Shifting Grounds: A Family Day Celebrating Public Art and Dance

DSC Family Day : Shifting Grounds in Partnership with Arts New Orleans

Come Celebrate Family day honoring public art and dance. Join us as we unveil mosaic furniture by Jamar Pierre and sculptural birdhouses by Trinity Barriere, created in collaboration with Young Artist Movement. During the unveiling ceremony, DSC youth artists will bring the new artwork to life through a special choreographed dance. These works were commissioned through the City of New Orleans Percent for Art Program, managed by Arts New Orleans, and made possible with support from the National Endowment for the Arts. Presented in partnership with Arts New Orleans, this event is part of the Dance for Social Change Festival, an annual, youth-led, three-day exploration of mental health, nature, art, and community. 

This event is free and open to the public.

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Exploration 

Exploration of Audubon Nature Trails and the center, Engage with Activations that evoke the senses, eat food from Europhia Tacos and Taylord Chef or grab a snowball. 

12:00 PM – 12:30 PM

DSC Youth Performance 

01:00 PM – 02:00 PM

Art Unveiling 

Join us as we unveil mosaic furniture by Jamar Pierre and sculptural birdhouses by Trinity Barriere, created in collaboration with Young Artist Movement. During the unveiling ceremony, DSC youth artists will bring the new artwork to life through a special choreographed dance.

“Pause Here the Land is Speaking,” by Jamar Pierre and Young Artist Movement (YAM) artists, celebrates New Orleans’ deep connection to nature and community through functional public art. Inspired by the wetland landscape, the installation includes mosaic-adorned benches and tables shaped by local flora and fauna. Created in collaboration with youth artists through ecological-centered workshops and hands-on fabrication, the work integrates education, artistry, and gathering space at the intersection of the Audubon Nature Center and Joe Brown Park.

“The Mirage,” by Trinity Barriere, is a large-scale sculpture composed of painted birdhouses arranged in a winding, DNA-like form. Each house represents a person, a home, and the layered memories that shape New Orleans East, while also providing habitat for migratory birds native to the region. Designed with more than 200 community members during a citywide Community Paint Day, the work reflects the interconnected stories of people, place, and ecology.