NOLA2MoMA 

IN A ZEITGEIST WHERE DIVERSITY & HISTORY IS BEING SANITIZED, ARTIST & STORYTELLER, L. KASIMU HARRIS SOUGHT TO AMPLIFY HIS MAKING HISTORY AS THE FIRST BLACK NEW ORLEANS BASED PHOTOGRAPHER TO HAVE WORKS FROM HIS VANISHING BLACK BARS & LOUNGES SERIES ENTER THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART’S PERMANENT COLLECTION. HOW DOES HARRIS GALVANIZE THE NEW ORLEANS BUSINESS AND ARTS COMMUNITY TO CELEBRATE THIS ACHIEVEMENT IN NEW YORK?

Wilson Ave. sponsored and curated a six day event itinerary, utilizing close networks to ensure that the celebration was seamless and newsworthy. From hosting a panel on “New Orleans - Cultural & Global Impact” with our friends at SOHO House to producing a soiree’ at the home of award-winning journalist, Soledad O’Brien and ending with a laid back celebration in The Hamptons, our agency designed a Marketing and Events campaign where many of Harris’s supporters, from near and far, had an opportunity to bask in this historical moment for MoMA, the City of New Orleans and the contemporary photography landscape as we know it.

The goal was for folks to experience pure joy through Harris’s work. ONWARD.

NEWSONE 20 Years Later:
Hurricane Katrina

NEW ORLEANIANS WERE TRAUMATIZED ON AUGUST 25, 2005, WHEN THE LEVEES FAILED AND THE CITY WAS DESTROYED. WE MOURNED THE LOSS OF SO MANY LIVES, HOMES AND BUSINESSES. WE ALSO MOURNED A CITY THAT WAS HEAVILY GENTRIFIED AFTER THE DISASTER THAT CONTRIBUTED TO MAJOR LOSSES OF OUR BELOVED HISTORY AND CULTURE. WHEN APPROACHED TO BE AN EDITORIAL PRODUCER ON THE NEWSONE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF HURRICANE KATRINA DOCUMENTARY: 20 YEARS LATER, WILSON AVE. ASKED NEWSONE “HOW REAL CAN WE GET?”

As a trusted communications and creative agency, we felt responsible to tell a more progressive narrative, one of resistance, ownership and legacy fueled by “good trouble.” In doing so, we reached outside of the typical tourist areas, and went deeper into the community for them to share their journeys to this point, and their plans for the future. We worked alongside Emmy award winning producer, Luke Burke IV and critically acclaimed artist/storyteller, L. Kasimu Harris to develop a non-scripted, personable approach to telling stories of Black business leaders within our networks, including Dr. Dwight & Beverly McKenna of McKenna Museums, Stella Chase and Family of Dooky Chase Restaurant, Denise Graves of the Congo Preservation Society and Attorney Darryl Gray, owner of Sweet Legacy Group. ONWARD.

NOTCF HONORS GALA

When we shared that we would put the New Orleans Tourism & Cultural Foundation’s name in lights, we meant it. Then a newer organization to the city’s funding landscape, we knew that this event program had to stand out amongst the city’s gala saturated market. We connected with our friends at Big Sexy Neon to create lighting decor to give a branded look and feel for years to come. We also ensured that the community informed the voting process by implementing a public call for nominations. Furthermore, we implemented a collaborative selection process with a mix of cultural artists, civic and business leaders to vote anonymously. These steps built trust and commitment within the community and greater outcomes for the cultural community in its entirety. With an impactful awards ceremony and seamless run of show with visual narratives, guests enjoyed a 4 course dinner by award winning and emerging chefs and were able to immerse themselves in artist lounges designed by local artists and produced by local curators and museums.  

The goal was for folks to experience pure joy through cultural recognition. ONWARD.

A FUNDING ORGANIZATION KNEW THAT THERE WAS A NEED IN THE COMMUNITY TO CELEBRATE AND UPLIFT CULTURE BEARERS AND THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO TOURISM AND SOCIETY. IN THE IDEATION PHASE, WILSON AVE. ASKED THE QUESTIONS "HOW DO YOU ETHICALLY SELECT AWARDEES AND WHAT DOES A REAL REWARD LOOK LIKE TO FOLKS WHO LIVE THE CULTURE DAY IN AND DAY OUT?"