Breathing color into blighted areas

The glimpse of bold color on the I-20 supports visible driving east bound through Shreveport is only a hint of the latest art bringing new vibrancy to the area below. “Leaders of Tomorrow,” “Ascension Bridge” and “Absolute Equality” are each as rich in meaning and sense of community as they are in color. With three new murals joining a host of incredible artworks along Marshall Street, Liz Swaine with Shreveport Downtown Development Authority coined the name Marshall Mural Mile.

Artist and Shreveport native Ka’Davien Baylor changed his major at Louisiana Tech from chemical engineering to communication design. “When I started working in Houston with public art, I innately had the idea that I wanted to do this here. I posted at home that I wanted a wall. Business owner Ryan Williams responded and that led to the mural ‘Leaders of Tomorrow’ on Seedlinks Behavior Management, LLC at 1533 Marshall St.” The beautifully detailed art reflects a teacher guiding stu dents illustrating their love and ideas for the future of Shreveport and the world. “We had the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club come out and help. It was so much. Community leaders came out, Tabatha Taylor and Stormy Watts, and artists – Eric Francis, Whitney Tates, Ben Moss and Dominique McLemore – came. Our kids should be connected to new experiences through art.”

While these plans were in the works, Ka’Davien, in collaboration with Ben Moss, created another Marshall Street mural, an eye-catching design in the courtyard of Ryan Williams’ Uptown Lounge, touting “Shreveport – Better Together.”

Their timing is perfect, adding to the synergy of local artists and supporters as multiple public art projects coalesce across the city.

City council members each received funding from the CARES Act for their districts. In addition to neighborhood improvements, council member LeVette Fuller allotted a portion of her budget to create the “Origin Court” mural in Valencia Park, another valuable story. The balance of that budget helped create the “Ascension Bridge” mural. Selected as a worthy project among Ka’Davien’s peers at the Chamber of Commerce - Greater Shreveport Leadership Group, the organization also helped generate funding from the business community to brighten this drab corridor into the city. Speaking with artist Ben Moss who assisted, and Eric Francis, “the ‘Ascension Bridge’ mural came together because connection and credibility in the business community created buy-in.” Ka’Davien, “We need modernization, and art is an easy way to do this, if we don’t have industry, and that’s where I fit in.” Now brilliant, glowing color fills the underpass bringing a message of hope and transformation.

While working with Reginald Adams, LLC in Houston, Ka’Davien assisted in managing the “Absolute Equality” mural in Galveston, Texas, that sits on The Strand in the location where Juneteenth took place. “It’s probably what every artist would want: to take part in creating something that connects us to our history and our future. Taking part in that helped me know that I needed to do this at home.” And he has.

James Thrower gave permission to create a mural on The Office Hub at a time that Caddo Parish was also seeking to create one featuring the words of Caddo Parish Laureate Poetic X. With influence from many groups, these interests worked together and dedicated Shreveport’s “Absolute Equality” mural located on the 600 block of Edward Street during the city’s celebration of Juneteenth.

After meeting with local history buff, former Shreveport mayor, and State Representative Cedric Glover, and noted historian Dr. Gary Joiner, Ka’Davien designed sections highlighting Shreveport’s history and future possibilities. Inspired by the longevity of the vinyl process used by the Shreveport Regional Arts Council and the National Endowment of the Arts to create the 12 Uncommon Murals around the Central Art Station, Ka’Davien designed richly illustrated panels inlaid like a jewel in their painted setting. Again, he brought in the community and their children to help drench the building in brilliant color. “I want my artwork to propel hope, not just focusing on history, but also painting what we can have. People have a hard time tapping into visions if they don’t have hope. I want to show that there is more to this journey than they might be aware of.”

Before moving to Houston, Ka’Davien said, “Riding the bus I would see the Millennium Moon mural and was in awe. But I never knew how it was created, until I returned and Eric Francis explained how so many people had a hand in it.” His projects exemplify Ka’Davien’s realization that “bringing the community together is part of my growth moment.”

The Mural Mile does not stop here. Whitney Tates, Ben and Linda Moss, Lindsey Simpson and Ka’Davien Baylor are currently creating artwork to grace the Sockrider & England building facing Edward Street.

A modern take on old-fashioned postcards, each artist will paint a set of letters filled with ideas the public submitted, signifying “From Shreveport With Love.”

Discussing the Galveston mural as a tourist attraction, Ka’Davien points out that public art is a proven model for boosting tourism. “It’s another example how business owners can uplift the community around them. You have a beautiful canvas that people drive by every day.” Whether business logo or artistic, Ben suggests, “Art really does bring in the community. Having art on their building makes an area feel more accessible and may inspire more businesses to do the same.”

Talking again about the Millennium Moon, “I want to do a second mega mural,” Ka’Davien said with a soft laugh, “but that’s all I want to say about that right now.”

Like the brightly colored bridge supports peeking over I-20, this is only a small glimpse at the life artists are breathing into lackluster, often blighted, areas of our community, in schools and on playgrounds. Ka’Davien mentions there are “hardships that need a break from reality, a sense of hope, to be aware that there is more out there.”

Ka’Davien mused, “What is the purpose of an artist in the world? Throughout history, art has been used to capture pivotal moments, to celebrate our leaders. Political leaders can’t do it by themselves; I think it takes artists to bring it forth.”