Community Mural Initiatives
Community Murals first started out as an initiative to create works of art and design that manifest the spirit and pride of communities and public spaces. It aims to bring public art and design into each neighborhood, cultivating civic and community pride, bringing unexpected visual pleasure to the urban landscape, engaging residents and other stakeholders, and connecting citizens to community-based artists.
My Brothers Keeper Mural
Created by Newark artist Steve Green in collaboration with a class of 50 Rutgers University–Newark (RU-N) students in the city’s South Ward. The two-story mural, evoking themes highlighted by national community development program My Brother’s Keeper, was installed on the side of a row house facing a formerly abandoned lot. The lot was rehabilitated by YENDOR, YouthBuild Newark students and the Greater Newark Conservancy and features a stage for community events.
Working with the local artists, community members, and their professors (Anne Englot and Rodney Gilbert) in the Arts, Culture and Media (ACM) 301 class, the Rutgers-Newark students helped collect and research materials to design the mural and plan the unveiling. Collaborators in this community arts engagement project include the Rutgers University-Newark Chancellor’s office, the College of Arts & Sciences Dean’s Office, the ACM department, the Office of City of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Newark Housing Authority, Victoria Foundation, the County of Essex, the Greater Newark Conservancy, My Brother’s Keeper–Newark, YouthBuild, Gilbert’s arts education organization, YENDOR and Gallery Aferro, a nonprofit alternative arts space founded in Newark in 2003 by artists Evonne M. Davis and Emma Wilcox.
“Rise Up Fallen Fighters”
Created by artists Andrece Brady, Hans Lundy and Malcolm Rolling. This mural places prolific poet ntozake shange as the focal representation of Black resilience, liberty and justice. She is surrounded by figures/alternative symbols that were unused models of the Statue of Liberty gifted from France to the U.S. Accompanying the mural is a life-affirming quote from shange's iconic work which reads: "i found god in myself, and i loved her fiercely."
This piece was a collaboration between the City of Newarks Department of Arts and Cultural Affairs and YENDOR for the Murals for Social Justice series.
MILDRED HELMS PARK Girls Scouts MURAL project
Created by Yasmin Dejesus. The Girls Scouts Mural in MIldred Helms park was designed as the 1st of Five murals created to highlight women and girl empowerment. Supported through Newark Arts, Arts ED Newark, and Girl Scouts of NJ.
