FLINT, MI -- Three more murals were being added to the Flint mural project Wednesday, Aug. 28.

There are now 55 of the 100 murals planned for completion before fall 2020 goal. The three murals are part of a partnership between the Flint Public Art Project officials and New Orleans-based artists.

Director of the Flint Public Art Project (FPAP) Joe Schipani and Street Art Specialist Kady Perry got together together to start a spray paint “cultural exchange” between Flint and New Orleans called FLINT x NOLA.

According to a press release from Perry, the exchange was initiated to celebrate the diversity and creativity breeding in both cities. In December, the art project will be sending Flint-based artists to do the same thing in New Orleans.

“It’s pretty interesting what you guys have going on here,” Perry said. “It’s similar to what we dealt with in New Orleans with the poverty, so we are here to donate our time and bring some art to your city.”

New Orleans artists Courtney “Ceaux” Buckley, Jay McKay and Sasha Kopfler had been painting murals since Monday, Aug. 26. The artists planned to be finished by the end of the week.

All three of them are creating their own New Orleans-inspired murals side-by-side on a large wall near the corner of 1st Avenue and Garland Street.

The center mural is being done by McKay’s and shows a child holding letters to spell “LOVE."

“It brings some inspiration on the word ‘love’ because there is so much hate going on right now and racial tension,” McKay said. “(We’re) just putting the love train back together, that’s all."

Kopfler’s mural is on the far left and shows two young women standing next to each other with a blue background.

“These are referencing two Roman-Greek goddesses representing strength and love,” said Kopfler. “There will be more added to it. I’m trying to nail down the figures before working on the background.”

Buckley’s piece is on the far right of the wall shows two individuals in green background which represent home and resilience, according to the artist.

Buckley, like the rest of the artists, had never been to Flint before. The three of them agreed to the project to travel and see the city for themselves.

“I wanted to see what the city is really about besides (the water crisis),” Buckley said. “I wanted to know the real deal with the people.”

The artists have been staying in Flint and plan to stay until Saturday, Aug. 31. Perry said there might be plans to start another mural if they finish early.

Schipani said a cultural exchange is a way for the artists to get more experience and get ready for festivals and art conferences to get their work seen.

Exchanges are in the works with other artists from Los Angles, California and Tampa, Florida.

“It’s a good way to promote the local artists in Flint and help give other artists that haven’t been out of their area a better opportunity to get their names out,” he said.

It was reported in early June that Schipani’s goal with the murals is to refocus the international perspective of Flint. Once all 100 murals are completed, Schipani will produce a hardcover book about Flint’s murals.