Terrance Osborne, others collaborate on playhouse

Terrance Osborne puts the finishing touches on the CASA Jefferson Playhouse at the Algier’s Winn-Dixie. The one-of-a-kind playhouse, a collaboration between Osborne, woodworker Matthew Holdren, interior designer Maria Barcelona and landscaper Matthew Ponseti, will be raffled to benefit the Court Appointed Special Advocates for abused children in Jefferson Parish. Tickets are $25 and available until the June 20 drawing.a quintessential Osborne painting.

Terrance Osborne’s trip to Winn-Dixie over the weekend was business as usual — for him, that is.

The artist arrived at the Algiers grocery store with his painter’s palette, brushes, paint, and Bose headphones amid the Saturday morning shoppers. In between meeting and greeting his local fans, he put his finishing touches on a unique, 3-dimensional version of the kind of whimsical structure one might spot in the background of a quintessential Osborne painting.

The playful, one-of-a-kind piece of art is designed to help rebuild the lives of abused and neglected children served by Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children of Jefferson Parish (CASA Jefferson) by raising funds to offset budget shortfalls for the organization’s operating expenses.

In addition to collaborating with CASA Jefferson and Winn-Dixie on the project, Osborne is working with a local woodworker, interior designer, and landscaper to watch the stuff of his drawings literally come to life.
“I got excited when I first started,” Osborne says, “but now I just want to do more. So many ideas came from this project!”

The Playhouse sprang to life when woodworking artist Matthew Holdren took Osborne’s drawing to his backyard furniture workshop and design business. Holdren, using materials steeped in New Orleans history, constructed the playhouse frame and then infused the structure with his signature reclaimed and salvaged flair; Maria Barcelona Interiors stepped in to furnish the playhouse interior with a stylish table, whimsical chandelier, and cheerful, encouraging wall art; and, after the winning ticket is drawn, landscaping artist Matthew Ponseti will design the landscaping around the structure.

According to vice chairman of CASA Jefferson Dennis Lomanaco, the organization serves approximately 400 children in the New Orleans area. Lomanaco says the needs are exponentially greater than the resources available to help these kids. Under Lomanaco’s guidance, CASA Jefferson has restructured into a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, a move that has allowed for more diversified funding which translates to helping more children.

“There’s a lot of kids who need help in this area,” Lomanaco says. “How do you tell 400 kids you don’t have time for them? These kids have already heard that before.”
Lomanaco, who served as CASA Jefferson advocate until his 16-year old appointed child aged out of the system, says the horrors of the abuse these children face propelled him to focus his efforts on being the bridge that connects people to resources for good causes.

“I literally asked Terrance, if I build this playhouse, will you paint it?” Lomanaco says.

Despite the restructuring, CASA Jefferson is still about $200,000 shy of grant monies to cover the operating expenses. All proceeds raised by the playhouse raffle, Lomanaco says, will “literally be the lifeblood” of the organization.

“This is probably one of the best projects I’ve ever been involved in,” Lomanaco says. “When people are passionate about giving back, the energy builds real gratitude.”

Winn-Dixie lends support by promoting the project and providing display locations in four locations across the Greater New Orleans area before June 20, when the Playhouse will be raffled off. The playhouse is constructed to disassemble into six parts, which makes it easier to transport. At each location, the playhouse is paired with a neighboring elementary school whose artwork is inspired by Osborne. In Algiers, for example, the playhouse display is adorned by artwork from Alice Harte Elementary Charter School, the school where Osborne taught for six years before Hurricane Katrina.

“I just decided I wanted to give back,” Osborne says. “We’re just four artists coming together, rebuilding the lives of kids.”

Osborne, the father of three whose art has adorned posters from Nike to Jazz Fest to NBA Hornets (now Pelicans), says this particular project grabbed his attention and support the moment it was presented.

“My wife was adopted,” he explains. “So when Dennis [Lomanaco] approached us about co-chairing and donating to a CASA event, we said yes. The idea that children are benefitting, that really hit home for me.”

Osborne says he’s always had a good sense of family, but the older he gets, the more he realizes that family is the most important thing.

“This is about the kids,” he says. “It’s just easy doing things to help kids.”

For more information on the project location and tour, the artists or to purchase a raffle ticket, visit http://www.casaplayhouse.com.