The Jazz & Heritage Gallery, located at 1205 N. Rampart, is hosting a new exhibit from Louisiana photographer Zack Smith. Entitled 'My Louisiana Muse,' Smith's featured works feature a series of large-format film portraits of different Louisiana artists in the places where they feel most inspired. They were developed utilizing the Bromoil inking process, a means of development most common in the early 20th century. It will be on display from Saturday, Sep. 12 to Wednesday, October 7. Admission is free.

Smith is well-known for his images of Louisiana musicians and artists, and is also one of the official photographers of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Many of the portraits are deep into Louisiana nature. On his website, Smith states that this was unsurprising as "our surroundings have a powerful effect on our day-to-day lives and this ongoing relationship has been documented by artists to help explain our connections. Poets, painters, and photographers have long used Louisiana’s coast and her plains as their muse, drawing inspiration from her flowing waters and her changing coastline."

For the project, Smith traveled over 1000 miles around Louisiana in the last year, photographing notable artists in their most inspired environments. Featured subjects include photographers Frank Relle, Michel Varisco, Jenny Ellerbe, along with artists and musicians Goldman Thibodeaux, Nick Slie, and Bryan Lafaye. Louisiana Poet Laureate Darrell Bourque is also featured and will be writing a new piece to commemorate My Louisiana Muse and tell its' stories.

An opening reception will be held Saturday, Sep. 12 from 6p-9p.

mylouisianamuse.com