This is a fragment of one in a series of three monumental murals painted by my late father, Auseklis Ozols. I helped him paint this mural, along with his other studio assistant Tucker Fitzhugh. We were both his painting assistants for many years and worked with him throughout many studio moves.

This mural is one of three my father painted in the Windsor Court Hotel in New Orleans. Tucker and I both also posed as models-I am pictured here in a black dress with my pup at the time.

My two sisters visited the murals a few days ago and enjoyed a Saturday night dinner. There are many fun stories related to the costumes, people, and painting of this series. There is so much to say about the process, painting, and vision of these works of art.

This pup was Indra’s when I moved back to New Orleans after completing graduate school. I kept him for a while until I found my own new dog. He was with me while I was teaching/working/assisting on this day. AO had everything for the murals set up in different spots throughout the building. When it was my turn to pose, Teti told me to put this specific heavy borrowed outfit on. He had two or three dress racks of period costumes (borrowed from where? I don’t remember but someone will ) Once I changed, ( I would often bring this dog with me to teach and tie him up near the academy kitchen door) into this dress this dog BOLTED OFF down magazine street. I chased him down blocks in a full petticoat and floor length dress in the summer heat with a collar up to my neck; then jogged him back to the Noafa parking lot where AO ( Teti ) decided that was the look he wanted for the mural. 

Many other people and prominent figures of the city, state government, as well as students, and friends are also in this mural.

then back to teaching painting