D. Banfield is the Creative Director and co-founder of Crescent City Art Project, an organization created with the vision of enhancing communities aesthetically through artistic expression that embraces culture, individuality, and pride.  His inspiration for starting CCAP began two years ago when he started creating public art in the New Orleans area.  He went from gutting and de-molding homes ravaged by Hurricane Katrina to engage my artistic passions. D. was asked to create the centerpiece of a mural project at the Central City EOC Head Start School.  He designed a scene that was a welcomed improvement to the school's bare exterior, giving life to playful still images that have connected with the children that attend the school. 

To date, D. has independently produced over 2000 images that have been installed at many Crescent City schools, churches, buildings, and streets.  Since each installation project is volunteer-based, it involves a large-scale coordination effort.  He is responsible for managing as many as 2175 volunteers for projects.  Through his efforts,he has successfully completed many projects with up to 1400 paintings created within one day. I use these projects to build relationships with national volunteers and the community from every walk of life.

 

In addition to this personal venture,He has received distinguished honors and accolades for my work.  His projects have been featured in the Times Picayune (article June 19, 08), WVUE - Fox 8 New Orleans, NBC's "The Guiding Light", Oprah & Friends Radio Show on XM Radio and “Still Rising” documentary.  This year, he was appointment as a Mural Ambassador with Art Miles and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Decade for the Culture of Peace and Non-Violence Among Children of the World.  With this appointment comes an invitation to go to Eypgt to participate in the creation of a three-mile mural.

He currently hold a position as a Teaching Artist with Young Audiences Louisiana, and have artistic partnerships with the Recover School District

  Originally working construction in New Orleans, D substituted a hammer for a paintbrush in an effort to "Paint the Change" in November of 2006.  A year and a half and 600 community/school murals later, D proves more committed to these Community projects than ever.




Disturbed by the images of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the native New Yorker came to New Orleans in September 2006.  He wanted the people of New Orleans to know that someone cared. In the process of helping to rebuild the City, D says, “I found an outlet to channel some of the negative energy that had plagued me for a few years. I became passionate about life and my craft as I went about painting the change.”  He adds, “For helping me get to this point, I am grateful to the city New Orleans."  D has truly left his mark; rebuilding foundations, both structurally and aesthetically, in the Crescent City.

 
After attending the School of Visual Arts, D’s life took a different turn…away from art. These paintings become deeply personal because they fuel his new commitment to his craft. He spends time designing the images, based on the school’s spirit and of course his state of mind. The more excited he is about a project the more brilliant the colors are.
 
Each painting for D is a moment in time that he shares with the volunteers who worked with him on that day of service. His paintings are about a shared experience, giving and community. He couldn't imagine doing anything better.

News Features

 Times Article

 Read Article

D. on FOX News

 

 

By Art Miles

 

Tavis Smiley, Cornel West 

 

and the Louisana

Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu

 

Painting with    D.

 

 

yeah my eyes are shut!!

!!!BIG NEWS!!!

Peter Walsh of

Oprah & Friends Radio Show on XM Radio interviews D. for a look at New Orleans a year after katrina

 

List of some of the schools/organization/institutions/businesses with D's work....

Albert Wicker Lit. Academy

Banneker Elementary School

Bauduit

Booker T. Washington

Central City E.O.C.

Clark High School 

Craig Elementary

Carver High

Carver Elementary

Dibert School

Dryades School

Fannie C Williams

Frederick A Douglass H.S.

Gregory School 

H.C. Schaumburg Elem

Habans School

Harney School 

James Weldon School

Julian School

L. E. Rabouin  School

Kipps Carrollton

Kipps Royal

Marie Henderson

Singleton High 

Sylvanie F. Williams

Walter L. Cohen H.S

Warren Easton School

Welcome Middle School

New Orleans Mission

First United Method Church

Peggy Severe Salon for Women

St Patrick's Park

D. has developed projects for:

Target Inc.

Starbucks

Kaiser Permanente

Guiding Light SoapOpera

Travelocity

Outback Steakhouse

New Orleans Saints

Tavis Smiley

The State of the Black Union

Congress of Day Laborers

Hands On Network

STAND, a group of homeless and formerly homeless New Orleanians