| Marking
a significant rapprochement between city
officials and members of the old-line
Carnival aristocracy, who in the early
1990s became targets of an effort to prohibit
discrimination in the ranks of organizations
parading on public streets, the Krewe
of Proteus will roll down the traditional
Uptown parade route, on March 6 at 5:30
p.m., with 20 float units, at least a
dozen bands, 40 flambeaux carriers and
32 lieutentants on horseback.
Proteus,
founded in 1882, was one of three krewes
that stopped parading in the wake of
the bitter controversy triggered by
the City Council's anti-discrimination
ordinance (which, in its final form,
basically prohibited discrimination
in any form except on the basis of gender).
Resisting what they regarded as an intrusion
into their private affairs, Proteus,
Krewe of Momus and Mistick Krewe of
Comus—which, along with Rex,
were the only parading organizations
dating from the 1800s and still on the
streets—declined
to sign an affidavit saying they wouldn't
discriminate. (Rex signed, opening up
its membership to blacks.) |
Proteus
bust, created by Royal Artists,
on display at the Louisiana
State Museum's
new Mardi Gras exhibit at the Presbytere |
Proteus has now
signed the affidavit, clearing the way for
its first public presentation since 1992.
An officer of the krewe says that members
would have liked to return to the streets
much sooner. "We were ready to go from
day one," he explains, "but some
of our bylaws and articles of incorporation
had to be adjusted and cleaned up, and some
things had to happen." With all that
now "behind us," he continues, "we've
got great harmony going now [with city officials],
and look forward to being on the street."
In a departure
from the tradition of old-line krewes, Proteus
has chosen to preannounce its parade theme:
"Flights of Fantasy." Its wooden-wheeled
floats, decorated by Royal Artists, will depict
native birds and native of Louisiana, and
the folklore associated with them.
While traditionalists are sure to be delighted
by the return of an old-line night parade
that upholds the aesthetic standards of "classic"
Carnival, Proteus will play to the bauble-loving
hearts of the hoi polloi as well. Hot throw
items to watch out for: 60-inch, red-and-white
pearl-bead necklaces with krewe-emblemed polystone
medallions, and plastic tridents—three-pronged spears, which, in ancient mythology, were
carried by Neptune and Poseidon. (Proteus
is son of Neptune.)
Not a parade to be missed. |
