Photographer Michael P. Smith (1937–2008) captured the heart and soul of New Orleans’s music, culture, and folkways. He documented the physical and social structures that helped shape the unique cultural identity of his native New Orleans. In 2007, The Collection acquired Smith’s body of work, ensuring both its long-term preservation and ultimate public access.

In the Spirit: The Photography of Michael P. Smith from The Historic New Orleans Collection marks the inaugural public presentation of the Michael P. Smith Archive from The Historic New Orleans Collection. The exhibition includes unique displays at The Collection and the Contemporary Arts Center.

Visit The Historic New Orleans Collection's YouTube channel and see In the Spirit: The Photography of Michael P. Smith, a video addressing the life and work of Michael P. Smith.

Beyond the Music

March 11–September 13, 2009
The Historic New Orleans Collection,
533 Royal Street

Gallery Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Sunday, 10:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Admission: Free

From 1968 to 2004, New Orleans native Michael P. Smith immersed himself in the larger world of the Crescent City’s musical culture. Upon earning the trust of his subjects, Smith was granted access to practices often hidden from the public eye.

The Historic New Orleans Collection’s display, Beyond the Music, invites you to step into the worlds of brass bands, Mardi Gras Indians, and jazz funerals; spiritual churches, second lines, and Louisiana folkways. Divided into eight thematic sections, the display’s 80-plus photographs bear witness to events both elusive and personal.

Twenty-Five Jazz Fests

April 17–July 12, 2009
Contemporary Arts Center, 900 Camp Street

Gallery Hours: Thursday–Sunday, 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Admission: Free

From 1970 until his retirement in 2004, Michael P. Smith documented the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. The CAC’s display of Smith’s work, Twenty-Five Jazz Fests, offers a glimpse into this aspect of his career. Viewers will see iconic images of national musicians such as Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, and Chuck Berry as well as Louisiana legends like Professor Longhair, Dr. John, and Irma Thomas.

CAC’s display of Smith’s material is funded under a grant from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. The exhibition is also made possible by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation, Inc.