Nina Liu and Friends

This is by far my favorite gallery on the increasingly popular artwalks in the French Quarter. The cheerful coral historic building on State Street houses hundreds of original, whimsical works, including jewelry and pottery. One of my favorite artists featured there makes homemade paper light sculptures in fascinating shapes (a giant jellyfish, for instance). Another, Don Dudenbostel, takes x-​ray-​like photographs of flowers and natural objects, the results of which are eerily amazing (see pic). When your eyes glaze over after viewing yet another sunset-​on-​the-​marsh scene at umpteen other galleries, head over to Nina Liu’s for some fresh inspiration and great nibbles (for last night’s walk she made brussels sprouts soaked in sesame oil and featured dips from Doe’s Pita), graciously served by the proprietor herself. The building, the Poinsett House, keeps going up and up, and Ms Liu opens all four floors of her gallery/​home for the artwalks. She even allowed us plebeians to wander in her back garden, a lush little courtyard with a tiny pond and some great sculpture. Nina Liu was one of the first to arrange the gallery tours that later became the artwalks, and as far as I’m concerned, hers is the best stop along the way.