Manifest! Manifest! Manifest!” The crowd shouted it repeatedly as QMajor (Quinterrian White) and Michael Miller were announced Best of Show performance and visual art winners of the 2023 Shreveport Regional Arts Council’s (SRAC) Critical Mass Open Invitational Exhibition and Critic Series. QMajor had dazzled the audience with his crossover “Ethereal Electronic” violin performance, and Miller’s, “Living and Dying in the Nuclear Winter,” was described as a bold and daring way to bring painting, drawing, and experimentation together to make a beautiful work of art.  

Both winners are active participants in Manifest, a group of artists who come together weekly to jam, paint, make jewelry, speak poetry, design zines, and uplift each other. Founded in 2021 by Anthony Benedetto and Michael Miller, Manifest motivated the winning artists to enter SRAC’s Critical Mass competition.   

When asked why they started Manifest and what they hoped it would mean to the artists of Northwest Louisiana, Benedetto and Miller said Manifest was built on the principles of fellowship and fostering creative growth. They described the initiative, which illuminates the multi-faceted creative culture of Shreveport in unique ways, as building a shared language of collaboration.  

“Manifest evokes a sympathetic joy—a feeling of happiness at the success of others. It’s space driven, bringing people of all ages together to spontaneously create music, visual art, spoken art in an encouraging, safe place where you can dare to make a mistake, risk vulnerability, shout ‘look at me,’ and know you’ll be supported,” said Benedetto and Miller.  

Benedetto and Miller are quick to give others credit, including local engineer Michael Morris, who has provided equipment, mentoring, and encouragement to the artists of Manifest. “When I first met Anthony, Manifest didn’t have a lot of equipment,” Morris said. “I saw the passion he had for what he was doing, and I had all this equipment I had collected over the years playing music and thought, Wow, this guy could really use what I’ve got stored. Our hope for the future is to offer hands-on learning about music equipment, maintenance, setup, operation, recording, and mixing as a part of Manifest.” 

Sarah Haines, who curates collaborative art sessions across all mediums for Manifest, said, “Manifest encourages people to step outside their comfort zones, share ideas, and support each other’s artistic growth. Seeing people who may not have considered themselves ‘artists’ pick up a brush or create something new in contribution to a collective piece is always exciting.” 

QMajor credits Manifest as skyrocketing his success and helping him be himself in the space of creating. “Before coming to Manifest in 2022, I wasn’t comfortable taking the stage. I had been classically trained on the violin and didn’t find it easy to stretch myself. Manifest changed me, broke me out of my shell and collaboratively helped me create a new Quinterrian White.” 

Rebecca Bonnevier, SRAC Executive Director, states, “Manifest , as a cohort of artists, continues to grow and has become the magic of realizing a next-level art community in Shreveport–Bossier. Because the group has a shared mission in supporting artists, SRAC works hand-in-hand with Manifest, most recently providing the group a platform to gather regularly at Caddo Common Park, located at the epicenter of Shreveport Common with its creative urban greenspace and covered pavilion. The result is a park series called Manifest’s Gathering Ground, where people of all ages and interests are invited to happen upon the fun and let the music and art unite us.” 

“Manifest is an important asset to our city”, said Wendy Benscoter, Ex. ecutive Dirrector. for Shreveport Common, Inc. “It is very exciting that Manifest has chosen Caddo Common Park as the venue to introduce new artists and new works of art. This is exactly what the uncommon Shreveport Common creative community is all about!” 

Plan to join Manifest this summer for the Gathering Ground series in Caddo Common Park, where you can leave your own artistic flair on canvases or to toot your horn in an improv jam session. These summer events are all about the principles of fellowship and fostering creative growth—to uplift artists of all ages and give you time and space to collaborate in a safe, creative space. Visit shrevearts.org or the calendar in shreveportcommon.com for more information.