Downtown FabWorks Portfolio | The Mirage

project
description

The Mirage is a permanent public art installation at the Audubon Louisiana Nature Center created by New Orleans artist Trinity Barriere. The sculpture features dozens of brightly painted birdhouses, arranged in a flowing, DNA-like formation that honors the layered identity of New Orleans East. Both artwork and habitat, the installation celebrates community stories while welcoming migratory birds into its design.

the
challenge

Commissioned through the City of New Orleans’ Percent for Art Program and administered by Arts New Orleans, the project required transforming a community-powered vision into a permanent outdoor installation. The structure needed to withstand Louisiana’s intense weather conditions while preserving the vibrant individuality of more than 200 hand-painted birdhouses. Every element—from structural integrity to layout precision—had to support both the artistic vision and the realities of the natural landscape.

description

We fabricated the 12 largest birdhouses in the installation, along with the custom-engineered steel posts designed to anchor all of the birdhouses securely in the ground. Barriere and selected artist friends painted the 12 largest birdhouses, and the rest were decorated during a spirited Community Paint Day with over 200 participants (including a few DFW team members!). Each metal perch was built for durability while maintaining the light, organic movement of Barriere’s flowing design. Following her precise layout plan, we carefully mapped the spacing and directional placement of every post to achieve the intended shifting, mirage-like effect. The result is a joyful, lasting tribute to the natural landscape and community strength of New Orleans East.

Ryan McDonald

Senior Creative Producer, RED VELVET

Downtown FabWorks was a standout partner for our brand activation at Tales of the Cocktail. From the start, their team was collaborative, communicative, and deeply invested in bringing our vision to life with smart tech integration and seamless execution. Their onsite crew was not only skilled, but also incredibly friendly and easy to work with, making install a breeze. The final result was high-quality, on-brand, and a true showstopper.

Jordan Schwartz

Owner, Primetime Innovations

A+ job and A++ team. Every single crew member was extremely helpful, very respectful to all on site, and willing to help wherever and however without any complaints. Amazing group…next project, I am going to request that exact crew! Thank you. You killed it.

Paul Utterback

Business Development, Crystal Clear Imaging

A model company for design and fabrication. If you can dream it, Downtown FabWorks can do it.

Mike Cassesi

Owner, CASSESI Commercial Construction

Dan and his team are true professionals who are in a league of their own. When it comes to creativity, quality, and skill, Downtown FabWorks is a company that we know we can trust. Dan is down-to-earth, responsive, hardworking, and a true pleasure to work with every time.

Scott Beelman

Partner, Katapult Events

In the world of live events—where things often change on a whim—it's great to have a fabrication partner who understands our business and exceeds our expectations every single time.

Irina Gusin

Independent Exhibitions Producer

Dan and his team at Downtown FabWorks were able to fully produce and execute a large-scale structure thoughtfully and in record time when my project's deadline was threatened by Hurricane Ida. I couldn't be more appreciative of Dan's professionalism and hard work during a very stressful and uncertain time. Dan and his team were a joy to work with!

Kristen Kain

Owner, Kristen Kain: Marketing + Events

Downtown FabWorks is a great group to work with on any event project. They are experienced in all things related to scenic fabrication and installation, and they are flexible and accommodating as the needs of the project are developing. Having a reliable scenic partner is crucial to the success of the project—and Downtown FabWorks does not disappoint.

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