AIGA New Orleans began their first Green Salon iniative in March, 2008. It was a landmark event; for our itty-bitty chapter we had a successful turn-out of over one hundred people. The acadmic community lauded the all day affair highlighted by a special performance of the Thelonious Monk Jazz Ensemble playing Somewhere, composed and dedicated to the launch Salon. Watch two documentary videos and read the article about 2009 Green Salon New Orleans in the Seattle Journal for Social Justice. (For the 26 page document, click on the “article” link in the second paragraph, or download the .pdf here. Its long but, if you read the foot notes, its funny and entertaining, not to mention informational.)

2009 Green Salon was a little more challenging. Even though Ellen Lupton gave a rousing keynot speech, the legendary Gulf Coast weather rained us out of our out-of-doors venue. Though our agendy was chock-full of juicy content, and music, relocating the proceedings dampened our spirits and attendence was low.

Our goals became larger than our assets—zero budget and lack of support from the local press—we regrouped in 2010 and held a small, focused, round-table sort of affair hosted by Cafe Prytania, a local music/watering hole (appropriate for the New Orleanian spirit). Live streaming was made possible through a partner, Chicken+Egg productions. And, our “green salon” was branded properly by local designer, Jan Bertman, and is now Fresh Fest New Orleans.

Co-chairs Daniela Marx, Nancy Sharon Collins and Sara Azpetia are currently out beating the bushes for the continutation of this much loved initiative. Marx is meeting with City Park officials as a possible, more public venue and Collins is meeting with the Greater New Orleans Foundation for ideas on much needed funding, advertising and media coverage. Everyone who attends loves this event, we just need to learn how to do a better job with funding and letting people know it exists.