While beads, masks, and jazz may not often find a home at North Atlanta, this February, several North Atlanta departments are changing that with the production of our very first, very own Mardi Gras parade. What seemed like a natural joining between the arts and foreign language has become more, with hundreds of students collaborating to create a school-wide celebration. The event plans to bring together the band, dance, visual arts, and language departments as they work to bring New Orleans to North Atlanta.
A key part of the process is the Warriors’ visual arts department. Art instructor Allison Shepard is dedicated to bringing the fanfare, music, and artistry of Mardi Gras to the 11-story labyrinth that is North Atlanta’s campus. Art students are planning to use a variety of mediums to truly mix purple, green, and gold with the Dubs’ usual black and silver. They will be combining design, sculpture, and visual storytelling to transform the school, designing traditional masks and floats for the event and transforming the atrium into our very own French Quarter. Shepard is more than excited to bring NOLA’s culture to the building this year. “I’ve been thinking about an event like this for years,” she said. “I am just so excited to see the finished product.”
Bringing the French Quarter to the atrium is no small feat and will take hours of meticulous planning, designing, and creating. Sophomore Addie Patton is working with a team of other artists to design large-scale “buildings” inspired by the unique architecture of New Orleans’ iconic streets. The goal is to truly immerse visitors in the culture of the city. “Being a part of the process is super cool. It’s like a behind-the-scenes experience,” she said. “I’m excited for everyone to see the finished product.”
New Orleans is a city famous for its music, and Mardi Gras is no exception. Music plays a significant role in shaping the atmosphere of the parade, and the band department is taking its role seriously. The Dubs’ band is learning second line music, a traditional New Orleans parade style that turns sound into movement. Sophomore band member Ben Owens is excited to dabble in a different style and, of course, to get to work. “It’s super cool that we get to be a part of this,” he said. “I can’t wait to be a part of the celebration.”
As the date approaches, preparations begin, and excitement builds. The collaboration involved makes the parade more than an event—it’s years of ideas and hundreds of students coming together to build something incredible. Through the combination of art, music, dance, and language, the party will both educate and entertain. And for one day in February, New Orleans will make its way to Atlanta, and the school will not only host a celebration, but become one.
