Muralist Jamar Pierre takes on his biggest project yet
By Jann Darsie
Congo Square Congo Square Flood Wall Mural by Jamar Pierre
In the more than 30 years New Orleans artist Jamar Pierre has been creating murals, none has compared to the scope of the project he is working on now. His current undertaking, known formally as the “Tchoupitoulas Art Corridor,” reflects a lifetime of his work in visual arts, arts education and community service. Pierre is turning a mile-plus section of the Mississippi River floodwall into a sequential mural showcasing New Orleans history.
As our interview began, Pierre had just received good news in the mail. His application to create a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization had just been approved, and he was thrilled. “It was the Ella Project that helped me file the paperwork, and made the process a smooth one,” Pierre said. This legal assistance is just the latest in a list that Pierre has counted on over the years from Ella.
In 2017, Pierre came up with the idea of a mural on the concrete floodwall that runs along Tchoupitoulas Street. It is such a large undertaking that everyone discouraged him. Then he met with Ashlye Keaton and Gene Meneray of the Ella Project. “I didn’t want to give up! Those two did not discourage me about the project, but they did let me know how much work it would be to run a nonprofit,” Pierre said. “However, when they realized I was serious about applying for a 501(c)3, they got the application and its requirements together. This is just another example of how Ella is always helpful to artists. They also have seminars, training and, of course, their valuable legal work.”
Pierre has long wanted to use the blank floodwall as a canvas. Also, because the river on the other side is such a lifeblood of the city, the wall has additional significance. He made a proposal with designs to the Flood Protection Authority, and then he waited. The permitting process took a year. Pierre then formed a new LLC, took out liability insurance and got to work in 2018.
The Walmart Foundation was the first funding source, Pierre said. “They liked the arts education component,” which is part and parcel of most everything Pierre does. The floodwall mural begins just before the Walmart Supercenter on Tchoupitoulas Street.
As he explains it, a quarter of his work is actually painting and the rest of his time is project management: writing grants, conducting training sessions, researching New Orleans history, and lining up students and professional artists to paint his designs — plus all the other administrative tasks and paperwork that it takes to run an organization.
Part of Pierre’s inspiration for the floodwall mural was also sparked by his experience as New Orleans’ tricentennial artist. He was commissioned to create the official tricentennial work, “Resilience.” The 28” x 40” painting celebrating the city’s history was created in a studio provided by Longue Vue House and Gardens, where he was artist-in-residence. It is featured in the Library of Congress as the Tricentennial Committee’s selection to represent the city.
Jamar Pierre working on the floodwall.
He hopes the $2 million dollar floodwall project can be finished in 2026. Progress, of course, depends on funding. The panels illustrate the history of New Orleans, its iconic culture bearers, its food and music, and other local scenes. It runs from the New Orleans Police Traffic Division station near Felicity Street to Ninth Street in the Irish Channel. When complete, it will comprise some 75,000 square feet and over 5,200 linear feet, making it the longest mural in the United States.
It starts with pristine landscapes; the first paintings depict the land known as “Bulbancha” before the arrival of Europeans. The mural then progresses to images of native peoples framed in the floodwall’s arches. It chronicles the early French, the Spanish and the first arrived Africans, reflecting the gumbo of communities in the early New Orleans area. It will then continue through the centuries up to the present day. The inspiration comes from many sources, including recordings, interviews and historical documents.
The trajectory of Pierre’s development as an artist goes back to elementary school, when he was offered a spot at Gentilly Terrace School, an arts magnet school at the time. “I actually tested into theater, not visual arts, and I played several instruments in the band,” he said. But by high school, Pierre was drawing daily and realized that’s where his passion lies. He began working with the Tambourine and Fan youth organization and the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission in Treme. He was creating murals and working with young people. “I saw the benefits of the arts to disenfranchised youth first hand,” Pierre said.
Calling himself “a Citizen of the World and a Son of New Orleans,” he points to culture as having a central place in his art, saying “it intertwines with his subjects.” That clearly can be seen in the floodwall project’s completed scenes and in the project’s catchphrase: “It is more than just murals.”
He went on to also work for Young Audiences and YAYA (Young Aspirations, Young Artists) and had his own gallery on Magazine Street. The Hurricane Katrina levee failures changed all that, and Pierre pivoted to taking commissions and successfully competing for artist’s residencies. His first residency abroad was in Paris, Amsterdam and London. Since then, he has had a number of international, national and local residencies.
And, fortunately for Pierre, the Ella Project was there for the legal work of creating contracts, licensing and contingency clauses. Armed with his new nonprofit organization, Pierre said: “I’m now going to ask their [Ella Project’s] help in creating some hiring contracts, photography releases and press release forms.” Jamar’s work can be seen at www.ArtbyJPierre.com and on social media @artbyjpierre, @tchoupfloodwallmural and #tchoupfw. The website for the new nonprofit is Tchoupart.org
