Cheryl Gerber, photographer and author of a new book titled Cherchez la Femme: New Orleans Women, will discuss it and sign copies at 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 13, at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon, Metairie.

This event is free of charge and is open to the public. There is no registration.

Cherchez la Femme: New Orleans Women is inspired by the 2017 Women’s March in Washington, D.C and includes more than 200 photographs of the women who make the city diverse. Drawing from her own archives as well as new works, Gerber’s selection of photographs in Cherchez la Femme highlights the contributions of women to the city, making it one of the only photographic histories of modern New Orleans women.

Alongside Gerber’s photographs are 12 essays written by female writers about Leah Chase, Irma Thomas, Mignon Faget, Trixie Minx, and others. Also featured are prominent groups of women that have made their mark on the city, including the Mardi Gras Indians, Baby Dolls, and the Krewe of Muses. The book is divided into 11 chapters, each celebrating the women who add to New Orleans’ uniqueness, including entertainers, socialites, activists, musicians, chefs, entrepreneurs, spiritual leaders, and burlesque artists.

Cheryl Gerber is a freelance journalist and documentary photographer working in New Orleans, where she was born. She began her journalism career as a reporter but switched to photography after spending a year working in Honduras. In 1992, she began working for Michael P. Smith who nurtured her desire to document daily life in New Orleans. She is a regular contributor to The New York Times, Associated Press, New Orleans Magazine, and has been a staff photographer for Gambit Weekly since 1994. During the past two decades, Gerber has won awards from the New Orleans Press Club for her work on social issues and news photography.

For more information regarding this event, contact Chris Smith, Manager of Adult Programming for the library, at 504-889-8143 or wcsmith@jefferson.lib.la.us.