
"Music is the only
art form that lives in the same space
as emotion.
And New Orleans has the history of wonderful,
powerful emotions
that have affected the entire world."
- Irvin Mayfield
NOLA Idol Press Conference, April 2024
"The Place Where Dreams Come From"
- A Keynote Speech
by Irvin Mayfield
"
Jam is the shared space for musicians
in the New Orleans tradition.
And once we discover that this shared space exists, we begin to elevate through collaboration and communication.
Communication only comes from seeing and hearing.
As the poet Mark Nepo says, to truly listen is to “lean in softly with the willingness to be changed by what you hear.”
And in this town,
our culture is born out of
the leaning-in,
bearing witness
...responding.
"
As New Orleans Recreation Department's first Artist-in-Residence, Irvin Mayfield has actively engaged local New Orleans' communities of all ages with: