Allendale family hopes to motivate neighborhood through art

SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) - A family in the Allendale neighborhood is hoping to inspire their neighbors through art.

Every week, the Hamilton family stands on the corner of North Dale and Ford Street, hoping people will stop, admire their art, and even join in!

The family also paints part of the concrete with inspirational words. Poetic X is the father, and he said art is something he, his wife and five children do to bond.

It’s an effort the family of seven started about two months ago, called the Allendale Arts Yard Market. The goal is to bring more light in a time where there isn’t much positive news.

“I like doing this because of the community. I’m out here with the community, they honk at us and give us words of encouragement,” Taijai Hamilton said.

Each kid has painted over 30 pieces of art.

“It makes me relaxed and happy all the time,” Isis Hamilton said.

That’s the reason they started standing here holding their paintings high.

“We started ‘It’s a New Day,’ that’s the mural that’s there and the motivation behind that was to get the community to something positive and give the community motivated in the right direction. They call the painted steps poetic steps, and they hope their art can bring love and peace to the neighborhood,” Marquita Pierre said.

Now, the family is looking for more people to join so they can paint another block in the neighborhood.

You can drive by and see their art, and even purchase it, every Tuesday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 8 pm. You can even enjoy a nice glass of lemonade!

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