New Orleans Artist Storms through Rough Times and Looks for New Opportunities after Hurricane Katrina
Issa Abou-Issa, an artist with limitless talent, lost her artwork, her gallery contract and her upcoming show when Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast this month. What she didn't lose was her strength, and in the aftermath of this national disaster, she is already beginning to re-create her portfolio and to build her own gallery.
(PRWEB) September 20, 2005 -- After Hurricane Katrina crashed into the coast of Louisiana and tormented thousands of people with her treacherous winds and rains, Issa Abou-Issa found her dreams all but washed away with the flood. The portfolio she had spent the last few decades building was gone, along with the gallery contract she had been in the process of signing.
"The day after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans homes and businesses I knew I had lost everything," Issa says. "But I wasn't about to sit around and find out. I wasn't about to let this get the best of me."
After considering several different solutions to her missing artwork, Issa is now announcing that she will continue to represent herself rather than continuing in her pursuit for a gallery contract. With a renewed determination to succeed on her own terms, Issa has joined artnet (www.artnet.com), an online fine-art gallery that buys and sells the work of more than 25,000 artists throughout the world.
A New York City girl at heart, Issa's latest show, "In a New York State of Mind," has now been cancelled due to the hurricane. Her creations were to be showcased Oct. 1 at the annual New Orleans' "Art for Artsake," where every gallery and upscale shop in town participates by showing artwork from several different local artists.
Since learning of the cancellation, Issa has thrown herself into her artwork, often working well into the middle of the night. Issa has been using her art as an outlet for releasing the many different emotions this disaster has brought out.
"I've been selling my paintings thru my website and advertisements in publications and have done well," Issa says. "I decided then to start my own 'gallery' (with the help of well-known Web gallery, artnet). No one knows my art better than me and besides, I don't think a lot of galleries are ready to take on an artist who's unpredictable and outspoken on canvas and paint. And I'm sure as hell not about to follow anybody's rules. Either I'm given full reign to express myself all or nothing."
Through her new alliance with artnet, Issa will be able to market wisely while still creating the controversial and unpredictable masterpieces she is known for. To view Issa's creations, please visit www.artnet.com/issagaleria.html .
"My husband and l had the wonderful opportunity of meeting Issa several years ago while we were on a trip in New York City," says Dr. Crisostomomo, an avid collector of Issa's artwork. "We knew then and still do that she is going to do great things and accomplish her dreams of becoming a successful artist. Issa paints with her own brush and disregards rules of the traditional art world."
About Issa
Throughout her career, Issa Abou-Issa has taken several art classes to perfect her skills. Most recently, she studied sculpture with world-renown sculptor and artist Kinsey Branham at the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts. Issa prides herself, however, on pushing the limits and creating art filled with raw emotion. Each of her pieces represents her personality, and she aims to push observers' buttons with her controversial creations.
"In essence, you'll either love my work or hate it -- because with me, there's no in between."
Contact:
Issa Abou-Issa
985-991-7343
www.artnet.com/issagaleria.html
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