SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) – ArkLaTex Artistry’s Brittney Hazelton speaks with Manifest, an art organization that plans to establish creative environments for artists to express themselves.
Close to three years ago, Manifest was started by artist and musician, Anthony Benedetto in Shreveport’s Highland neighborhood. Artists of all types would come together to be creative, creating music and visual arts, sometimes even expanding out into different mediums.
“Just like meet up as musicians and different types of artists. Just like express ourselves in whatever we do best, whatever our avenue is in, and even if we feel emboldened, we’d hop into a different avenue. Just would use that like a highway to do that, be bold, get out of our comfort zone,” says Mack Swans, public relations for Manifest and vocal musician.
During these meetings, artists often cross over into new mediums they have never tried before through each other’s influences explains Joey Harris, artist relations for Manifest.
“Artists made a cross into a whole different medium, and we got people dabbling into other things cause we pushed them, or they pushed us, or they come to us with ideas. It’s really a good experience to broaden your horizons,” says Harris.
Since its time in Highland, Manifest has grown into a larger organization of artists, who now plan events for the cooperative. During a residency at Artspace, Manifest would meet every Tuesday, turning the space into a creative haven for artists to express themselves.
“At Artspace, every week we would do a big mural. It would go into a collection of these large mural paintings, and sometimes there were themes. But, I had never picked up paintbrushes, a Sharpie for that matter, but I came one day and Michael Miller (visual artist) told me ‘ hey man pick up a brush, put something on the painting’ and I did,” says Harris. “I had a lot of fun.”
In the long term, Manifest plans to establish itself as a nonprofit, acquire a permanent venue, and foster a community of artists.
“We use to have several venues that I think served a similar purpose, Minicine being one of the main ones that come to mind,” says Harris. Manifest started partly because several venues that influenced artist growth in the Shreveport area have closed down, including Minicine?, Tiptina’s, 515 Soundstage and Bon Temps.
“When I was in high school, we had Bon Temps, which was the coffee bar on Texas Street, and also Tipitina’s as well,” says Kiara LaFitte, Manifest liaison. “I think when all of that got closed down, Michael and Anthony just said, hey we need a time and a space, and a place.”
Harris explained it best, when you have places that close down a pillar is lost in the community. Manifest hopes to pull together artists who lost their venues, even older artists, to come and mentor or experiment in environments Manifest creates.
“Manifest is like the spot where all of those time periods, and all the different artists in those different time periods they all meet together,” says Swans. “Like everyone believes in this one thing, because of so many things we have lost in the artist community. Now, it’s the community doing the heavy lifting for it.”
Venues for artists and other creatives are important to any city’s culture and identity. Shreveport itself has an under-appreciated culture.
“Manifest like illuminates Shreveport culture in very unique ways. We provide a safe space for artists to create, bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds, and it really is a judgment-free zone. Where art and music just unite people, and it just fosters a true sense of community,” says Lafitte.
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