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Home/Featured/Mardi Gras Beads
Mardi Gras float riders throwing beads

Mardi Gras Beads

From the street to the gallery

Mardi Gras beads litter the streets and sidewalks of New Orleans after the parades have passed. The colorful strands of plastic pearls lay broken on the pavement, the result of missed catches from the overwhelming barrage of throws from an endless stream of Carnival floats.

colorful mardi gras rider tosses beads from float
Rider tosses beads during Rex parade on Mardi Gras

The post-parade scene of unwanted Mardi Gras beads inspired artist artist John K. Lawson. He recalls a walk along St. Charles Avenue after a parade, “It was really a bright afternoon, and it just looked like this mosaic of color and beauty.” Lawson, a native of England, attended the Landscape Architecture School at LSU and never left Louisiana.

mardi gras beads become art

horse head shaped figure colored with colorful Mardi Gras beads by male artist
John K. Lawson creates Mardi Gras bead art

On the day I visited Lawson’s studio located near Baton Rouge, he was using a hot glue gun to attached multi-colored plastic pearls to a horse head shaped figure. He calls this new work “Big Mamou”, a celebration of the colorful Mardi Gras riders that gallop across Louisiana’s Cajun country. (see story below)

An unconventional canvas

grand piano covered with strands of multi colored beads
Lawson’s tribute to Voodoo legend Marie Laveau

One of Lawson’s creations is on display in the front window of the Voodoo Two Lounge on Carondelet Street in downtown New Orleans. Beads cover nearly every inch of the baby grand piano in a dazzling tribute to voodoo priestess Marie Laveau. The black and white piano keys are the only surface without beads because Lawson doesn’t want to interfere with playing the piano.

mardi gras beads and hot glue

hand with hot glue gun attaches beads to horse figure
Beads attached with hot glue gun

The process is time-consuming. Lawson uses what he calls a special formula of hot glue to attach strands of beads. Then he fills in any open spaces with smaller beads. “Once the piece is finished,” Lawson explains, “I take it to an automobile body shop and they lacquer it out.” He wants the beaded creations to last as long as whatever it’s attached to.

multi colored bead artwork hanging on wall
A Lawson creation hangs in the lobby of a New Orleans building

Lawson’s art is a spectacular use of left-over carnival beads. He creates colorful characters and pieces that preserve the fun and whimsical nature of Mardi Gras.

Mardi gras bead art featured on tv

Watch this Heart of Louisiana TV feature on the bead art of John K. Lawson

view of a mardi gras super float

In 1968 the Krewe of Bacchus began parading through New Orleans on the Sunday night before Mardi Gras. Bacchus was the first of the super krewes which feature the largest floats of Carnival. Bacchagator was added to the krewe’s parade lineup in 1986. The three-section alligator-themed float is 105 feet long and can hold 86 bead-throwing riders.

Watch the Bacchagator from the Krewe of Bacchus 2022

More Colorful Features

Mardi Gras Mamou

    horse kicks up dust as rider with lance catches rings at le Tournoi

    Cajun Knights

      close up of accordion being played Fred's Lounge in Mamou Louisiana

      Fred’s Lounge

        Written by:
        Dave McNamara
        Published on:
        March 2, 2022
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        Categories: Featured, New Orleans

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