Second Line in the Sky

On View December 1, 2025 – January 18, 2026

100–300 Blocks of Bourbon Street, New Orleans

About the Installation

Second Line in the Sky is a temporary memorial and lighting installation created to honor the twelve lives lost on January 1 and to hold space for reflection, healing, and remembrance. Suspended across the 100–300 blocks of Bourbon Street, nearly 1,000 hand-crafted flags and illuminated Second Line–inspired elements form a glowing canopy overhead—inviting visitors to pause, look upward, and remember. Developed in close partnership with families and survivors, the installation transforms grief into light and celebrates the resilience, strength, and spirit that define New Orleans.

Honoring the Lives Remembered

This memorial respectfully honors the individuals whose families chose to have their loved ones included in Second Line in the Sky. Each is remembered through the photographs, prayers, and personal messages woven into the prayer flags hung throughout installation, reflecting the love of their families and the support of the community. Survivors were also actively involved in the development process, ensuring the memorial honors both memory and resilience.

Second Line in the Sky_Perspective Sketch_sm

Vision and Creative Team

The Second Line in the Sky project was conceived and guided by Katy Casbarian of Arnaud’s Restaurant, who led the vision, secured funding, and oversaw community engagement to bring the memorial to life.

Studio West – Creative Direction & Project Leadership

The installation was produced by the husband-and-wife team Jennie West and Jason Richards of Studio West, a New Orleans–based, women-owned design and architecture practice. Known for their work across hospitality, historic preservation, and civic spaces, Studio West guided the project’s technical development, creative execution, and community engagement—helping transform the initial vision into a meaningful shared experience.

Artist Collaborators

Three acclaimed artists with deep ties to New Orleans created the prayer flags that anchor the memorial:

Babette Beaullieu – Artist and co-creator, known for work exploring memory, ritual, and healing.
Margaret Crosby – Visual artist whose practice blends photography and textile storytelling.
Jan Gilbert – Multi-disciplinary artist recognized for work rooted in place, culture, and collective remembrance.

Together, their hand-sewn flags incorporate photographs, family notes, survivor messages, and the names of those remembered—each one a unique tribute made with care.

Photographers