Baton Rouge, LA- The history and culture of the New Orleans Mardi Gras Indians came to life right before the eyes of 3rd, 4th and 5th graders at Eden Park Elementary School. On Thursday, February 22nd, critically acclaimed artist J. Nash Porter presented his photographs, which capture the colorful costumes of the Indians. The exhibit also includes a detailed history of the group.

Porter’s work was recently on display for six months at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C.  The photographs were also featured at the Louisiana State Archives.  Mr. Porter and his wife, LSU professor Dr. Joyce Jackson, took the students on historical walk to the beginning of the Mardi Gras Indian tradition, which dates back more than 200 years. “This is a dying tradition and we need to keep it alive. It is important that children know about the history of these people”, Porter said. 

The exhibit is titled “The New Orleans Mardi Gras Indians: Contextual Portraits from an Insider’s View”.  It includes a video of the traditional Mardi Gras Walk that the Indians make through the streets of New Orleans during Carnival.