NEW ORLEANS — From bayou photography to Indonesian earrings, last weekend’s Voodoo Music Experience in New Orleans had more to offer than just music.Jewelry vendor Forest Bacigalupi, who has lived in New Orleans for eight years, said this year’s festival had more vendors than previous years, creating a wide variety of merchandise for festival goers.”A lot of artists work toward a concept,” Bacigalupi said. “Mine is driven by materials.”Bacigalupi has a unique way of making his handmade jewelry — electroplating.He takes natural elements such as stone, leaves and bugs, and through a series of washing and soaking them in acid and other metals, makes pendants.Vendor Robin Bell, University alumna from Thibodaux, was at the festival selling her original photography.Bell’s photography deals mostly with dogs in various places such as Louisiana swamps and bars.”We highlight the Louisiana ‘down the bayou’ culture,” Bell said.Other vendors like Adam Eccleston from Georgia, Michael     Marryshow from Grenada, an island nation in the Caribbean Sea, and Liron Sharaby from California sold handmade goods from around the world.While Eccleston was vending his original handcrafted metal jewelry, which included peace signs, music notes, coins and pendants in the shape of Africa, Michael Marryshow was selling his Caribbean-themed clothing.Sharaby, on the other hand, was working for a company called “Coco Loco,” which works directly with artists and carvers who make jewelry in Brazil and Indonesia.Sharaby said he thinks having vendors at a music festival brings diversity.”It spreads the word of travelers,” Sharaby said. “People come to festivals in a different mind state. They want to meet people and share stories.”Bell said because people come to festivals to see something different, the art vendors give them an opportunity to learn about other cultures.Michael Meche, pre-medical junior, said the art keeps the heritage of Louisiana alive.But Eccleston said the art adds a type of entertainment different than the music.”People see things that are unique and handmade,” he said. “Seeing music and making money — It’s a good combination.”Bacigalupi said having vendors at a music festival makes it a multi-sensory experience.”Artistic expression is real and substantial,” he said. “It’s grounding. People respond.”Bacigalupi said in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the city has focused on the cultural economy, which didn’t perish in the storm.”All of the focus was on the music,” he said. “Now it is opening up.”Some musicians were even interested in the vendors.Drew Smith, of Drew Smith’s Lonely Choir, said he thought the art at the festival was amazing.”There is so much going on,” Smith said. “Wrapping art in art is a good equation.”Jack Baus, business freshman, said he enjoys meeting the artists.”If you can talk to the person who made [the art], you can get a good feel for why they made it,” Baus said.Meche agreed, saying he enjoys seeing where the art comes from and how the artists live.Baus also said he thinks the festival isn’t only about the music.”You can appreciate other art,” Baus said. “Some of the paintings beat the musicians.”- – – -Contact Blake Stephens at [email protected]