Choctaw Mardi Gras Ball 2007

December 29th, 2007 at Mardi Gras World to enjoy the beginning trappings of carnival at the Choctaw Ball. A good time was had by all!

Mik-Leslie


Michael Girl


ReX and KaT


The Ladies in My Life


ReX and REX (I humbly pay tribute to REX)

NoLA Rising in Edinburg, Scotland

Travel Correspondent and one of the Founding Members of NoLA Rising, Angela Pate, has brought NoLA Rising to Scotland. She's out spreading the word about our city and the things that everyone is trying to do to make it a better place to live and a great place to visit. Visit her travel blog by clicking on her name above. And, thanks again to my good friend for helping NoLA Rise in this new and rewarding way.

New Year's Greetings from ReX!

Tenderness and kindness are not signs of weakness and despair, but manifestations of strength and resolutions.

* Gibran

***
Since the Chris Rose article in the paper came out, there have been so many positive responses that I just wanted to send a thank you to everyone for their support. Your words, gestures and acts of kindness have been overwhelming and I can't even begin to know how to reciprocate. I'm deeply honored by all of the personal stories that I have been sent and I am gracious and humbled that you have chosen to share them with me. Each and every one of us will Rise Again and in so doing NoLA will Rise again.

As we've seen, there were a small handful of people who want to take issue with some of my personal history and do so in a public forum. I will give them no consideration in that if they are the wonderful people they say they are in their internet postings, then they'd consider that there are two sides to every story and mistakes are made in two sides of every argument. I won't dishonor my family by going into details of wrongs in either account. I'm not a public official and I'm not a celebrity...I'm just a guy trying to make his way through the world in the best way that I can, working to overcome obstacles so that I can be the best person I can for my children. When you have been left with nothing, sometimes it takes a while to "boot up" and get moving and that's where I'm going...forward and on my own terms.

With that, I won't be stopped by a naysayer. Everything that goes into rebuilding a city isn't just about bricks and mortar. Save that for some sterile mega-city in another state. New Orleans has had more soul and spirit in one day than most cities in this country have seen in a year and I just happen to be one of those people on that bandwagon. In the New Year, I will be looking at a career change that will hopefully be as mentally rewarding as it is financially...I will be taking NoLA Rising into the non-profit world with a group of people who I believe will work well with me towards increasing the quality of life in our city...and I will be working to promote the people in this city in a way that may not be profitable, but will plant the seeds for a beautiful future.

With that, I salute you all, whether you believe in what I am doing or not. I send you greetings for a Happy and Safe New Year! We are now on the short road to Mardi Gras...let's celebrate it well to honor New Orleans!

Again, I salute you all!
ReX
(Just a guy with an idea)
***





Photos from this day's post are from the collection of A. Jordan

Defend New Orleans & Chris Rose

Two in one day friends...WOW!


DNO VIDEO - Nola Rising from DNO VIDEO on Vimeo.

I recognize the fact that I say "like" and "you know" alot. I promise to work on the vocabulary some. I will admit, however, that I will not ever be as eloquent as our city scribe Chris Rose who I am thankful to for the article he wrote in today's paper.

SEE THE ARTICLE HERE

Without Chris's own struggle for giving the City of New Orleans hope, it would perhaps have been impossible for so many of us to recognize what we were going through. While many people have said it's a fine article that he wrote on me and the NoLA Rising project...I say it is one of many fine articles that he has written to the benefit of New Orleans. Chris, ReX salutes you!

Defend New Orleans ... One NoLA Rising sign at a time

DNO VIDEO - Nola Rising from DNO VIDEO on Vimeo.

I recognize the fact that I say "like" and "you know" alot. I promise to work on the vocabulary some. I will admit, however, that I will not ever be as eloquent as our city scribe Chris Rose who I am thankful to for the article he wrote in today's paper.

SEE THE ARTICLE HERE

Without Chris's own struggle for giving the City of New Orleans hope, it would perhaps have been impossible for so many of us to recognize what we were going through. While many people have said it's a fine article that he wrote on me and the NoLA Rising project...I say it is one of many fine articles that he has written to the benefit of New Orleans. Chris, ReX salutes you!

Happy Holidays!

Merry ChristmaKwanzaaKkah (and Festivus)

Gearing Up for the Big Day!

The following song lyrics are for your personal reflection...They spoke to me...hopefully will for you as well...

YA YA

So you wanna do the right thing
But you don’t know when to start
You wanna hear your voice ring
But you can’t find your part
You wanna feel real special
But you’re afraid to be strange
You wish things were different
But you don’t wanna change

So you’ve got yourself a plan
But you ain’t got no tools
You wanna be the man
But you hang around fools
You wanna lead every dance
But you ain’t got no groove
You’re looking to advance
But you’re stuck and can’t move

Now you ask the man upstairs
Where’s my love this ain’t fair
Are you up there?

Ya ya ya ya, make way
Ya ya ya ya, this way
Ya ya ya ya, make way
Sing tra la la la all day
Keep giving away your good thing
And a good thing will come your way.

It shook you up, but now you’re thinking
Is he right or is he wrong
Maybe there ain’t no meaning
Just like a silly little song
And when you go, move slow, that’s how you learn
But you’ve got to stop talking
What you give is what you earn
The man says “Of course I’m here, I’m everywhere
I’m getting tired of you asking.”
Sing,

Ya ya ya ya, make way
Ya ya ya ya, this way
Ya ya ya ya, make way
Sing tra la la la all day
Keep giving away your good thing
And a good thing will come your way.


* Anders
-----

Dublin to Italy to New Zealand - NoLA Rising Everywhere

"This is Teuila (like tequila, without the "q"). She bought ingredients and made yummy nachos for dinner. We were talking about art, she wanted to see your stuff, and fell in love with the monkey! SO - first trade for FREE DINNER! thanks!" - From our Irish Travel Correspondent for NoLA Rising...spreading the word of Rex through Europe!





ReX wishes Teuila safe travels!

Just Whistling Dixie!

TO MY ALABAMA FRIENDS!!!! ALWAYS OUT FRONT ON THE EDGE!!!!!

Subject: Alabama History

Last January the New Orleans Times Picayune reported that a Cajun amateur
archeologist having dug to a depth of 10 feet and found traces of copper wire
dating back 100 years and came to the conclusion that their ancestors already
had a telephone network more than 100 years ago.

Not to be outdone by the Cajuns , in the weeks that followed, Texan scientists
dug to a depth of 20 feet. Shortly after, headlines in the Dallas Morning News
read: "Texas archaeologists have found traces of 200-year old copper wire,
and have concluded that their ancestors already had an advanced high-tech
communications network one hundred years earlier than the Cajuns."

One week later, The Birmingham News reported the following: "After digging
as deep as 30 feet in fields near Sylacauga, Bubba , a self- taught archeologist,
reported that he found absolutely nothing. Bubba has therefore concluded that
300 years ago in Alabama they were already using wireless . .

Radtke Cries Mea Culpa After Destroying Political Signs

See his story here on Fox News 8

So Many Wonderful People in New Orleans

"Do you know what it means...?"

Here I am, the guy always so full of words, left a little speechless. I cannot tell you all how much I appreciate the tremendous support that I received after yesterday's unfortunate incident with the Grey Gangsta. In all my years in New Orleans (which has been nearly all of them), I have never felt more at home than with each and every one of you who came to give me a hug, pat me on the back, shake my hand, and what have you. Your offers of assistance is greatly appreciated and while I hope I won't have to burden anyone with all this, I may end up having to. Despite the unmanly and sheepish tactics of the number one adversary to the arts community, the day was a great success.


The sales of the artwork at both the art market and at the gallery (soft) opening at Ranger Dave's in the Marigny were good, but most importantly were the number of smiles I got to see. It's a nice & refreshing thing to know that so many people believe in what I am doing and in the direction that the movement has gone. People have said, when they connect my artwork to my face, "OH, you're NoLA RISING!" Well, yes, let me say that I may be the face of NoLA Rising, but NoLA Rising is not about Michael Dingler the artist; NoLA RISING is about each and every one of you in the city of New Orleans!

NoLA RISING began as one person, one citizen, who believed enough in his city to return after leaving. I wasn't gone very long because it didn't take me very long to realize what I was missing and what the rest of the country is missing out on. I cannot do justice to the spirit of our city with words, but all of you Who D'ats know what I am talking about.


The concept behind NoLA RISING was simple: If I could make a difference in one person's life that made them appreciate our city, then it was worth the great expense of encouraging a public art project. One smile from a person having a bad day, one moment of reconsideration from a person thinking of leaving New Orleans, one second of thoughtful reflection from someone who spends too much time in front of their television...then it was all worth it.

NoLA RISING became a self-fulfilling prophecy with each new person who commented how much they thought of what I was encouraging and the work that I was doing. Selfishly, it was my own form of therapy being back in the city, but most importantly, it was for all of us. For all of us at home, for all of us coming home, and for all of us who want to come home! I may the face of NoLA RISING, BUT NoLA RISING IS YOU! So, with that, I encourage you all to sit down with your kids, your friends or your self, and create at least one piece of artwork to put up somewhere that the public can enjoy. ART FOR THE PEOPLE!


The ability to make a difference is within each and every one of you, whether you are now in Houston, Boulder, Los Angeles or just right across the river in Marrero and from there, you can let people know about the rich cultural heritage of your home through public art.

Like our brothers and sister at DIRTY COAST say, "Be a New Orleanian, Wherever You Are!"

I would also like to add my sincere thanks to artists who trade pieces with me (example below) and others who are kind enough to drop off packages of paint and supplies. The random acts of kindness y'all bring 'round make a difference...Thank you and SALUT!

Michael "ReX" Dingler, Magister of NoLA Rising