New Orleans, LA — Arts New Orleans, in partnership with the Audubon Nature Institute, officially unveiled two new permanent public art installations at the Audubon Louisiana Nature Center in New Orleans East during Shifting Grounds: A Family Day Celebrating Public Art and Dance, presented in collaboration with the Dance for Social Change Festival on April 18, 2026.
Commissioned through the City of New Orleans Percent for Art Program, managed by Arts New Orleans, with additional support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the installations deepen the connection between environmental stewardship, public space, and community storytelling.
Presented as part of the 11th Annual Dance for Social Change Festival led by Dancing Grounds, the unveiling brought together artists, youth, families, and community members for a day centered on creativity, movement, and collective care.
The newly installed works include Pause Here, the Land is Speaking by Jamar Pierre and The Mirage by Trinity Barriere.
Project Collaborators
Project collaborators include Downtown FabWorks, Dancing Grounds, Water Leaders Institute, Northern Ninth, Blyss Wallace and Sage Michael of New Orleans for Lincoln Beach, Whole Village Art Therapy, and NORDC.
Video and Photo Assets
A short documentary video capturing the installations, process, and unveiling celebration is now available to view:
Pause Here, the Land is Speaking Video
Video Credit: Dru Bui
Pause Here, the Land is Speaking
Created by artist Jamar Pierre in collaboration with 20 artists from the Young Artist Movement (YAM), Pause Here, the Land is Speaking features mosaic-adorned benches and tables inspired by the wetlands and ecological systems of New Orleans. Developed through educational workshops rooted in environmental awareness and community dialogue, the installation creates a functional gathering space connecting the Audubon Louisiana Nature Center and Joe Brown Park.
The work reflects themes of land stewardship, memory, and collective care while inviting visitors to rest, gather, and engage with the surrounding landscape.
The Mirage
Created by artist Trinity Barriere, The Mirage is a large-scale sculptural installation composed of painted birdhouses arranged in a winding, DNA-like form. The work was developed with participation from more than 200 community members during a citywide Community Paint Day.
Each birdhouse symbolizes home, migration, ancestry, and the layered histories of New Orleans East, while also serving as habitat for migratory birds native to the region. The installation merges public art, ecological awareness, and community participation into a monument honoring resilience and interconnectedness.
The unveiling celebration also featured youth performances, interactive activities, local vendors, and community partners, highlighting the role of public art as a catalyst for gathering and cultural exchange.
Artist Bios
Jamar Pierre is a New Orleans-based visual artist, educator, and community collaborator whose work explores cultural memory, environmental justice, and public space through mosaic, sculpture, and socially engaged art practices. His work often centers collective storytelling and intergenerational collaboration, creating spaces that encourage reflection, gathering, and connection.
Trinity Barriere is a multidisciplinary artist from New Orleans whose work examines themes of ecology, identity, migration, and ancestral memory. Through sculpture, installation, and participatory public art practices, Barriere creates immersive works that bridge environmental awareness with community narratives rooted in the Gulf South.
About Arts New Orleans
Arts New Orleans is a private 501(c)3 nonprofit organization designated as the official arts agency for the City of New Orleans. Arts New Orleans’ mission is to improve the quality of life in New Orleans by supporting, activating, and investing in the city’s greatest natural resource: artists, cultural producers, and the creative community. Programs include Unframed presented by The Helis Foundation, Arts Market New Orleans, Young Artist Movement (YAM), LUNA Fête, and grantmaking, as well as commission and community projects. For more information on Arts New Orleans visit: www.artsneworleans.org
About the City of New Orleans Percent for Art Program
The City of New Orleans Percent for Art Program, managed by Arts New Orleans, has been integral in enriching the city’s landscape with over 400 public art installations. Through this program initiative, a percentage of the city’s capital project budgets is allocated to public art, ensuring that the vibrant culture of New Orleans is represented in its public spaces. A selection of artworks from this exhibition will become part of the City of New Orleans’ permanent collection.