The HI New Orleans Hostel commissioned YAM to create two murals for its lobby and café that would educate their national and international travelers about the under-told stories of New Orleans. HI USA is a network of hostels that believes in the power of travel to foster a deeper understanding of people, places and cultures for a more tolerant world. When they opened their new location in New Orleans, they wanted to decorate the space with murals that reflected the city.
The HI New Orleans Hostel mural project was YAM’s first private commission. Through the project, our youth artists gained exposure to real-world client work while learning from our lead artists about their creative practice. YAM worked closely with the HI New Orleans Hostel team to identify themes for the murals. The design process involved neighborhood conversations, design workshops, and inspiration from the Paper Monuments’ public art and history project.
The lobby mural led by Carl Joe Williams explores the city’s past, present, and future relationship with water. Placed next to a towering wooden cistern that collects stormwater, the mural encourages visitors to think about what it looks like to live more responsibly with our environment. With both murals, YAM hoped to move beyond stereotypical depictions of the city and to spark conversations about the city’s history of activism and resilience.
Artists: Carl Joe Williams (Lead Artist Mentor), Shanti Broom, Elijah Turk, Sly Watts, Nathalie Figueroa, Victoria Phan, Raven Sandoval, Kiyah Simmons, Sofia Olexia-Daigle, Skye McQuirter, Halle Parker, Justin Parker, Kiyah Simmons, and Mariah Williams
