Guardians Institute

Small Center partnered with the Guardians Institute to build a small, short-term performance, education, and storage space used by the Institute and the Guardians of the Flame Mardi Gras Indian Tribe.

Project Dates

January 2011–December 2012

Context

In 2006, Herreast J. Harrison founded the Guardians Institute in honor of her late husband, Big Mardi Gras Indian Chief, Donald Harrison, Sr. Since its founding, the Guardians Institute has been dedicated to the development of youth through literacy, New Orleans’ indigenous cultural arts, and West African and New World oral traditions. The Institute is vital to the preservation of some of New Orleans’ indigenous cultural art forms. It is conceivable that these art forms may be lost or altered if current tradition bearers do not disseminate their knowledge to the next generation.

Small Center Engagement

Herreast, in collaboration with Alembic Community Development, submitted a proposal to Small Center’s annual Request for Proposals. A longer term site vision by the Rockwell Group includes a large museum with archival storage and display abilities, yet the Guardians team recognized that a smaller space could meet their education and performance needs while they raise money for a more ambitious facility.

The resulting Guardians Institute Donald Harrison Sr. Museum was a 24 month Design/ Build project. A small team of students under Scott Ruff’s lead designed an 800 s.f. structure which includes a covered outdoor performance space, an indoor display and meeting space, and a restroom and storage area in support of the Institute’s programming. After a series of zoning variance, fire marshall review, and permitting efforts, a class of students led by professor Seth Welty built the structure as part of a 2012 Design/Build.

The building is proportioned as a shotgun house yet oriented parallel to the street and set back within a double lot to celebrate the porch and yard as a community space for gathering. Its height and breadth are informed by the size of a fully “Masked” chief and the stage and the oversized stairs become seating for a captive audience. Behind a double-layered surface of white poly-gal is a space primarily used for the well-established literacy program and other teaching endeavors of the Institute.

Partner Organization

The Donald Harrison Sr. Museum and Cultural Center is an outgrowth of The Guardians of the Flame Mardi Gras Indian tradition. Hearrest Harrison started the Guardians Institute in 2006 in honor of her late husband Donald Harrison, Sr., a community leader who served as Big Chief of the Guardians of the Flame group for many years. The Institute not only promotes and preserves the cultural art forms of the Mardi Gras Indians, but, paired with Mrs. Harrison’s awareness of the need for additional resources for children in the 9th ward, the space also accommodates the neighborhood children’s literacy program.

Outcome

Currently, the Guardians Institute is the home of the Donald Harrison Sr. Museum and Legacy Performance Pavilion. The museum houses artwork, music collections and many other artifacts from the Harrisons, as well as other artists. The Guardians Institute has curated dozens of exhibits, seminars, lectures, and presentations in New Orleans and throughout the world. To view the brochure about the finished project, please click here.

Collaborators