Student's Hand-Woven Mural Brightens Morgan City's Railroad Avenue

Ja'Mariah Steele, a high school senior, created a vibrant community mural by weaving colorful parachute material through plastic mesh fencing.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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A stretch of Railroad Avenue in Morgan City's Coal Chute neighborhood has been transformed by a hand-woven mural created by Ja'Mariah Steele, a senior at Morgan City High School. Steele spent over five months cutting strips of colorful ripstop material and weaving them through plastic mesh fencing to depict images of community life, including a boat, shrimp, and oil derrick. The mural project was funded by the nonprofit St. Mary Excel and grew out of the organization's neighborhood signage program aimed at encouraging community beautification efforts.

Why it matters

The mural project represents a grassroots effort to revitalize one of Morgan City's oldest neighborhoods, the Coal Chute, at a time when the region is poised to receive increased attention and investment as the future site of Louisiana's only Atchafalaya National Estuarine Research Reserve. The mural showcases the talent and dedication of a local student while also inspiring community pride and engagement in neighborhood improvement.

The details

Steele created the mural by cutting strips of colorful parachute-style ripstop material and weaving them by hand through plastic mesh temporary fencing. The artwork features images of community life in the Coal Chute neighborhood. When sections didn't meet her standards, she pulled the strips out and started over. The project began in a hallway at the back of Morgan City High School, where Steele and fellow student Lexi Thibodaux started cutting and weaving the material. For roughly four of the five-and-a-half months the mural was in progress, Steele worked on it alone, perfecting the designs.

  • The mural project began last year in a hallway at Morgan City High School.
  • Steele and Thibodaux started cutting and weaving the ripstop material into the plastic mesh fencing.
  • For roughly four of the five-and-a-half months the mural was in progress, Steele worked on it alone.
  • In January, a movable wooden frame was built and installed along the railroad tie wall on Railroad Avenue.
  • The finished mural was then opened up and attached to the frame, which can be repositioned if needed.

The players

Ja'Mariah Steele

A senior at Morgan City High School who created the hand-woven mural.

Lexi Thibodaux

A student who helped Steele at the start of the mural project.

St. Mary Excel

A nonprofit economic development organization that funded the mural project as part of its neighborhood signage program.

Letitia 'Sunshine' Butler

The owner of Angel's Notary on Railroad Avenue who contacted St. Mary Excel about cleaning up the area around her home, leading to the mural concept.

Marcelle Hoskins

A resident of the adjacent 'Across the Tracks' neighborhood who grew up in the Coal Chute and is excited about what the mural represents for the community.

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What they’re saying

“I wanted to make a positive difference of putting art over an eyesore that has been overlooked time and time again. I wanted to help create something that represented Morgan City's traditions. Volunteering for this project showed me how creativity can inspire people and make a community feel more connected and vibrant.”

— Ja'Mariah Steele, Student (stmarynow.com)

“Ja'mariah completed this mural with tireless dedication, countless hours, and meticulous attention to detail — all with a smile on her face.”

— Christine Myers, Teacher, Morgan City High School (stmarynow.com)

“I grew up in Coal Chute, and I've always been proud of where I come from. When I saw what Ja'mariah was creating, it just confirmed what I already knew-this neighborhood has heart. That's why I take care of those signs. If we show we care about where we live, other people will too.”

— Marcelle Hoskins, Resident, 'Across the Tracks' neighborhood (stmarynow.com)

What’s next

The mural can be repositioned on the movable wooden frame if needed to maintain its visibility and impact along Railroad Avenue.

The takeaway

This community-driven mural project demonstrates how a single student's creativity and dedication can inspire neighborhood pride and spur broader efforts to revitalize an area. The mural's vibrant design and the story behind its creation highlight the power of grassroots initiatives to transform overlooked spaces and bring a community together.