ART FOR HEART’S SAKE By Greg Roques
Street art has always been a form of protest. The act alone—catching passers-by off-guard via an undesignated, defaced public space—is like a neck-tattoo blemishing the black-tie attire in a board room, thrusting a big fat middle finger in the face of Robert’s Rules of Order— and, often, the law. Since the turn of the millennium, however, street art has come to not only be accepted, but expected in urban environs. Artists like Banksy—now a household name whose stencils can transform a stale surface into a multi-million-dollar exhibition piece—not only brought graffiti to the mainstream, but also turned the perception of its painter from anarchist to rock star. Commercialization has no doubt defanged the act itself, but the artist’s message remains no less poignant. In fact, creating a legal outlet allows artists to step out of the shadows and champion causes beyond their canvases. In a year butchered by a global pandemic and perpetual racial injustice, several New Orleans muralists have sprayed outside the lines to help those in need. You’ve most likely seen Houzenga’s work around town— literally on the streets. His vibrant pop-art murals can be found cruising the city, decorating commissioned cars. However, his work came to a halt with the lockdown this past February. “When [COVID-19] first set in, I was broke and very scared,” recalls Houzenga. He initially found his stride at the beginning of the year, producing artwork for local fundraisers Feed the Front Line and its follow-up Feed the Second Line, which remains ongoing. Providing meals for frontline healthcare workers and local musicians respectively, the crowd-funded projects also provided income for local musicians and artists like Houzenga. Initially commissioned to produce posters for the former effort, Houzenga would go on to design a mural recognizing healthcare workers, just outside City Park. He also designed a first-edition beer can (a collaboration between NOLA Brewing and
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Spirits Guide | Where Y'at Magazine
Plywood Project NOLA social justice murals by @tyla.the.creative at Deanie’s Seafood in the French Quarter IG: @plywoodprojectnola
Plywood Project NOLA IG: @plywoodprojectnola
