Jackson Squared

Finding out Michael Jackson’s birthday would fall on the fourth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina was a bad day. Finding out that he was also going to be buried on 8/29 was worse. The New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund has hosted ReDefine 8/29 commemorations in the past, but this year we feared that the state of New Orleans recovery four years after the levees failed would be shown, at best, during intermissions.

So we decided to go virtual with Jackson Squared(c). It’s just what it sounds like — Michael and Andrew Jackson riding into the sunset in Jackson Square as Michael waves his magic glove in front of ReDefine 8/29 and Hurricane Warning flags. New Orleans pop artist L. Steve Williams, Jr. finished it this morning, and it’s a thing of beauty.

Michael’s trademark band uniform is especially appropriate because 500 pounds worth of band uniforms made from a New Jersey band to a New Orleans school for its first marching band. In this economy, grass roots charities are more likely to receive repurposed items than financial donations but people give what they can and we find it a home. The Jackson Squared Campaign hoped, against all odds, to dovetail into coverage of the King of Pop with reports from the Cradle of Rock and Roll. And it worked, Media outlets from Reuters to Chris Rose covered the rollout.

Jackson Squared is now at Winky’s, More Fun Comics on Oak Street and Snake & Jake’s Christmas Club Lounge and is selling brisquely.  On 8/29, the Midsummer Mardi Gras Krewe of Oak’s theme was “Beat It.” Things are back to normal. The new normal.

In other good news, the family postponed Michael Jackson’s burial to September 6th.

In otherworldly news, Michael Jackson’s glove is now following me on Twitter.