What do Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders and 3 possums have in common? They share a float house – NOLA.com

Emily Schoenbaum said she chose a political theme for her 1009 Montegut St. float house because the Marigny neighborhood is Krewe du Vieux and krewedelusion territory. And even though those two parades arent hitting the streets this year, on account of the coronavirus, she wanted to preserve the spirit of irreverent satire and wackiness that they represent.

Schoenbaum conceived her float house, titled "Trump's Da-mise," back in December, after it was clear the president had been voted out, but before some of his supporters laid siege to the Capitol. The tone of her parody is good natured though it is a bit, uh, biting.

The coronavirus put the kibosh on this years Carnival parades. But fear not, the virus was no match for the Crescent City creative spirit. Fr

The bachelor party-style, inflatable, vinyl girl doll affixed to Schoenbaums roof holds a fishing pole from which dangles a plywood cellphone displaying the Twitter logo that has caught the attention of a plywood version of the 45th president, who has lost his balance and is tumbling toward the gaping jaws of the enormous plywood alligator below.

Munchy, munchy, Schoenbaum said, laughing. With pride of prescience, Schoenbaum pointed out that the joke was born even before Mr. Trump lost his Twitter privileges.

Schoenbaums intention to lampoon Trumps Twitter dependency is clear, but what do the three plywood possums climbing along the porch rails have to do with anything?

Its because I have a family of them living under my house, Schoenbaum said.

'Trump's Da-mise' float house at 1009 Montegut St., combines a former president, possums, Twitter, the Bernie meme and an inflated bachelor party doll in a Louisiana swampscape.

Some onlookers might view the presence of the possums as a visual non sequitur, but others would probably agree that an inflated female angler, a ferocious reptile, a tumbling president and a family of marsupials all somehow fit the surreal 2020 gestalt perfectly. Likewise the plywood Bernie Sanders meme that is a recent addition to the scene.

As all social media devotees well know, a photo of the seemingly withdrawn, mitten-wearing senator from Vermont became an internet sensation soon after Joe Bidens chilly inauguration. And Schoenbaum saw to it that he appeared at her Montegut Street float house too. The Sanders meme seemed to represent anyone whos ever felt theyd been left out in the cold. But most of the time, Schoenbaums Bernie cutout is kept inside behind a window because shes afraid hell be swiped.

Schoenbaum moved to New Orleans from West Virginia in the 1980s in order to attend Tulane University, where she majored in sociology and womens studies. These days shes a house restorer and developer who is not averse to dumpster diving for antique lumber and other materials for use in her restoration projects.

Emily Shoenbaum's float house at 1009 Montegut St., combines a former president, possums, Twitter, the Bernie meme, and an inflated bachelor party doll.

I like to maintain both the integrity and original materials of our unique New Orleans homes, she said.

Schoenbaum said that during a usual Carnival season shed probably take in a couple of Uptown parades, as well as the neighborhood marches, and would spend Mardi Gras under the I-10 overpass on Claiborne Avenue with the Nine Times Social Aid and Pleasure Club.

When she heard about the home decorating craze spreading through the city, she said, Hey, I have an artistic friend who could pull off a house float. Three artistic friends, as it turns out. Linden Keal, Kay Kay Fantasia, and Maya Pen all contributed to the project.

The house has been a crowd pleaser. I really think its boosting peoples spirits, she said. Its distracting in the hum drum.

On Mardi Gras, she said, she plans to toss mini possum toys to passersby from her porch.

Satirical 'Trump's Da-mise' float house at 1009 Montegut St., combines a former president, possums, Twitter, the Bernie meme and an inflated bachelor party doll in a Louisiana swampscape.

The Covington Krewe of House Floats has been created for those who want to decorate their homes or businesses as a Mardi Gras float in order t

Battling the coronavirus blues by jazzing up homes to look like Mardi Gras floats started with one New Orleans woman's idea, but it captured t

South Louisiana gets creative in finding ways to celebrate despite pandemic

See the original post here:

What do Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders and 3 possums have in common? They share a float house - NOLA.com