Stepping into Art
New crosswalk brings creativity and safety to Centenary and surrounding community
Centenary students, faculty, and staff gathered on a spring Saturday to add creativity and color to the crosswalk on Centenary Boulevard. The community worked to paint the crosswalk featuring vibrantly colored alligators. The crosswalk installation has been a semester long collaboration between Centenary students and faculty, administration, and city officials. The project was generously funded by the Student Government Association.
Thomas Moran, Visiting Assistant Professor of Accounting and Business, has been leading the community in a lecture series, “Shreveport Forward” encouraging Shreveport’s residents in identifying and defining Shreveport’s identity. During a recent discussion on urban planning the safety issue of the crosswalk on Centenary Boulevard came up and provided an opportunity for small project that could increase safety and add beauty to the area.
Dr. Moran began discussing the project further with Peter Zunick, Associate Professor of Psychology and the idea was born.
“At one of the lectures he (Moran) showed examples of really cool street art from different cities around the country. I began discussing with colleagues and we thought, ‘Why can’t we do that here?’ Out of those conversations we formed a small committee in January and started roping in more folks from the Centenary community. It was a real group effort!” states Zunick.
Street Art or “Asphalt Art” is on the rise in cities and strives to improve communities by increasing street safety and revitalizing public spaces in a relatively low-cost way. The installation on Centenary Boulevard is the first of its kind in Shreveport.
“I have received very positive comments from community members already. We also received positive feedback and ‘thank you’ comments over the course of the painting day as well,” states Moran. “My hope is to complete several more before year-end. I would love to see them all over the city.”
The quirky and lively alligator design of the crosswalk was created by Centenary student, Dani Kimmel ‘26. Naturally the alligators needed names, so the student artists called them President Gator, General Gator, and Reginald.
“The idea was that someone could hop across the street without touching the blue of the water like a game of hopscotch or don't touch the lava,” said Kimmel. “I used an alligator and a river due to the connections to Louisiana and Louisianian culture. I have lived in Shreveport since I was four years old and consider myself a Shreveport native.”
After graduating next year, Kimmel will leave Louisiana to pursue her master's degree, but she says the crosswalk project makes her feel like she’s left her mark on the college and city which have shaped her.
“I think Centenary and Shreveport are very beautiful place,” Kimmel said. “It feels like Centenary is reaching out into the surrounding neighborhoods, and Shreveport is getting brighter and more walkable.”
There are plans in place to complete a second installation at the crosswalk on Rutherford in the fall.