Art Speaks

Art Speaks=Addressing the challenges and opportunities of growing up in New Orleans through creative expression.

YA/YA has a tradition of social engagement and social justice efforts. The very first YA/YA project, back when Jana Napoli invited Rabouin students to collaborate on a studio project with her, subverted social norms and challenged power relationships in New Orleans. She had the students paint the office buildings of the CBD, surrounding their school. When the paintings were ready, Jana held an opening reception, inviting the owners and managers of those businesses to the studio to view the results. Every last painting sold, and a new paradigm of youthful vision defining our cityscape was inaugurated. The next week, the students were back at Jana's studio, asking what the next project would be, and the YA/YA revolution was on its way!

Our newest studio program formalizes YA/YA's tradition of social justice into a consistent program that keeps the voices and visions of our young artists in the public eye. Each semester our artists identify social issues for artistic exploration, with an emphasis on public awareness. Through a partnership with local campaign for peace SilenceIsViolence, Art Speaks actively engages young artists in the pressing social issues facing New Orleans.

During 2010, the YA/YA artists have taken on an Art Speaks project to advocate for the re-opening of Circle Food Store, at the intersection of St. Bernard and Claiborne avenues. Circle Food was a hub of the Treme area long before it was made infamous when it flooded following Hurricane Katrina. Watch for our creative contributions to the effort to re-open Circle Food around town, and at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art during our White Linen Night installation in the Education Gallery.