New Orleans artist uses sewing machine to create art marking Hurricane Katrina anniversary

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Mixed media artist Gina Phillips, from the Lower Ninth Ward, like so many others, lost everything in Hurricane Katrina, 20 years ago.

Now decades later she’s reflecting on the devastating storm and the inspiration that came out of it.

In the 20 years after the traumatic Hurricane Katrina, Gina Phillips is gently rethreading her life.

“When Katrina happened all of my equipment flooded in my studio,” Phillips said.

She said the floodwaters were at chest level in her studio after the storm.

After the storm she was inspired by her Katrina experience.

“Inspired by my Katrina experience, I created art, one of my series was about Fats Domino and him as a figure of hope and resurrection on many levels in this neighborhood. Some people thought he died in the flood waters, but he was actually rescued,” Phillips said.

She initially was using an old household sewing machine, but it was destroyed in the storm, so through a Post-Katrina arts grant she was able to get this long arm quilting machine.

“So, I’m not a traditional quilter. I don’t know how to make real quilts,” Phillips said.

But she does create elaborate art.

“After Katrina I ordered the machine and set it up in my studio, and started developing these techniques of course, and I’m using the same machine today. I’ve had it for 20 years now. It has really allowed me to work much bigger,” Phillips said.

“My art is rooted in painting, like a 2D image, but functions on the walls as a 3D object. I like that about the work, living in both worlds,” Phillips said.

One of her latest art pieces called “Borrow Pit,” shows imagery thinking about the twentieth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

“Layers of life and layers of history,” Phillips said.

Katrina will always be part of her history and how she artistically sewed her life back together.

“My forever home is New Orleans. I feel so much inspiration here,” Phillips said.

Her artwork was most recently featured at the Jonathan Ferrara Gallery on Julia Street.

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