Eternal Seeds Muses Den Mural
Muses see potential in the world. When we began planning our new float den, we saw the exterior walls as a blank canvas. We wanted to use this space to celebrate New Orleans culture and beauty. We have long admired the work of BMike not only as an artist but as an educator as well. We partnered with his non-profit, Eternal Seeds, whose mission is “around education, empowerment, and the preservation of New Orleans Black history and culture, with a focus on young and emerging artists”.
The Eternal Seeds artist who designed the mural, Morrah Burton-Edwards, was also Muses 2020 cup design winner. She is currently finishing her art degree at Pratt Institute in New York but returned home for this project. It feels like she has come full circle. Morrah was assisted by two other incredible, local female artists: Cierra Wyche and Sarah Roberts. They finished the mural while painting in 30-degree weather the day before the epic snowstorm in January.
The mural, 9 Women, features historic New Orleans women of color whose positive impact is still felt today.
Irma Thomas as Euterpe, the Muse of Music and our 2023 Honorary Muse and local treasure
Leah Chase as Erato, the Muse of Love Poetry because love is nourishing. She had an 8-decade career feeding hearts and minds at Dooky Chase Restaurant
Mahalia Jackson as Polymnia, the Muse of Sacred Song, she is widely regarded as the world’s greatest gospel singer
Dorothy Mae Taylor as Calliope, the Muse of Epic Poetry, the first female of color to serve on the New Orleans City Council
Henriette De Lille as Urania, the Muse of Astronomy, founder of Sisters of the Holy Family that still operates today
Sylvanie Williams as Clio, the Muse of History, a lifelong educator and advocate for Black women’s right to vote
Oretha Castle Haley as Melpomene, the Muse of Tragedy, a leader of the local civil rights movement
Doris Jean Castle as Thalia, the Muse of Comedy, the name also means flourishing. She was a civil rights advocate and worked with a healthcare facility that focused on addiction treatment.
Symbolic Congo Square dancer as Terpsichore, the Muse of Dance. This figure represents enslaved Africans.
New Orleans operates on a different type of currency. Honoring the legacy of these women makes us realize how rich the culture of New Orleans is and how fortunate we are to call it home.
Many thanks to The Historic New Orleans Collection for helping with the research for this project.