Brandan “BMIKE” Odums

Project BE was an illegal art experience. In the lower 9th ward of New Orleans, the Florida Housing project stood, abandoned and decayed, a reminder of neglect in the middle of a community trying to recover from one of the biggest Natural Disasters this country had seen.
I wanted to inspire the people who lived near and walked by those buildings daily. In three short months every corner of every room had new life painted on the walls, messages of hope and messages that challenged. Eventually the owners of the property shut it down, but not until after it made the front page of the local paper. It was named the greatest art experience in New Orleans of 2013 and it started me on this amazing path understanding the transforming power of Art.

After #projectbe was forced to end the spirit of it lived on. I found myself painting in forgotten places often, that lead me to Degaulle Manor a 360 unit apartment complex, abandoned since Katrina.
This time my paint sessions was met with a unique opportunity. One day while painting, the owner of the property stumbled upon me, in that exchange I talked my way into permission to temporarily transform the property and invite the public, Exhibit BE was born. I called on 35 street artist to help me turn the abandoned walls to one of the largest street art exhibits in the south. Over the course of 3 months, over 30,000 people came and experienced the space.

The final installment of the “BE” series, StudioBE is a 35,000 sq ft warehouse in the bywater neighborhood of New Orleans, LA. It is a culmination of everything I learned from ProjectBE and Exhibit BE as well as exploring my truth as an artist. StudioBE is now open 5 days a week 11am-6pm Wed-Sat and 2pm-6pm on Sundays. #StudioBE #EphemeralEternal