THE TEACHER
A New Orleans Native, Dom Graves is constantly building things and is a serial collaborator. 2010 SCAD GRAD with a BFA in Painting, He initially learned float making in 2011 from Richard Valadie, owner of Royal Artist, while working on a Krewe de Vieux float and was eventually hired on and trained. Since then, he has worked on a wide array of projects including Mardi Gras floats, large mobile contraptions, Haunted Houses,Tiny Robotic Tree Frogs for research projects, paintings, sculptures, cyborg wookiee themed little free libraries, turtle ponds, Aquatic Gardens, experimental musical playgrounds in City Park with the New Orleans Airlift's Music Box, and even went on to do renovations on the historic Pinocchio Whale inside Storyland also located in City Park.
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He also has a serious career in aquaculture working on everything from disaster recovery consulting for FEMA and DOI on behalf of the Gulf Coast Live Bait industry and the Louisiana Fishing Community Recovery Coaltion to working on System designs for the Louisiana Sea Grant’s Oyster Lab and the Michael C. Voisin Oyster Hatchery on Grand Isle.
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He is very active in the New Orleans Carnival, Art, Music, and Event Production community having worked on everything from French Quarter Fest to Krewe Du Vieux over the years. He is also a proud longtime member of the Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus, having collaborated on many creative projects ranging from elaborate art contraption building, full scale set building, and even publicity stunts including big foot hoaxes and viral fake NASA press releases. He is also a 10 year veteran DJ on WTUL 91.5fm.
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Eventually he started teaching these skillsets to young artists at the Country Day Creative Arts program and eventually realized that there was a demand amongst adults that he was able to fulfill safely during the pandemic.
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In 2023 he was hired on to consult and help bring the Order of Athena Parade in Mobile across the finish line after they were left in a bind last minute with almost completely unbuilt floats from a former contractor. The "Ladies of Mardi Gras Day" were able to learn his techniques and come together with the guidance of Graves and his team and successfully deliver all of their floats within 9 weeks of their parade date saving the day. He and his crew went on to produce their 2024 Parade as well. He also continues to produce props for event production needs such as the All State Sugar Bowl, Tales of the Cocktail, the Anne Rice Vampire Ball, the New Orleans Hispanic Heritage Foundation's Azucar Ball, and more.
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Recently he helped manage and execute the design and construction of the AgriAquaculture Center of Excellence for the Louisiana Chamber of Commerce Foundation, a large scale Aquaculture/Aquaponics training facility on the West Bank built to lead the way in training people for jobs in the expanding field of agri aquaculture while simultaneously operating as the largest aquaponics farm in the State of Louisiana.
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