YAYA celebrates student artists and new airport deal

11th November 2019   ·   0 Comments

By Fritz Esker
Contributing Writer

Travelers passing through the newly-opened Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) now have one more piece of local culture to take home.

In addition to a bevy of the city’s top restaurants, the new airport, which opened last week on November 6, will also now carry handmade glassware in its WhereTraveler store (a large combination newsstand and gift shop run by Stellar Partners, Inc.) handcrafted by students from local community arts and design studio Young Aspirations Young Artists (YAYA).

YAYA Executive Director Megan Miles said the glass souvenirs will be New Orleans-themed and include fleur de lis refrigerator magnets, sculpted glass crawfish, Christmas ornaments, and much more. Miles said YAYA plans to expand their offerings at the WhereTraveler store to more than just glassware in the upcoming months.

In the meantime, the organization is gearing up to host its annual fundraiser Just Say YAYA on November 15 at the YAYA Arts Center (3322 LaSalle Street) in Central City to showcase the work and talent of its young artists.

“It’s the primary opportunity our young artists have to exhibit and sell their work,” said Miles.

This year’s fundraiser theme is “Artrepreneurship,” a nod to the organization’s mission to help youths in the arts not only learn to develop their artistic talents but to also learn how to be savvy businesspeople when bringing their works to market.

“I don’t have many friends, and sometimes dealing with Autism makes things hard for me, but I hope to inspire kids like me with an avid imagination to keep pushing for greatness,” said teen artist Quishawn Reine. “YAYA has shown me that I can use my skills, talent, and voice as a tool to show others that no matter where you come from, you can make your dreams come true.”

YAYA, founded in 1988 as a partnership between local artist Jana Napoli and art students from Rabouin High School (now the International High School of New Orleans), offers free after school programs six days a week at its arts center for students ranging from ages 5 to 25. In addition to visual arts skills, these classes also teach leadership and entrepreneurship to creative young people.

In addition to regular classes, YAYA also offers youths a variety of exciting opportunities. Last summer, 18 teens took fully funded trips to work with professional artists in other cities. Students are also paired with professional working artists in the Crescent City. At present, YAYA artists are apprenticing with local artist Jamar Pierre, who in 2018 was named the official artist of the New Orleans Tricentennial. Now, students help Pierre work on the one-mile mural of historic New Orleans scenes on the Tchoupitoulas Flood Wall.

“In school, everybody goes to the same class, learns the same things. YAYA is different. There’s not really a limit,” said Blair Aguillard, a YAYA Teen Guild Artist.

Since its inception, YAYA has expanded its services to work with close to 3,000 students each year, some of whom have returned to pay it forward through teaching.

“I was once a student, and I now work for the organization that taught me…Coming from the environment that I was coming from, YAYA was like that place where I could actually just be me,“ said YAYA teaching artist and alumnus Quinton Gilmore.

Proceeds from the fundraiser go towards supporting the organization’s free arts programs. Just Say YAYA will kick off with a 6 p.m. patron party featuring YAYA and NOCCA alumna Amber Matthews. The main event begins at 7 p.m. featuring the Vegas Cola Band as the headlining entertainment. During the event, there will be an exhibition of artwork by current YAYA students and alumni for sale.

Attendees will get the chance to talk to the student artists and purchase their work. Over 50 percent of sales totals will go to the students themselves, in keeping with YAYA’s mission to teach young artists how to market and sell their work, as well as build relationships with potential clients.

The will also feature food from a variety of local restaurants, including Brennan’s, Zea Rotisserie and Bar, Bon Ton Cafe, Palace Catering, and Langenstein’s. A silent auction will feature 2D artwork and glass sculptures. Attendees will also be able to bid on experiences like a package for a stay at the Ace Hotel and brunch at Willa Jean or a Broad Theater and Sweet Olive Salon package.

Patron party members get access to food options from Ralph’s on the Park, Superior Seafood, Napoleon House, and specialty cocktails by St. Roch Vodka and Roulaison Rum, as well as a chance to see a live glassblowing demonstration by artist Juli Juneau.

Tickets to the Just Say YAYA are $50 for general admission. Tickets to the patron party are $150. To purchase tickets to Just Say YAYA or to find out more information about the organization, visit www.yayainc.org.

This article originally published in the November 11, 2019 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.