Iconic Art Mural That Stretches Along Newark Highway Gets Big Facelift

NEWARK, NJ — One of the “longest murals” in the United States recently got a big facelift in New Jersey’s largest city.

Last week, officials announced that a restoration project for “Gateway to Newark: Portraits” has crossed the finish line. The massive artwork stretches more than 1.34 miles along Route 21 (McCarter Highway), and is seen by more than a million commuters and Newark residents every month.

A collaboration between local, national and international artists, the mural was born in 2016 as a nod to the city’s 350th anniversary. When it was created, the project wove 18 pieces together into a multi-dimensional portrait of Newark’s communities and “unyielding spirit.”

The contributing artists included Adrienne Wheeler, Akintola Hanif, Layqa Nuna Yawar, GERALUZ, Kevin Darmanie, Khari Johnson-Ricks, and David D. Oquendo, and Nina Chanel Abney, all from New Jersey; Don Rimx (Florida), El Decertor (Peru), Nanook and GAIA (Maryland); Manuel Acevedo (New York); Mata Ruda (Arizona); WERC (Mexico); and Zéh Palito (Brazil).

A partnership of community groups and city officials recently pitched in to spruce up the mural, with art lovers across Newark rolling up their sleeves and tackling a to-do list that included power washing, calcium removal, partial and full paint restoration, re-mounted printed imagery, reimagining artworks and sealing for longevity.

Two of the components of the mural have also been “reimagined,” including Mata Ruda’s 20,000-square-foot centerpiece, “The Speed of Dreams (Time and Space),” which spans from Chestnut to Pennington streets.

Another new artwork, “Moving Memory” by Layqa Nuna Yawar and Don Rimx, can be seen from Murray Street to Astor Street.

“The longest mural in the United States was created by dedicated and talented artists from as close as our neighborhoods and from across the globe,” Mayor Ras Baraka said.

“We have a responsibility to keep our public art properly maintained for generations to enjoy its messages, creativity, and to beautify our surroundings,” the mayor added.

The collaboration included teamwork between the City of Newark’s Division of Arts and Cultural Affairs, the Newark Downtown District, Project for Empty Space, Invest Newark, Newark Arts, and the Greater Newark Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The city’s arts and cultural affairs director, fayemi shakur, said that part of the goal of the mural is to “tell visual stories about our city’s diversity.”

Caring for existing artwork is just as crucial as creating new art, agreed Rebecca Pauline Jampol, co-director at Project For Empty Space.

“This restoration sets a powerful example of not only investing in art and public spaces but also preserving them and recognizing their value to the community,” Jampol said.

• See Related: Public Art In Newark Tells Powerful Stories About Social Justice

The restoration was led by shakur and Jampol. Restoration artists include Alex Richard Seel, Carolina Acevedo, Diego Molina, Mark Hartmann, Manuel Sanchez, RORSHACH (Andre Leon and Roberto Ayala), PAINT & DESIGN (Mashell Black & Kamil Politch), and YENDOR (Malcolm Rolling, Hans Lundy, and Kaishon Way).

Supporting partners also include Amtrak, Sherwin Williams, Sunbelt, and CDS Commercial District Services.

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