Years ago, when most people saw downtown’s plain, gray walls, they saw just that: walls.
Casey Phillips saw color.
Phillips and his team of artists envisioned shades of blue, red and yellow dressing up walls near parking lots. They pictured grand portraits illuminating tall buildings and splashes of color brightening an interstate underpass.
“Imagine what it would be for people who come to this town for the first time, and they drive into downtown and they see color everywhere and amazing murals everywhere—that’s their first impression,” he said in the Walls Project’s Kickstarter video back in 2012. “That is what we’re hoping to accomplish: that people truly understand the essence of the creativity that is happening here in Baton Rouge.”
The idea went viral, quickly gaining the support of The Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge Gallery and many other organizations. The Kickstarter campaign exploded, with more than 450 people pledging and ultimately raising $37,000 to jumpstart the project.
Fast-forward to 2015, and the non-profit has already reimagined 29 walls with paint—with more on the way.
In the beginning, Phillips says the goal was to build a creative economy: one where Baton Rouge artists could make a living off of their craft, rather than waiting tables and doing art on the side—or taking their talent to another city.
Today, 50 artists paint for the project, benefiting not only from compensation for the murals but from the exposure of having their work on the side of a building. The artists are now often commissioned to create large-scale pieces of art for corporate offices or individuals.
It shows the power of an idea to alter a city.
“It’s given me a much deeper purpose in my life—coming back to my hometown and being a part of change,” Phillips says. “If you live in a bigger city, you’re living there for the city to have an impact on you. But when you live in a smaller city, you can be the change that impacts the city.” thewallsproject.org
Mural #1: “Cinq Ombres” at 340 Florida St.
Mural #2: “Metamorphosis” at 329 Florida St.
Mural #3: “Parade” at BREC Convention Street Park at Convention Street and North Seventh Street
Mural #4: “Umbrella of Flowers” seen from around 238 N. Fourth St.
Mural #5: “Pink Bubblegum Dragon” at 460 Main St.
Mural #6: “BR Blues” at 3347 Government St.
Mural #7: “SCIENCE – Tribute to Neil deGrasse Tyson” at 333 Laurel St.
Mural #8: “Love Our Community” at 5141 Greenwell Springs Road
Mural #9: Located in Redon, France
Mural #10: “Baton Rouge Blues Harmonica” at 103 France St.
Mural #11: “Gogh Book It Kid Paint Party” at 7711 Goodwood Blvd.
Mural #12: “We Stand Together” at 5141 Greenwell Springs Road
Mural #13: “Untitled I & II” at 1655 Government St.
Mural #14: “Floating Swamp” at Bluebonnet Swamp Education Center at 10503 N. Oak Hills Parkway
Mural #15: “Canyon of Color” at BREC Gayosa Park at 2129 Gayosa St.
Mural #16: BRCC campus in Plaquemine
Mural #17: “Tribute to Louis Mouch” at The Louis Mouch Jr. Multi-Purpose Facility at 152 Turner Drive
Mural #18: “#iammidcity” at 4726 Government St.
Mural #19: Located at 4556 Government St.
Mural #20: “Nicholson Drive pillars” at Interstate Pillars at Nicholson Drive and Mississippi River Bridge
Mural #21: Located at the Mentorship Academy at 339 Florida St.
Mural #22: Located at BREC Blueberry Street Park
Mural #23: “Keep Louisiana Beautiful storm drains” at Baker Branch Library at 3501 Groom Road in Baker
Mural #24: Mural by “Love Our Community” Summer Youth Employment Program at 8421 Scenic Highway, Scotlandville
Mural #25: Mural by “Love Our Community” Summer Youth Employment Program at 5175 Florida Blvd.
Mural #26: Mural by “Love Our Community” Summer Youth Employment Program at 1109 Highland Road
Mural #27: Mural by “Love Our Community” Summer Youth Employment Program at 1120 Government St.
Mural #28: “Love Our Community” Summer Youth Employment Program at 1650 North Acadian Thruway
