Phyllis returned to New Orleans in October. First she gathered artists she met while cleaning up debbris off the streets of the city with fellow neighbors. Many artists held their favorite past time picking up "found art materials" from street rubble. She also sought out artists she knew. Owners and curators of the Waiting Room Gallery, Pati D'Amico and William Warren and members of the Women's Caucus for Art. Pati and Bill invited their artists to participate. A great sense of family began to develope from the group. Their hearts were full of a need to restore part of the magnificence of the community. Michael Duffy approached the non-profit group, Pacific Grove Art Center for a space and they waived the usual $400 for their exhibit fee as a contribution to the show.

The exhibit developed by word of mouth and personal contacts from networking New Orleans artists. It was difficult to find artists as emails were down, and so many had either studios of homes destroyed by the floods. The three primary persons, Phyllis Parun, William Warren and Pati D'Amico used their own network to develop the show. Phyllis did outreach to make sure African American artists would be represented. In many cases the found her.

The exhibitors have self financed this exhibit. There were no grants or funding from any other source. It is the mission of these artists to share with their viewers what they experienced during the time of the crisis and the present. The three curators call this new movement "Kataclysm." One of the poignant experiences of this catastrophe for those living has made each of them have a greater understanding of similar events throughout the world. The works depict deastation and the triumph of the human spirit.

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