In the first 2023–24 program of NOMA’s Creative Assembly initiative, cohort members Paige DeVries and Daniel Fitzpatrick worked with guest artist Alyssa Lizzini to bring the innovative Neighborhood Workshop to two vibrant New Orleans districts.

The Creative Assembly residency is focused this year on the diverse voices inherent in New Orleans’s neighborhoods. This field drawing program invited residents to reimagine and rediscover the distinctive charm of Algiers Point and Mid-City. Encouraging participants to liberate themselves from preconceived notions about drawing and sketching, the program celebrated creative freedom, prompting participants to see their neighborhoods through a new lens. 

Expressing gratitude, a participant from Algiers Point conveyed, “I just wanted to say ‘Thank you!’ again for the drawing workshop last week in our little historic Algiers Point neighborhood. I so enjoyed it & appreciate NOMA providing programming of this nature. Please share my accolades with everyone involved.”

Artist Alyssa Lizzini, who hails from Cleveland, Ohio, focuses on social geography and community engagement through her on-location drawing. Her spearheading of the program added a unique perspective and an opportunity for Creative Assembly artists to collaborate. 

In her work, Paige DeVries explores the intersection of humanity, flora, and the suburban landscape. Her paintings, showcased both locally and nationally, include notable presentations during Miami Art Week.

Daniel Fitzpatrick, author of the novel Only the Lover Sings, is the editor of Joie de Vivre, a journal encompassing art, culture, and letters in South Louisiana. He is also an English teacher at Jesuit High School in New Orleans.

—Kelci Baker, Community Engagement Manager