“Shine Together” mural, installation in progress. (Photo by Sarah Kehoe, courtesy of Friends of Lafitte Greenway)
A new Greenway mural, the “Shine Together” mural by young artists BElite, will be unveiled on the Lafitte Greenway basketball court on Saturday (August 20).
The unveiling ceremony will include a community celebration with refreshments, games, bounce houses and DJ music and a youth basketball clinic featuring Jaxson Hayes of the New Orleans Pelicans.
• Presentation and celebration of “Shine Together”.
• Saturday August 20, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m
• Lafitte Greenway Basketball Court at Lemann Playground, 1971 St. St Louis
Participants will not look up to see this mural uncovered. Designed to make young players’ lives brighter while dribbling, it covers the Greenway basketball court.
The idea came from community member Jalen Gray, who has been leading the project. In early 2020, the Friends of the Lafitte Greenway and the New Orleans Leisure Development Commission (NORD) were approached with the idea of painting a surface mural on the Lafitte Greenway basketball court.
A standout player on the Loyola University and Brother Martin basketball teams, Gray wanted to use public art to promote the Greenway track. He led the project as a volunteer, gathering resources and partners.
“Teamwork has been fully demonstrated by everyone involved in this project.” Gray said, “and we can’t wait to share it with the community.”
The Via Verda youth recreation center before the installation of the mural. (Photo by Adam Mejerson, courtesy of Friends of Lafitte Greenway)
The BElite young artists spent the summer transforming the Via Verda basketball court with the new mural on the court. These artists, aged between 15 and 21, designed and installed the mural.
“It’s an honor to be able to bring some light to the Lafitte Greenway through art,” said Astrid Sims, one of the BElite artists.
The BElite Collective is the youth-led arm of Eternal Seeds, a non-profit organization founded by prominent local muralist Brandan “BMike” Odums. Young artists receive technical support, mentoring and professional development training from practicing artists at Eternal Seeds + StudioBE.
“BElite Collective is the type of youth-led programming, training and mentoring opportunity that the city of New Orleans needs most,” said NORD CEO Larry Barabino Jr.
Artists BElite and Jalen Gray during the mural installation (Courtesy of Friends of Lafitte Greenway)
This mural is located in the center of the Via Verda sports and recreation center. Nearby recreational facilities include NORD’s Greenway Clubhouse, a soccer and football club field, a playground, a baseball field, an outdoor gym and a public swimming pool. This site includes concessions and restrooms for the public – a comprehensive recreational space for the community.
Young artists in the Shine Together mural include Camron Irvin, Astrid Sims, Carter Marberry, Miracle McKinnies, Miya Scaggs, Feyu Diallo, Anne-Marie Bossman, Haywood St. Cyr, Kerry Santa Cruze, Azure Muhammad and Ryan McCray-Smith.
The artists released this statement: “‘Shine Together’ explores the bold and rich spirit of New Orleans’ youth, with bright colors representing their vibrancy. The hands symbolize the togetherness we share as a community. BElite hopes that let this mural radiate the light and energy that connect our city and help us continue Shining Together.”
The Greenway youth-led basketball court mural project was made possible with support from Sneaker Politics, United Way of Southeast Louisiana, Baptist Community Ministries, the Brees Dream Foundation and Neel Choudhury.
Saturday’s “Shine Together” grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
The court will be put into use immediately. Pelicans center Jaxson Hayes will hold a youth basketball clinic from 10:45 a.m. to noon. Pre-registration is required for the clinic. To register a youth player, contact NORD at robert.stanley@nola.gov or 504-236-2094. The young people of the neighborhood will have priority.
For those not attending the clinic, the community celebration will include bounce houses, sno-balls, giveaways, games, concessions, music by DJ Antwigadee, coffee from Hey! Coffee Co and beignets from Café De Monde.
The Lafitte Greenway, managed by NORD, is used by 325,000 people each year on foot and by bike. It serves as a transportation route and a space for recreation, play, community events and environmental sustainability. The city and community have worked together to develop sports fields, basketball courts, gymnasiums and playgrounds along the 2.6-mile-long linear park that connects Mid-City and the French Quarter.
The non-profit Friends of Lafitte Greenway is a community partner that was formed in 2006 to build, program and promote the Lafitte Greenway as a safe and vibrant public space. For more information, visit www.LafitteGreenway.org.
