West Edge, Shreveport Common, maybe Texas Avenue. You might hear these names thrown around, but they all describe the same general area – the westernmost portion of downtown Shreveport. The area has been subject to plans, plans, and more plans, but also quite a bit of action – albeit in fits and starts.
No matter who you talk to or their approach to getting there, the goals of this area are the same: re-animate and revitalize this tailor-made space for artists, makers, and residents. This space is for the quirky, young, and young at heart who have a focus on local and walking on the bleeding edge of what’s currently “so extra” in the Shreveport. It’s also for yuppies, hippies, and anyone else. It’s a community space that needs love and attention – and action.
Texas Avenue Makers Fair (Saturday, April 1 and mid-November), Aseana Festival (Saturday, March 25), Louisiana Film Prize (October 5-8), the various shows at The Strand Theatre and Municipal Auditorium along with a host of plays and workshops at Central Artstation and Emmet Hook fill the area with activity. My personal fave space – Dave Nelson’s minicine – is always finding the edgiest and artistic acts from across the nation to showcase. This area is boss.
Right, so, the murals. Shreveport has some kick ass murals already. America My Beloved (1940s), the Artistan’s Court murals (2001), Call to Action (2013), All There Is (2017), Once in a Millennium Moon (2000), Rolie Polie Olie (1990s), and Maximus, for example. There are others too. Shreveport has a history of marking itself like Leonard in Memento. Too often they are markers to remember past attempts at change. Now there are some even newer murals appearing now along Common Street, but this time they are coming at a time when change is already underway.
These pieces, which are vinyl applied with a shelf life of just 3-5 years, are being created by eleven Northwest Louisiana artists and one nationally known, Dallas-based mixed media artist Lesli Marshall. They will be unveiled at an event called “The Big Scene”, a continuation of SRAC’s UNSCENE event series, taking place at the same time as the Texas Avenue Makers Fair on Saturday, April 1.
So far as I saw, a few of the planned twelve murals are in various stages of completion. There may be more, but this is what I saw in my quick bike down Common Street this afternoon. I’ve inserted a sneak peek of them below.
With the Lofts@624 nearing? completion, Rhino Coffee opened, Parish Taceaux opened, the forthcoming Missing Link eatery in development, the 10th anniversary of Robinson Film Center/Abby Singer’s ahead, plus the extension of Souther University’s downtown campus, and the numerous shops and businesses like Crystal Stairs Restaurant, Seasons Salon & Events, Joeseph Guin Salon, Kevin Bryan Architect… plus the aforementioned art and performance spaces, the area is really and truly ready for the boom that’s upon it.
We can’t wait for Common Park to be open. Hopefully, there will be an update on getting rid of that concrete sooner than later. Until then, we’ll see you at the Makers Fair/Big Scene on April 1st to see the completed murals.
Note: Surprise! I snuck in more about how downtown is awesome. Get used to it. You’re going to hear it nonstop from me and everyone else in the next few years.