The original painting by Garland Robinette that inspired the 2011 official New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival poster, featuring Jimmy Buffett—who passed away earlier this year— is scheduled to be part of Heritage’s November 18-20 Music Memorabilia & Concert Posters Signature® Auction.
Garland Robinette, the established painter and media personality in New Orleans, created the poster to commemorate Jimmy Buffett’s connection to the city rather than his headlining performance alongside Willie Nelson, Robert Plant and Bon Jovi that year. Buffett had once described his transformative experiences in the French Quarter in 1967. The poster was inspired by Robinette’s original painting, and was reworked by Robinette. It depicted Buffett as a street musician, playing for tips with a “Will Work 4 Gumbo” sign, reflecting his earlier days in the city.
Original painting of Jimmy Buffett by Garland Robinette
The Jazz Fest poster, titled “Busking Out: Becoming Jimmy Buffett,” and shown as the feature photo in this news post, garnered significant popularity when it was first unveiled and continues to hold value in the art market, but the original painting that inspired the poster is a one-of-a-kind original painting.
What makes this auction noteworthy is the altruistic motive behind it. Adele and Mark Foster, the current owners of the painting, have decided to sell it to fund a clinical trial for their 6-year-old granddaughter, Marguerite, who is battling diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), a severe childhood brain tumor. Adele, a history teacher in New Orleans, explained their decision, stating that it made sense to sell the painting after Jimmy Buffett’s passing. Marguerite has undergone various treatments, and her family is exploring experimental options in their quest for a possible cure.
Robinette, who created the portrait while battling a severe autoimmune disorder, expressed his gratitude for the decision to auction his work to support a worthy cause. He noted, “For me, art has been a series of miracles. It’s truly remarkable.”
The upcoming auction of this cherished piece of New Orleans culture is expected to attract attention from art enthusiasts and individuals interested in supporting the Foster family’s efforts to fund Marguerite’s clinical trial. As the poster finds a new home, it continues to symbolize the spirit of New Orleans and the strength of a community coming together to support a noble cause.
