First Wyclef. Then Whitney. Newark's Next Mural To Be Revealed

NEWARK, NJ —In 2018, the city unveiled a Wyclef Jean mural titled "Key to Life" in the West Ward Fairmount neighborhood. In late 2020, a mosaic mural featuring Whitney Houston was created in Newark's Central Ward. Both legendary artists had ties to Newark.

At 5:30 p.m. Thursday, a third mural, in a series of five, will be unveiled at 29 Grafton Avenue in Newark's North Ward, according to the city. The mural will celebrate the city's rich music culture and history, according to organizers of the project.

Presented by the GRAMMY Museum Experience Prudential Center, Prudential Financial, Inc., the City of Newark, Yendor LLC and Al-Munir LLC, the latest mural will be revealed at a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring Mayor Ras J. Baraka and other local politicians, business and community leaders.

The ceremony also will feature live performances from local cultural music and dance groups, along with food trucks.

"This mural serves as a powerful reminder of the strength within the surrounding community's roots in music, culture and history,” said Natasha Moody, senior vice president of business operations for the Prudential Center.

According to a release, the 1,630 square-foot mural has been designed and created by Newark-based artist Yasmin De Jesus, who hails from the North Ward, the location of the mural. De Jesus used over 15 gallons of spray paint on the project and worked 114 hours for completion.

The mural will serve as the backdrop of Jannah on Grafton, a community garden that provides the surrounding community with access to fresh produce, while promoting agriculture, music and cultural education.

"The creation of murals that document the lives, history, dreams and achievements of Newark's residents has been an integral part of our administration's work to enhance our city's luster as a center for the arts and empower our city's talented artists," Baraka said.

Baraka continued: "Created by local artist Yasmin De Jesus, this mural will do more: it will be the artistic centerpiece of a community garden that also provides its neighborhood with nutritious food and cultural education. This is the kind of collective action we want to create a more educated, equitable, empowered and collaborative Newark."

In the release, De Jesus gave some hints about what she included the mural.

"Grafton is full of Afrocentric and Caribbean colors, music, and energy. So naturally, the design became a reflection of that community," De Jesus said. "Out of the dark background, colorful shapes and lines dance to the music, creating images of hip-hop dancers and Jazz musicians."