BOURBON STREET
Mentor Huebner (c) 1953
Oil on Masonite 22" X 26"

BOURBON STREET

BY

If Bourbon Street was in Los Angeles instead of New Orleans I wouldn't have been with Mentor when he painted it.

I would usually accompany Mentor if he painted landscapes and seascapes, but not cityscapes. Out of town it was easier to hang out with him. As it had always been ~
pre-kids. We could go anywhere. We were like turtles and carried and carried everything we needed in the car. It was our home away from home ~ and very cozy.

But in LA Mentor liked to paint docks and construction sites. There weren't too many
conveniences. And it seemed the best views were always found around the base of bridges in ‘bad’ neighborhoods. Gangland. Mentor always drew crowds. “Hey Man! You an artist or something? How much you want for that?”

Mentor, boxed for fun and was confident. “You can’t afford the brush.” I’d warn him later about his being so flip and he’d say, “I can take care of myself”. And he could. By why trigger the experience?

The art loving gang member, after standing around quietly for a few minutes, looking serious, had called out to the others, “Let’s go, the guy’s busy“. Then as they walked away, the leader, in a moment of relating, turned to give Mentor a last good-bye, and with a touching cultural rapport, added, “Looks good Man. Just like a photo”

Mentor grunted and give a non committal nod, as painting "Just like a photo", wasn't where it was at for him. But he understood the compliment. .

In LA it was always tricky... painting in the streets. Not everyone like art. And then there's the traffic. LA’s traffic is heavy during the day. Even the foot traffic. But in New Orleans the night explodes. The streets fill up. It looks pretty much like 42nd Street in New York City on New Year's Eve.

This painting depicts a peaceful moment of time. Although it was quiet at the start, and the street was practically empty Mentor knew he had to race and work very fast to finish the painting and get it off the street before any happy mob showed up.

This day, this painting attracted no gang critique. Instead, a lonely Saxophone, wailed for hours, from a balcony above.

Each, equal in charm.

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click links to view larger images and see individual intimate stories
OR
click here to view a slideshow of the paintings in sequence

"MENTOR" Self Portrait Mentor Huebner (c) 1963 Oil on Masonite 30" X 24"	"MOJAVE GOLD" Mentor Huebner (c) 1953 Oil on Masonite 24" X 30"	" A PALACE OF FUN" Mentor Huebner (c) 1955 Oil on Masonite 24" X 30"
"THE BISTRO" Mentor Huebner (c) 1962 Oil on Painter's Board 22" X 26"	"SEXI BEACH BAR" Mentor Huebner (c) 1962 Oil on European Painter's Board 22" X 26"	"SAINT MARKS IN VENICE" Mentor Huebner (c) 1962 Oil on European Painter's Board 22" X 26"
"THE GRAND CANAL IN VENICE" Mentor Huebner (c) 1958 Oil on Masonite 24" X 30"	"THE FOREIGNER" Mentor Huebner (c) 1969 Oil on Masonite 24" X 30"	"HENRY FORD BRIDGE" Mentor Huebner (c) 1963 Oil on Masonite 24" X 30"
"MORTAL WOUND" Mentor Huebner (c) 1957 Oil on Masonite 24" X 30"	"BOURBON STREET" Mentor Huebner (c) 1953 Oil on Masonite 22" X 26"	"CALIFORNIA GOLD" Mentor Huebner (c) 1959 Oil on Masonite 30" X 24"