Three authors to speak Jan. 17

Three local authors/artists will present their books that focus on New Orleans culture at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 17, at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon, Metairie. This event is free and open to the public. There is no registration.

Kit Wohl, New Orleans Icons: Iron Lace

The wrought and cast ironwork of New Orleans is lauded worldwide for its intricacy and timelessness. Generations of artisans have labored to create the unyielding filigrees that guard windows, doors, and, gardens. Now, award-winning author Kit Wohl eloquently marries her passions for art, photography, and metalwork in this stunning tour of Crescent City craftsmanship. Graced with photographs of the city’s most famed works, histories of each piece and its location transport readers on a journey of elegance and beauty. From the famous cornstalk fence to the storied splendor of the Pontalba Buildings, these vignettes illuminate the rich tapestry of New Orleans’s heritage.

Kit Wohl is an author and artist with a passion for the culinary arts. She works with chefs, restaurants and hotels across the country, and her artwork is held in collections across the Americas and Europe and includes chandeliers, railings and sculptures. New Orleans Icons: Iron Lace is her 12th book. Arnaud’s Restaurant Cookbook: New Orleans Legendary Creole Cuisine, published by Pelican in 2005, received national acclaim, and The P&J Oyster Cookbook was named Cookbook of the Year by New Orleans Magazine. Her books in the Classics Series include New Orleans Classic Creole Recipes, New Orleans Classic Celebrations, New Orleans Classic Cocktails, New Orleans Classic Brunches, New Orleans Classic Desserts, New Orleans Classic Appetizers, New Orleans Classic Seafood, and New Orleans Classic Gumbos and Soups.

Armand Richardson, A Fire in My Lens

Through the vibrant images captured in his compositions, photographer Armand J. “Sheik” Richardson lures the viewer into the city that lives within his imagination. Richardson relates the experimentation that first brought to life the world he saw through his camera’s lens. His anecdotes accompany each picture, providing context to the images while conveying the pallet of colors and textures that makes New Orleans such a unique place. From personal moments of his childhood, family, and friends to professional shoots and casual snapshots of the hidden life and everyday events in the city, Richardson presents a visual record of New Orleans.

Armand Richardson was born and raised in New Orleans. After a brief stint in the military, Richardson earned degrees and certifications from Loyola and Tulane Universities, Delgado Community College, and the University of New Orleans. He held many jobs before returning to his passion and opening Penumbra Photos in 1975, focusing on forensic and commercial photography. Richardson is also the founder of the Arabi Wrecking Krewe which provided disaster relief services for the city’s culture bearers. 

John R. Kemp, Auseklis Ozols

According to John Kemp, few great painters have had the uncanny ability to transition between the worlds of teacher and artist. He says Auseklis Ozols is one of them. Ozols founded the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts, where he emphasizes the classical disciplines of artistic instruction. In this biography, Kemp uses Ozols’ own paintings to reveal the life of the artist and teacher dedicated to passing down the lessons of the great painters of the past.

John R. Kemp, a New Orleans native, writes about New Orleans and Louisiana for a number of regional and national magazines, including Art Antiques, ARTNews, American Artist, Louisiana Life, and Louisiana Cultural Vistas. He is deputy director of the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities. Kemp is also the author of several books, including Alan Flattmann’s French Quarter Impressions.

For more information regarding this presentation, contact Chris Smith, Manager of Adult Programming for the library, at 504-889-8143 or wcsmith@jefferson.lib.la.us. This post was taken from a press release from the library.

Louisiana Book News is written by award-winning author Chere Dastugue Coen, who writes Louisiana romances and mysteries under the pen name of Cherie Claire. Her first book in each series is FREE to download as an ebook, including "Emilie," book one of The Cajun Series, "Ticket to Paradise," book one of The Cajun Embassy series and "A Ghost of a Chance," the first Viola Valentine mystery.