Second Line
27x40in
Oil on Canvas
I’ve been sitting on this painting for a while. The year started off horrifying for the city of New Orleans, on New Year’s Day people went out to celebrate like so many of us and didn’t make it back home safe. This painting felt different after those events, especially because of the city officials that wanted to brush the event off to keep the events happening.
New Orleans is my favorite place, not only because I’m from here but also because it’s second to none. Second lines are how we remember the ones that have passed on, how we preserve them. We celebrate them through our song and dance and by being together, so that they continue to live on in pieces of us.
Today is MLK day and also Inauguration Day, I hope today we celebrate him whether through second line or good act so he lives on.
Got to do my first solo mural with the help of @adultswim and @livingwallsatl 💜. There was lots of trial and error and I’m glad I got to have this learning experience this summer. There was so many people on the project that supported me through this process, I’m lucky to have so much support on my first solo mural. You can catch this mural on the side of @merchanthouse.co on Magazine St.
Special thanks to my mural assistant and partner in crime @cherrybombcee who helped me complete the mural. I’m honored to have collaborated with @theartistjade and @nikrichard in planning our murals. Also big thanks to @dawnrichard and @bmike2c for curating the list of artists for this project. Big thanks to the Living Walls people who helped with the production side of the mural @krissen__@ash_mcn_@monicaxcampana . I got to learn how to use lifts with their help 😎.
📸: @justenwilliams
P.S shoutout to the lady who gave me a hard time completing this mural. We got it done anyways 😉
Signed prints of Gator Girl and Juke Joint available currently on my website, as well as some small originals 🤓. Link in bio.
Here’s a look through of what I’ve been working on lately.
The original paintings for Gator Girl and Juke Joint are currently NFS because they will be in a show soon so stay tuned💃🏽
Finally finished the portrait just in time for Weekend Two of Jazz Fest. I’m so honored to be commissioned by @eternalseeds to be part of their annual Eternal Flowers tradition. This year we shed some light on young talent @lareezymusic and captured his likeness in this painting. I’ll see yall out there 🐊⚜️.
Caught up with @morrahbe for an Out of Bounds Feature. We got an inside look at her creative process, her current series of work & the ideas that keep her inspired. Tap in & follow her journey! 🎨🌎
A big shoutout to New Orleans-based artist and painter Morrah Burton-Edwards, who helped bring this year’s Annual Gathering theme to life.
Morrah was given an open brief from the NBFJA: illustrate a vision of “Joy in Alignment” that felt true to who we are and true to where we are going. What she created became the visual foundation for this year’s gathering, shaping everything from the agenda to our shirts.
During our time together, Morrah also extended that vision through a live painting, inviting members of the Alliance to write words onto the seeds in her subject’s hair in response to the question: What seeds are you planting to grow our strategic vision?
It all culminated on our final day together, when Morrah’s mural was installed at the new 9th Ward Community Garden. More on that tomorrow! 📸: @misstaylorshunter
Tomorrow we are back with another First Saturday artist mixer + Gallery Crawl/ photo walk in the Arts District. It is with great honor to introduce our featured artist of the evening @morrahbe who will be sharing some original works and also joining us for the art walk.
Artist Statement
“Morrah B.E is a painter focused on capturing the haunting beauty of the American South. Born in New Orleans, her paintings stem from personal experience of home and engaged with putting her hometown culture on a pedestal. Aspects of southern black subcultures inspire her work, and currently Bounce Music traditions have captured her interest. Morrah began her art journey in Kindergarten and since then has been focused on amplifying southern stories. Through fields of color, she tells stories fixed upon ironies and capturing contradiction. The humor in the horror, beauty in the ugly tales. Her painting is centered on the human figure and myth invention. Themes of ritual, protection, and tradition guide Morrah’s art practice and view of existence.”
Join us tomorrow for a great evening of art , culture , and community. It’s also “Jammin on Julia” in @artsdistrictneworleans and if you’ve never been this is the perfect opportunity to experience it for yourself. Be sure to RSVP via link in bio if you’ll be joining us for the mixer + guided photo / art walk. All photographer participating in the photo walk be sure to bring your cameras ! 📸
Meet up location : @mrwolf.espresso 900 Camp street (located inside the Contemporary arts center)
⏰ artist mixer : 5-6:30 pm at Mr.Wolf
🕰️ photo / art walk : 6-8pm
📍 post mixer meet up : 8:30 @ Mr.Wolf Espresso
Im commissioned by @eternalseeds to do a portrait of @lareezymusic as apart of their Eternal Flowers series. This series is to highlight culture bearers in the New Orleans at our Jazz Fest tent.
So I decided to go big and document the process. This painting will need to completed in 2 weeks to be ready for its debut at Jazz Fest. So let’s see how it goes 🐊⚜️
#painting #oilpainting
I am once again asking you to look at my gator girl drawings.
Been inspired by Maroon Societies in swamps and looking into the history of that. Creating ways out of no way, and how those modes of survival can look strange to outsiders.
There were two art activations this past week and I got to customize a pair of @reebok shoes to wear this Mardi Gras season. The theme of this event was black spring so I painted my classic girl on an alligator melting the winter freeze to welcome spring. I included the Mardi Gras flag on it as well to highlight Carnival time.
I also customized an old vest by painting okra and some flags on it. So I had a dope fit to highlight my Louisiana heritage.
You can get your own pair of Reebok Classics at @footlocker ! link in bio 🐊☂️⚜️ #reebok #footlocker
