Jeff and Meggan Haller, owners of Keyhole Photo, will launch Bon Temps: The Fancy and Folly of Mobile’s Mardi Gras, a photo exhibition about Mardi Gras in Mobile, Ala., February 1, 2010, to coincide with the opening of Cortlandt’s, in Oakleigh Garden District.
The exhibition, which will include some of the photographs featured in the January 2010 issue of Mobile Bay Monthly Magazine, is the culmination of two years of work photographing the carnival season in Mobile. “Mardi Gras is an incredibly rich tradition, here, and one that we are constantly inspired by,” Jeff Haller said. “I’ve enjoyed photographing it.”
The show will open with over 25 prints that explore the pageantry and revelry of both public and private events, as well as some of the behind-the-scenes. Cortlandt’s, which will exhibit the work, is a new, upscale casual bar and restaurant on the corner of George and Savannah streets in Oakleigh, owned by Mobile native Chef Cortlandt Inge. Meggan Haller said she thought Cortlandt’s was a good fit for the show’s first exhibition because it has recently been renovated and is well-suited to larger bodies of work like Bon Temps.
Though the project is on-going, Meggan Haller said the time is right to start exhibiting the work. “I think we’ll always be working on it, but I’m hoping that the more people know about what we’re doing, the more they’ll want to help us out with ideas.” Haller said. She said that she and Jeff appreciate input and suggestions for possible photo subjects. “One of the coolest things about Mardi Gras is that there are so many ways to celebrate it,” Haller said. “Whether it’s an exclusive organization or a family tradition — we’re interested in all of it.”
If you have ideas for Jeff and Meggan’s Bon Temps Mardi Gras photography project, get in touch. Cortlandt’s is located at 351 George St. in Mobile, Ala.
