As the city prepared for the Super Bowl, Arts New Orleans’ Young Artist Movement (YAM) program was busy creating the largest mural cloth installation in the city—a monumental 6,600 square foot mural. Titled Guardians of the Garden: The Sacredness of Black Boys & Men in the Stance of ‘Just Being,’, this powerful piece reflects on the impacts of the criminal justice system in New Orleans.
Now, the story behind this mural comes to life in the first episode of Lagniappe Stories, a new podcast series presented by Delgado Community College and produced by The Blairisms. The episode highlights the creation of the Guardians of the Garden mural at the Orleans Justice Center, created by lead artists Journey Allen, Gabrielle Tolliver, and Jade Meyers, with the support of artist assistants Jahvon Meyers and Lamaj Mathis and 19 youth artists.
In the episode, Gabrielle, Journey, and Nia (a YAM student) discuss how public art can transform spaces, uplift communities, and spark vital conversations about the criminal justice system’s impact in New Orleans.