Free wine. Free cheese. Free admission to art galleries. This impeccable combination of pleasures can only be found at Art for Art’s Sake.

The annual event took place last Saturday, where a multitude of art galleries and antique shops across the city opened their doors to the public. Attendees were welcome to roam about the tiny museums while gallery curators and artists would introduce themselves.

Many Tulanians prefer the Magazine Street location for this art walk due to its close proximity to campus.

The popular event is familiar to hundreds of New Orleans natives and spans from the Warehouse Arts District to the Contemporary Arts Center, which is a common last stop to end the night with new exhibits and musical performances.

Some attend for their appreciation of fine art and others are there for their love of free alcohol and socialization. Most alleyways at this year’s event were filled with tables of new artists who were excited to talk about their journey and the mediums they use in their work.

Some canvases hung along side fences while others stood propped against telephone polls. Various crafters loitered around their work, but others were in the process of making it on the spot. One artist entertained onlookers by painting to music—stroking his brush to the canvas in harmony with the song’s beat.

There was an overwhelming sense of appreciation for New Orleans as most illustrators chatted about their affinity for the city and the impact it has had on their creative vision.

One artist in particular, Cat Landrum, photographs graveyards around the city. She prints these photos on paper and and tops them with the application of a colored gel medium. Landrum mentioned that her inspiration came from the city’s ability to celebrate death instead of fear it.

Despite the original date being pushed back in anticipation for Hurricane Nate, event-goers were in good spirits at the postponed Art for Art’s Sake. As the evening went on, street performances became louder and more energized. Many took to dancing in the galleries—despite the possibility of spilling a drink onto a $2,000 painting.

No hurricane could stop these artists and the like from enjoying a night immersed in discussion of artistic technique, the city’s creative identity and, most importantly, cheese.