-N-Seau Soileau

Medium

Painting - Acrylic On Canvas

Description

Bring More Roux and Bigger Pots is a Folk Art painting by Seaux N. Seau Soileau that gives a peek into the hopes of the youngest Courir de Mardi Gras viewers. As a young curious child Seaux N. Seau was often chased by her grandmother's chickens when she gathered the eggs on the farm. As the Courir de Mardi Gras gathered to beg for chickens the young Seaux N. Seau had a brilliant idea. Why don't the horses ride the biggest baddest chickens over to the place where the gumbo was being made. In her innocent eyes the chickens really were the biggest, baddest, most delicious tasting animals on the farm and Seaux N. Seau loved the annual MardiGras Chicken gumbo held after all the dancing and chicken chasing of the Courir de Mardi Gras was done.
The Courir de Mardi Gras is a rural Mardi Gras held in South Central to South Western Louisiana. It is a tradition in both Cajun and Creole cultures. Traditionally men in costumes ride on horseback down country roads stopping at each farm house to beg for ingredients for a community gumbo. To encourage the home owner to be generous the riders sing, dance, and do funny pranks. The most generous donation to the gumbo is a live chicken for it is let loose and the men must catch it. This provides more entertainment for those who follow the riders. This tradition has been passed down from generation to generation.
The costumes are traditionally brightly colored cotton pants and shirts accented with layers of hand cut fringes of cotton fabric. The purple, gold, and green of New Orleans is becoming more popular in the costumes, but one can find costumes in every color, some costumes might reflect a favorite team's colors, while another might be a calico design, or a print of a favorite locally grown vegetable or seafood. These costumes were made at home and traditionally young girls often learned to sew making these simple costumes. The costumes have mask made of screen that is painted in bright colors using simple geometric shapes for eyes and mouth. Brightly colored eyelashes, eyebrows, mustaches, warts, or freckles, are often painted on the mask. Large stuffed fabric noses are added to the mask. They are most often triangle, cone, or hook shaped. Tall pointed hats with fabric fringes and skirts that cover the hair are worn also. The riders identity is hidden with the costumes so that he can have too much fun, for the next day is Ash Wednesday and this begins 40 days of prayer and fasting in preparation for Easter.

Featured in the following Fine Art America Groups:
Images That Excite You
Poetic Poultry
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Uploaded

January 10th, 2018

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