Art for Art's Sake

The first Saturday night in New Orleans is "Art for Art's Sake." It's the annual migration of art lovers from art gallery to art gallery with the final destination of a block party on Julia Street. Here are some night shots from that evening.

Darkness Falls on Dirty Linen Night

Darkness fell on Royal Street, but there were plenty of lights from the art galleries and shops. Musicians played in less than ideal light. Eventually I came to the last few galleries on the route. The crowd continued to grow.

Music and Crowds on Royal Street

Crowds of people wandered from gallery to gallery. They stopped here and there to watch musicians and entertainers perform. As it turned dusk, the crowd became larger.

Royal Street's Dirty Linen Night

The 11th Annual Dirty Linen Night which took place on the second Saturday in August. It is a response, by the Royal Street art galleries in the French Quarter, to the Whitney White Linen Night on Julia Street. I started at the Esplanade end of Royal and walked towards Canal Street.

One Last Look

As I strolled through the crowd, I took a few last photos of the gallery doors along Julia Street. The galleries were still packed with visitors. The party continued.

Party in Full Swing

Soon the party was in full swing as the bars and food booths became crowded. Bands played. Participants visited the various galleries along Julia Street.

Dusk on Julia Street

As it turned dusk on Julia Street the crowd thickened. Many picked up fans marked "Whitney White Linen Night." Colored lights provided atmosphere as the remaining sunlight disappeared.

Julia Street on Whitney White Linen Night

The bands were playing, the bars were open and the ticket sellers were in place.
It was barely after 6 p.m. when I arrived on Julia Street for Whitney White Linen Night. This annual event takes place on the first Saturday of August. Participating art galleries are open for promenade of participants wearing white.

Dirty Linen Night in the Dark

Eventually the sun set on Dirty Linen Night. The crowd continued to grow as I finished up my trek along Royal Street. Here are a few shots of the musicians I encountered along the way.