Tulanians are changing spaces

When the DesCours art and architecture event descends upon New Orleans the first week of December, transforming private courtyards, walkways and rooftops hidden across downtown, teams of Tulanians will get to share their vision with the city.

Rebecca Miller, a fifth-year architecture student, along with Scott Berger and Kevin Muni, 2011 architecture graduates, designed an installation entitled Rendezvous. The team was selected along with nine other artists and teams including others from Tulane to participate in the fifth annual DesCours.

Located in a courtyard at the St. Joe's Artist Lofts, 923 Constance St., Rendezvous transforms the space with vinyl panels that twist from the ceiling, down the wall to the floor, blending the space into a singular three-dimensional experience. The translucent canopy has overlapping panels reminiscent of a flock of migrating birds. Lighting design draws pedestrians from the street, and seating areas create space for people to gather in a normally private area, allowing viewers to discover the project at a closer level.

Miller is excited about the experience because, “when you are working on someone else's project, you basically do what you're told to create someone else's vision. Being able to do this installation has been challenging, but so much fun because it's so much more — you get to create and see your own vision come to life.”

Berger explains the relatively small scale of the project has been a great experience for them because it allows each to participate in all aspects, from design to site management and construction. “Rather than create the design and hand off to someone else for construction, we are able see the project through from beginning to end and maintain higher level of quality and detail.”

Rendezvous and other DesCours installations are free and open to the public from Saturday (Dec. 3) through Dec. 11, from 6 until 10 p.m.