A Master
Behind the Mardi Gras Floats:
Meet Multi-Media
Artist Jordan Ivanov
Mardi Gras Happens.
It’s an accumulation of a year of work, years of study and practice, from
our very youngest to the eldest artists, musicians, dancers from all over Louisiana
that brings the thrill and joie de vie that makes New Orleans one of the most
special, distinct and irresistible cities in the world. Alive with the richness
of culture, music, dance, food, color and pleasure it is like no other. From
all walks of life, we celebrate together, prepare and look forward to every
festival and carnival with great anticipation. What you see, what you enjoy, what
you do.
Behind some of this kaleidoscope of color and imagery that we ooh and
ahh over as the floats roll out into the streets of New Orleans for Mardi Gras
and other occasions, capturing the imagination and excitement of all with a
myriad of delightful colors, themes, timeless iconic story animation characters,
real life celebrities, is Artist Jordan Ivanov, paintbrush in hand. Laissez les Bons Temps Rouler. Always.
International artist Jordan Ivanov is one of the many
creatives that has come to New Orleans and immersed himself fully becoming one
of the ingredients of our wonderful gumbo that makes New Orleans a city full of
texture and wonder.
Jordan Ivanov came to New Orleans more than twenty years ago
from Bulgaria. He has lived through with us some of New Orleans most momentous
times and challenges. Jordan has been a production artist for the Mardi Gras
Festival since 2003 and has been an active exhibiting artist locally, nationally
and internationally for many years. His
large-scale public sculptures can be seen throughout locations in New Orleans
and the greater area and in Europe and his paintings and sculpture are
collected near and far. Many of the
floats you see and cherish during Mardi Gras were created and painted by the
hands of Jordan Ivanov.
Jordan received his Master of Fine Arts in Design from the
Academy of Fine Arts in Sofia, Bulgaria. As an accomplished painter and sculptor,
Jordan defies all boundaries and allows inspiration to lead him in the
direction and material he chooses in each creation and allows the viewer to
bring his or her own experience to the response and interpretation. Evidence of local culture and the influence of
New Orleans natural and industrial river environment surface in many works and
no doubt play a role. A surprise? Absolutely not. Not in a city where all
things are possible and life merges, connects and reconnects.
On Exhibit and available on-site here includes a diverse
range of sculpture by Jordan Ivanov including a series of recently completed large-scale
sculpture where some material was drawn physically from the battered man-made
metal debris swept up by the Mississippi River on to its muddy shore, then
manipulated and reformed by the artist. An
interesting twist, the truer than real in all appearance “rock boulders” are masterfully
hand-created and sculpted by Jordan. Enjoy!