Artist: Lala Raščić
New Orleans, LA
The Checkered Oyster is the working title of an interdisciplinary research project inspired by the lives of Louisiana’s coastal Croatians. The project will delve into histories of Croatian immigrants settling in oyster and fishing communities in and around Orleans, Plaquemines and St. Bernard Parishes going back as far as the 19th century, and their integration and assimilation into Louisiana life. The first part of the project is the identification of the persons to establish a dialogue with and subsequently organize a participatory event: The Checkered Oyster, a pop-up Croatian tavern, with food, drink, and an open mic.