Invited by businessman Carl Mack to interpret his collection of over 30,000 Mardi Gras costumes, Helen conceptualized, designed and built an  experiential museum in the Historic French Quarter of New Orleans. The experience invited the local cultural institutions known as Krewes and Social Clubs to depict themselves through rotating exhibitions and permanent displays.  It also  invited visitors to experience New Orleans from the hometown, insider point of view.

 

Acting as designer and director, Helen created five permanent exhibit galleries and a rotating  guest exhibits gallery that illuminate the complex history of Louisiana, everyday life in New Orleans and the wild culture of Carnival. The museum also includes an interactive play-space, The Costume Closet, where visitors are invited to dress up in authentic Mardi Gras Costumes for family fun and photo-ops, and get to experience what it's like to be King and Queen of Mardi Gras. 

 

The museum features  a local artist, handmade gift shop with a wide variety of treasures that are otherwise unfindable to tourist shoppers. 

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