La. Native Paints DeRidder’s New Downtown Mural
By Jody Bradley
Caution: Fresh paint.
A bold, beautiful mural was recently completed in downtown DeRidder by a home-grown artist. The bright colors are a beacon in the community, welcoming all who pass by. The mural was designed by the mayor’s office and city officials, and the artist helped the city by free handing the image on one of their original buildings to bring a fresh look to their historic community.
About The Artist
Matthew Yerby is a self-taught Louisiana artist who now resides in Los Angeles, Calif. Over the years, his diverse art has found its way to homes across the globe. He specializes in latex murals and acrylic painting. His art varies from landscapes and nature to portraits, live events and custom signs.
In addition to painting, Yerby also has his hand in screenwriting and directing. He is currently traveling across the nation to paint murals in all 50 U.S. states. He has open polls on social media to encourage the public to vote on mural locations as he travels. In 2016, the artist began adding large scale mural work in various commercial and residential settings.
“I refuse to put my work in a box,” he says.
Today, Yerby shares his love of art with others, bringing encouragement to current and up and coming artists. Through his art, he’s gained a worldwide following with his website and social media outlets.
From Idea To Brush Stroke
The DeRidder Mayor’s Office was excited to connect with Yerby for the commissioned piece of art.
“We liked that he was a Louisiana native,” says city finance director Holly Buxton.
Buxton attended Northwestern College in Natchitoches at the same time as Yerby. She heard of his work back then and took a chance reaching out to him when this new DeRidder project arose. After reviewing his themes and styles, the city felt Yerby’s art fit their vision.
Yerby happened to be finishing up a mural in Arizona and suggested he stop in DeRidder and work on their mural. He was soon spending long days on the historic streets of DeRidder.
The city wanted patriotic colors and big bold letters, as well as pinecones to represent the parish. Yerby says, “the biggest challenge was the weather.”
Local businesses watched in for several long days, saying the artist worked tirelessly in the sun and rain. Locals remember him as “down-to-earth,” “easy-going,” and “quick but precise.”
The fire department even lent a helping hand, shading the area from streetlights when needed to optimize Yerby’s use of his projector.
The result is bold, professional, and personal to the community.
Community Vision Brought To Life
“Our goal here is to make everyone feel welcome. We really are all like family here. To see how much our downtown has grown and thrived is beautiful!” says Stephanie Carroll, events coordinator with the DeRidder Chamber of Commerce.
Her office is near the new mural, which is proudly displayed on a city building inhabited by several locally owned businesseses. Everyone seems to be excited and proud of the welcoming energy it brings to their community.
“The mayor had a vision, so the different departments came together to bring his vision to life,” says Buxton.
It was truly a group effort amongst city officials. Buxton says their hope is to bring something new and exciting to the downtown historic area and make it a place where people want to spend their time. The mural has a personal touch with the phrase, “A Place to Call Home.” Shannon Gray, purchasing agent for the mayor’s office, says, “A lot of people speak of coming back home, or military comes in and decides to stay, raise families and retire here. I hope people seeing it will agree that this truly is a place to call home and raise families.”
“I hope the people of DeRidder enjoy the mural for years,” Yerby says. “Everyone in town was extremely kind and very welcoming to an artist that was hired to rebrand the town’s mural.”
What The Future Holds
The city does have plans to have more murals done around their historic district to continually update the historic district and provide a welcoming atmosphere. “We definitely want to bring more art to the area using local artists,” says Buxton.
They will be looking at Yerby, along with other possible Louisiana artists, to help continue their vision for the area moving forward. She says they hope to continue to create a place downtown where locals and visitors alike will want to spend time.
If you want to see the mural, look for the old City Savings Bank building (now Dance Stop Dance Studio) on the corner of Main and First street. Located just across from Beauregard Credit, the welcoming colors are hard to miss. While you’re there, spend some time touring the old Beauregard Parish Courthouse and Gothic Jailhouse. Delve into the fascinating history of the city at the Beauregard Museum and learn about the city’s roots in the longleaf pine industry and as the first off-base USO during World War II.
Slow down a bit and stop in at Little Willow Mercantile for freshly dried teas, pie fillings and jams, or fresh eggs and other dairy. Before you go, grab a sweet treat at Lou Lou’s! These locally owned businesses are all within walking distance of the mural.
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