NEW ORLEANS — The City of New Orleans today unveiled a new public art mural completed in partnership with the Canadian government and Arts New Orleans. Canadian artist Chantelle Trainor-Matties designed the mural and local New Orleans artist JoLean Barkley recreated it at the corner of Ursulines Avenue and N. Peters Street. The Canadian government donated more than $10,000 toward the completion of the mural.
“Things just don't happen, you've got to make them happen. During the pandemic, we were relentless to have this project get off the ground,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “I'm so excited because I knew from the start that the arts would be a great part of our recovery. We are at a time in our history where our future is absolutely bright, but it's going to be our partnerships and our international connections that help with that future.”
Rachel McCormick, Consul General of Canada in Dallas, and Patricia Denechaud, Honorary Consul of Canada in New Orleans, joined Mayor Cantrell and others to provide remarks during the event.
“Canada and Louisiana are intertwined through history, culture, the environment and our economies,” said Rachel McCormick, Consul General of Canada. “This mural, designed and produced through a bilateral effort, is a lasting demonstration of those connections, and our continued commitment to a strong relationship.”
“As a Canadian from Montreal, New Orleans always felt like a second home. This mural came to mind following a visit in December 2019 – and thanks to our wonderful partners in Mayor Cantrell’s Office and at the Arts Council New Orleans, it became a reality,” said Noëlla De Maina, Consul – Foreign Policy and Public Affairs. “It speaks ‘from the heart’ and depicts the deep people-to-people, Francophone and Cajun-Acadian ties that bind us. Something we can look at for years to come and be proud of.”
Themes and storylines in the artwork were designed to evoke references to Acadian history, French language, music, food and culture, as well as the shared history between Canada and New Orleans.
