"Drop Me Off In New Orleans"

Actual Size: Approximately 21x 24 inches
Framed Size: 27.5x30.5 inches

This contemporary felted portrait honors beloved New Orleans jazz musician Kermit Ruffins, whose joyful performances embody the spirit of the city. Using wet felting, Nuno felting, and needle felting techniques, I build painterly layers from wool, bamboo, silk, and viscose fibers, blending colors by hand rather than using paint. The Nuno-felted shirt mimics the texture of seersucker—a staple fabric for enduring New Orleans heat—while stitched and embellished fiber elements echo the rhythm and improvisation of live jazz. Through texture, color, and dimensional fiber work, this piece reimagines portraiture while celebrating the vibrant musical culture of New Orleans.