DIMITRI FOUQUE T
N ew Orleans Artist
b y Kristin Fouquet
Excerpts taken from “Artist Unknown” by Kristin K. Fouquet ©2005 by Storyhouse (https://www.storyhouse.org/kristin9.html)
Text and photographs ©2023 Kristin Fouquet
On June 24, 1943, Dimitri Fouquet’s life began as Wayne Fouquet on a wooden kitchen table in Algiers Point on the West Bank of the murky Mississippi River. Across the river, Algiers shares the same thick humid air in which New Orleans Voodoo folklore was born through whispered stories about Baron Samedi , the original Dr. John, and Marie Laveau: two spirits Fouquet would capture in oil.
“The Algiers Ferry” by Dimitri Fouquet
He grew up in “The Point” with his cousin Ronnie Barosse, who would later be known as Ronnie Baron, the well-known New Orleans pianist and singer. According to Dimitri, the boys would strip down on the levee to swim in the Mississippi River so their mothers wouldn’t catch them with wet clothes. As wild teens, they would sneak into the church, Holy Name of Mary, and light their cigarettes and joints off of the candles for the poor. Ronnie would run up on the altar and bellow from the pulpit like an old Baptist preacher.
“The Algiers Courthouse” by Dimitri Fouquet
Although, Dimitri came from a family of artists, it was Ronnie’s grandfather, an elder artist named PaPete, who became his artistic mentor. At PaPete’s house, Ronnie would play his grandfather’s piano while Dimitri watched the artist paint. PaPete also painted in Jackson Square in the French Quarter. Young Dimitri spent many days in the Square observing the master artist working in the old European style. The fact that he managed to make a living as an artist was something that impressed Dimitri very much. He was a determined student and soon learned the techniques of the brushstroke and how to mix paints to achieve desired colors.
“Holy Name of Mary Church and Rectory” by Dimitri Fouquet
Furthing his art education, Dimitri, an avid reader, studied the techniques of the old masters.
“Supper at Emmaus” by W. Fouquet
“Two Satyrs” by Dimitri Fouquet
Even in recreating masterpieces or familiar artistic settings, he would often paint additions or alterations to make them his own.
“French Bread of Montmartre” by W. Fouquet
“Venice” by W. Fouquet
“Parfum” by W. Fouquet
“Lady Ironing” by W. Fouquet
“La Couleur” by Dimitri Fouquet
Dimitri’s artwork also reflected his many diverse interests and beliefs. He painted original artwork of a novena for Mary’s Helpers. The resulting prayer cards from those paintings can still be found today around New Orleans. Recently, one turned up in the men’s room of St. Joe’s Bar on Magazine Street. After converting to Greek Orthodoxy and taking the name Dimitri, he began painting the religious icons of the Orthodox tradition. He painstakingly produced them as close to the originals as possible. He bought rabbit skin glue, the exact wood boards, and the type of paints used by the monks. Dimitri used garlic cloves to adhere the gold leaf just as they had. For him, it was an exercise of both art and faith. He was honored when his icons were blessed on the altar of his church, Holy Trinity Cathedral.
“Dimitri Painting” by Kristin Fouquet
Always the New Orleans artist, his most enduring subjects are taken from his hometown. He painted buggy drivers, absinthe drinkers, vendors in the French Market, many French Quarter scenes, Congo Square, and of course, Baron Samedi and Marie Laveau. It was Ronnie and Dimitri’s old friend Mac Rebennack, a.k.a. Dr. John, who used these two latter subjects as the artwork for his CD “Creole Moon.”
“Congo Square” by Dimitri Fouquet
“Marie Laveau” by W. Fouquet
“Baron Samedi” by Dimitri Fouquet
“Mardi Gras at Midnight” by W. Fouquet
“The Absinthe Drinkers” by W. Fouquet
The majority of his artwork was in the Realism tradition using oils, but for fun he did several pieces that were stylized and comical reflecting counter-cultural themes, back street blues jams, and beatnik decadence. As with all of his paintings, these were full of life; one could almost taste the red wine and smell the pot smoke. Dimitri read the great works of Zen Buddhism with the same intensity and respect as he did the books of his own faith. He used Sumi ink for his Zen ink drawings of monks and cats.
“Ravi Shankar” by Dimitri Fouquet
“Rizzum & Blues” by Dimitri Fouquet
“Zen Cat” by Dimitri Fouquet
“Two Patriarchs Harmonizing Their Minds” by Dimitri Fouquet
Like many New Orleanians, Dimitri was attracted to light and dark; good and evil. He was equally amused if someone mistook him as a devil worshipper or a Russian priest. In this unique culture, there exists no contradiction in embracing both seemingly conflicting sides. There is decadence in Carnival and Mardi Gras before the fast of Lent, and then the feast again at Easter. It is the custom to celebrate even in death, as in jazz funerals. Although complex, there is no inconsistency in a man who painted Voodoo deities, pot-smoking beatniks and musicians, strippers, saints, and the Madonna and Child.
Dimitri Fouquet died suddenly at the young age of 59 on August 22, 2002.
“Dimitri Signing his ‘Marie Laveau’ prints” by Kristin Fouquet