You know a mural is going to be a long-term success when even a dreary, misty day can’t remove the art’s joy. The From Shreveport With Love mural at the corner of Crockett and Edwards Streets in downtown Shreveport is finished, according to the artists, with the exception of the UV coating and the artists’ signatures. The UV coating is an important component for a west-facing wall when even the hardiest of paints will fade.
Artists Whitney Tates, Ben Moss, Linda Moss, Ka’Davien Baylor, and Lindsey Simpson are the ones to thank for our newest wall of beauty. After developing and drawing a design, they used a projector to throw the image onto the wall, traced it out and painted it in. When you come visit the mural in person, you’ll be able to count the many reasons we love Shreveport- from Art the Dog to the downtown skyline to the Highland neighborhood’s iconic entrance way.
The mural, funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, will become the latest of an amazing stretch we have dubbed the ‘Marshall Mural Mile.’
Congratulations to all who were a part of this wonderful project!
Story from Nov. 16, 2022
Been by the 300 block of Crockett Street the past few days? No? Here’s what you’ve been missing! The ‘From Shreveport With Love‘ mural is bringing colorful life to the corner of Edwards and Crockett Streets with its postcard montage of many of the things that make Shreveport a place to love. It’s fun to pick out the icons- Art the SRAC dog, hot donuts from Southern Maid, the Strand Theatre, fish from the Shreveport Aquarium, and more. See what you can find!
From Shreveport With Love
A closer view.
Read below for how the mural got its start and the artists working to bring it to life.
Oct. 27, 2022
If you’ve ever wondered how the concept of a mural on paper is transferred to a much larger wall, you might have gotten to see the process in action one recent night.
The design is projected on the wall.
After finishing the wall prep work and the base colors, the mural team of Whitney Tates, Ben Moss, Linda Moss, Ka’Davien Baylor, and Lindsey Simpson used a projector to throw the artist-created image onto the wall.
Whitney Tates, hard at work.
This allows the team to create an outline that they will begin filling in. In the projection, you are able to make out some of the many details, including the ‘Hot Donut’ icon on the upper right.
Sketching in the details.
The mural, funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, will become the latest of the really amazing stretch we have dubbed the ‘Marshall Mural Mile.”
The formerly white wall of the law firm office at 327 Crockett Street has been screaming for art for some time now.
327 Crockett Street
Before the painting started there was the more tedious work of prepping the wall with light power washing and removing trash, weeds and other objects that might get in the way.
Moss and Baylor at work.
The artist team of Lindsey Simpson, Whitney Tates, Ka’Davien Baylor, Ben Moss and Linda Moss, all accomplished visual artists in their own rights.
Lindsey (foreground), Whitney in cap (left), Ka’Davien, Ben and Linda.
Weather permitting, the team hopes to unveil the new mural the third weekend in November, so stay updated!
More on the ‘Marshall Mile’
If you drive into downtown by way of Marshall Street, you are familiar with the unattractive section under I-20. A magnet for graffiti and trash, it has never been a welcoming entrance into the city’s center; it feels more like a barricade than an invitation to enter.
That is in the process of changing. The Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce’ Leadership Class decided some months ago that they wanted to turn the columns of the elevated roadway into vibrant, welcoming art – and they have been rallying supporters and sponsors to their cause.
Rendering of what the mural will look like when completed.
An early advocate of the project was Councilwoman LeVette Fuller, the District B rep who has been supportive of murals and beautification efforts throughout her district. She was able to jumpstart the effort with some funding made available to all the council districts. The Chamber Leadership class also asked friends, businesses and other supporters for donations to help pay the tab on their project and a number of businesses and other entities eagerly signed on with both donations of money and in-kind support.
Leadership class member Ka’Davien Baylor advocated for the beautification project.
What made the decision much easier to support was that muralist and artist Ka’Davien (KD) Baylor was part of the Leadership group this year. KD has a long history of serious, large-scale, on-budget commercial works. He knows how to plan for them, the equipment, paint and time needed for completion and how to tutor and motivate a team of artists who might have different levels of mural experience and ability. He coordinated a team that includes Ben Moss, Eric Francis and Willie Love, all wonderful artists in their own right.
First, the power washing.
The first order of business was power washing the underside of the interstate. We are going to go out on a limb and say that this has never been done before on this portion of the interstate. Once the crew had a clean surface to work with, the paint application began.
The very beginning as the different layers were applied.
The mural is intentionally colorful to counteract the drab and shaded surroundings and the butterflies that will be painted on different poles will express the ‘aspirations of continued positive transformation of the Shreveport/Bossier City community.’
Before…
And after. This is an artist rendering showing the mural after completion.
The artists are predicting a 60 day work schedule and afterward will be the dedication. By the way, there is still no name for the work, so if you have a great one, let us know and we will forward it.
Drive down Marshall Street and you will see why it has become downtown’s ‘Street of Murals.’ 1533 and 1605 Marshall Street have two other Ka-Davien inspired murals.
Inside the courtyard at Uptown Bar & Lounge, 1605 Marshall St.
‘Leaders of Tomorrow’ mural at 1533 Marshall St.
Caddo Parish Commissioner Mario Chavez hired muralist Chris Opp to paint this work on the side of 1122 Marshall Street.
Mural on the side of MersaTech, 1122 Marshall St. Artist- Chris Opp.
John Cush hired muralist Matthew Yerby to create an ode to Sicily, Italy, heritage and family on the side of the Ridgeway Square Building at 621 Marshall Street.
Mural at 621 Marshall Street- artist Matthew Yerby.
The murals are anchored by the amazing Once in a Millennium Moon mural that takes up two sides of the AT&T building. At one time, this was the largest public art mural in the nation.
And the mother of them all, Once in a Millennium Moon, on two sides of the AT&T building. Artist- Meg Saligman and a cast of hundreds. Photo by Twin Blends, LLC.
Juneteenth mural at the corner of Edwards and Milam Streets.
We encourage you to come downtown and take a look at our wide variety of public art. There’s a lot to enjoy!
