Robert Tannen's Jackson Square

Too hot outside to explore New Orleans' most iconic location? No sweat. Robert Tannen's Jackson Square is to be explored in the air-conditioned comfort of the Historic New Orleans Collection's Exposition Center. The sculpture by New Orleans artist and urban planner Robert Tannen (b.1937), comprises representations of all the noteworthy structures adjacent to the square—the Pontalba buildings, Cabildo, Presbytère, and St. Louis Cathedral—as well as the riverfront levee and the square’s statue of Andrew Jackson. The entire sculpture spans ten-by-twelve feet, and the tallest structure, St. Louis Cathedral, stands five feet tall. The long levee comprises the fourth side of the square and reminds the viewer of the city’s deeply elemental relationship with the river. The sculpture is accompanied by a brief history of the square and an exploration of its urban development, as well as interactive stations where visitors can share their responses to the work and create their own models of significant urban spaces. Free. hnoc.org.