[MarignyBywater] David's House - January 10th, 2009

[ReX - NoLA Rising]

"Heart of my heart, Love will never die." - "Willow"

Our friends at Silence is Violence have asked for a call to action to make
the point that New Orleanians are tired of the inaction when it comes to
making our city streets a safer place to enjoy. Here is NoLA Rising's
response to Silence is Violence in their call to action:  We are surrounded
by violence and little seems to be happening to ensure public safety. There
are many culprits in why this systemic failure continues to occur and while
we'd like to point fingers at all of the particular leaders who day after
day do nothing, it would get us no further. In the spirit of NoLA Rising, we
plan to take action through art!

NoLA Rising is honored to announce a Paint Party at the house of Susan
"Willow" Schroeder, who tragically lost her son to murder in 2001. To lift
her out of her grief, she painted a work of love in dedication to her son
David, making her home a beautiful expression of the love she felt for him.
Sadly, Willow's tale is like so many other New Orleans crime tales, where no
one has even been arrested in the shooting death of her son.

The tragedy doesn't end there, however. Willow and her partner Feather, have
had to endure discrimination for all of the emotions that have been painted
out. One neighbor has tried consistently to have the house cited and
actively researches ways to fine them. Quoted in the Times-Picayune, the
neighbor questioned: "Does a grieving mother have the right to deface public
property because her son died?" because she painted the sidewalk immediately
in front of her house. New Orleans is a city that welcomes unique forms of
expression and NoLA Rising believes that this is a house worthy of such
expression.

Long keeping in the philosophy that "Art can heal the wounded soul!", NoLA
Rising sees the individual struggle of a loving mother a perfect place to
host a paint party against the senseless acts of violence in New Orleans.
It's a way to create something beautiful out of tragedy and I can think of
no other way to voice opposition to the lackluster response of those
responsible for maintaining public safety. We will also be joined by our
friends at United For Peace who will also be creating artwork for a
fundraiser to build a center for mothers and families of those lost to
tragic violence.

United for Peace will have on hand 15 doors for people to paint their own
vision of peace in New Orleans.  One door will be given to Willow's family
and the rest will be auctioned off at a benefit in March to help Mothers
Hurting Because of Violence.  Clothing will also be provided by United for
Peace for painting and decoration.

Please, honor a fallen son and a fallen brother by joining NoLA Rising and
United for Peace at David's House in the 3000 block of St. Peter around
noon, Saturday, January 10th (2009) for a paint party. Bring your paints and
prepare to make artwork that can proudly be displayed outside of homes
across this city. Make artwork that inspires change! Let your voice be heard
through artistic expression. Let the leaders of the city know that you will
no longer tolerate the scourge of violence that plagues New Orleans. Paint
the change you wish to see!

Following the paint party at David's House will be the after-event for the
Dinerral Shavers Educational Fund.  At Howling Wolf, there'll be a 9 p.m.
concert featuring the Hot 8 Brass Band, Soul Rebels, Free Agent Brass Band,
The Stooges and a number of other brass bands.  Admission is only 10
dollars.

Flyer for download on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nolarisingproject/3160225134/

Times-Picayune article on Jan 2, 2009
http://blog.nola.com/updates/2009/01/mothers_colorful_memorial_to_h.html

WDSU video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAuxtrn7HE4&feature=channel

http://davidshouse.wordpress.com/

http://dinerralshaverseducationalfund.com/

Thanks everyone, re-post if you like, and we hope to see y'all out there
January 10th

Michael "ReX" Dingler
NoLA Rising

-- 
www.michaeldingler.com
nolarising.blogspot.com

When Lafcadio Hearn moved to New Orleans in the 1870s, he wrote to a friend
back in Cincinnati:

"Times are not good here. The city is crumbling into ashes. It has been
buried under a lava flood of taxes and frauds and maladministrations so that
it has become only a study for archaeologists. Its condition is so bad that
when I write about it, as I intend to do soon, nobody will believe I am
telling the truth. But it is better to live here in sackcloth and ashes,
than to own the whole state of Ohio."
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