Streetcar Art

New Orleans artist Jerome Anderson has a long-standing commitment to public art. Among many other accomplishments, he’s worked in support of the Cultural Awareness Committee for African American and Black History Month Art Exhibition in 2008 for the U.S. Navy. He also has been a member of the National Conference of Artists, Art Exhibition Celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day both at the New Orleans African American Museum of Art, Culture and History in 2003 and 2007 and at the Ashe Cultural Arts Center in 2004.

What about New Orleans inspired Jerome’s streetcar designs? Food and music. Here’s what Jerome has to say about his New Orleans food-inspired streetcar:

“[I was] reminded of rides on the streetcar to visit the zoo [and] stopping by Mom’s and family gatherings.” His design features a “family menu for a typical week growing up in New Orleans,” and a view of the Crescent City Connection from the downtown side. He says the other side of the streetcar will be a view from the uptown side of New Orleans with similar dishes on the weekly menu. Crabs and shrimp will be featured on the uptown side.

Here is “New Orleans Flava”:

Jerome’s music-inspired streetcar design came when he “started off thinking about the good times at parties on the streetcar. Since we have a special way of having a good time in New Orleans because of the musical heritage passed down by great musicians, both known and unknown, I decided to feature Jelly Roll Morton. Louis Armstrong, Wynton Marsalis & Kermit Ruffins. Today there are high school students performing for the public at the end of the streetcar line. I feel it’s also honoring the culture they are preserving for future generations.”

This is “Roll With Me”:

Jerome can be reached via email at returningnolaartist@yahoo.com.

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