Krewe of Muses
Formation2001 (2001)
FounderStaci Rosenberg
TypeAll Female Carnival Krewe
Location
  • Uptown, New Orleans, LA.
Membership
1100 (875 riders)
Websitewww.kreweofmuses.org

The Krewe of Muses is an all-female super krewe and social organization.

History and formation

The Muses were founded in 2000 by Staci Rosenberg and first paraded during Mardi Gras in 2001. Since then the krewe has grown to include approximately 1100 members.[1] The krewe's parade is held on the Thursday evening before Mardi Gras, and features 25 floats designed by Kern Studios.

Parade

Krewe of Muses parade on Jeudi Gras, the Thursday night prior to Mardi Gras. The parade starts at Magazine Street and Jefferson street in Uptown New Orleans; proceeds east to Napoleon street where it follows Knights of Babylon and Knights of Chaos.

Parade themes

Krewe of Muses season parade theme is secret until Jeudi Gras. The theme is always satirical.

In 2006, to honor the victims of Hurricane Katrina, the Muses had at the tail end of their parade an empty float which evoked the riderless horse that follows the caisson carrying the casket in a funeral procession.[2]

  • 2023 Goodnight Muse
  • 2022 Let It Ride 21 or Bust
  • 2021 - no parade due to Covid 19 pandemic
  • 2020 Visions: NostradaMuse Sees All
  • 2019 Muses the Musical
  • 2018 A Night at the Museum
  • 2017 Dr. Meuss on the Loose, Oh The Parade We'll Throw!
  • 2016 Muses Sweet Sixteen
  • 2015 Are You There God? It's Us, Muses!
  • 2014 Muses Ready To Wear You Out
  • 2013 Muses Makin' Groceries
  • 2012 Muses Go Shopping, Taking it to the Limit
  • 2011 Dancing with the Muses
  • 2010 The Muses Guide to Love and Romance
  • 2009 Muses 009: License to Swill
  • 2008 Muses Night Fever
  • 2007 The Adventures of Supermuse
  • 2006 Muses Got Game
  • 2005 Muse TV, We'll Turn You On
  • 2004 The Weekly World Muse, Enquiring Muses Want to Know
  • 2003 Museology—the Lesser Known Gods and Goddesses
  • 2002 Muses Reach the Terrible Twos
  • 2001 Muses First Time

Honorary Muses

Krewe of Muses select one woman to be Honorary Muse each parade season. Each year's Honorary Muse rides in the krewe's main float, a large fiber optic high heeled shoe.[3]

Iconic floats

Muses Mama and Baby Duck Floats
  • The Goddessey is the first float in the parade and carries the krewe captain and officers. Muses krewe member Susan Gisleson designed “The Goddessey.” Built by Kerns Studios, it features Greek mythology's winged stallion, Pegasus; symbols for the nine muses in Greek mythology; and more than 100 peach-colored lanterns hanging from the Tree of Knowledge.
  • High Heel Shoe carries the Honorary Muse of the Parade
  • Mama Duck and Duckies
  • The Sirens is the final float in the parade.

Throws

Since its inception, Muses has emphasized usable and reMUSEable throws. From soap to earbuds, socks to water bottles, luggage tags to pens and notebooks, bandanas to scarves, Muses is a leader in throws that are functional and exciting for the crowds. Muses throws are cherished, worn, and displayed throughout the year, rather than being discarded to clog drains or landfills.

Of course, the iconic and upcycled Muses Decorated Shoe, which was originally an homage to the Zulu coconut, is a perfect example of reuse. It is also the most coveted throw of Mardi Gras.

Many of the Muses tote bags, pencil bags, and cosmetic bags are made from recycled materials.

In recent years, to reduce its impact, Muses has made a conscious decision to scale down the amount of single-use plastic — the focus of throws is quality. Out of this year's throws, very few are traditional beads, some of which have the logoed medallion affixed with a lobster claw so that they can easily be removed and hooked to a backpack, purse or belt loop and the bead can be recycled.

Muses strives to be a leader in promoting a more sustainable Mardi Gras through reMUSEable throws.

Other activities

The Krewe of Muses has presented several award-winning displays.[5]

In addition to their parade and year-long philanthropic works, the Muses host a design contest for students in the area. The winner has his or her design turned into a throw cup.[5]

Depictions in media

  • The Sirens float appears in the music video for Arcade Fire's Electric Blue. Video on YouTube
  • The Krewe of Muses parade is featured in the opening sequence in HBO's Treme season 2, episode 7 "Carnival Time".[6]

References

  1. ↑ Gilmore, Christilisa (2011). "Shoe Time!". NOLA Defender.
  2. ↑ Best of New Orleans Music Feature. “Gambit Weekly: Captains Courageous! March 7, 2006”
  3. ↑ Klein, Kenny (March 3, 2014). "Krewe Of Muses: Mardi Gras Parades Explained!". Huffington Post.
  4. ↑ "Emmy Award Winner Patricia Clarkson Named Honorary Muse". wafb. January 23, 2019.
  5. 1 2 New Orleans Mardi Gras. “Mardi Gras Parade Schedule: Krewe of Muses Information Page ”
  6. ↑ "Treme: "Carnival Time"". The A.V. Club. June 5, 2011.
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