Newark Mural Project Adds Dash of Color to City

If you've ever seen either of the two public murals in the West Ward or any of Newark's 10 other public murals, you may not know how they were created. Not just original and beautiful, each mural is a true expression of its neighborhood.

Part of The Newark Public Art Program, an initiative of the Newark Division of Planning, the goal of the program, according to the mayor's office, is to "create public works of art and design that manifest the spirit and pride of Newark in its public spaces."

"(The project) aims to bring public art and design into each of Newark's neighborhoods, cultivating civic and community pride, bringing unexpected visual pleasure to the urban landscape, empowering residents and other stakeholders, and connecting Newark's youth to community-based artists," according to officials with Newark Mayor Cory Booker's office.

I spoke with Perris Straughter, senior planner with department of economic and housing development in Newark. "It's a great program," Straughter said. "There is so much going on (in Newark) in terms of development, but in hard times, sometimes people forget about art. But art can beautify…and has a real big impact in the community, in empowering youth, fostering pride in the neighborhood and a mural says something about this place."

The overall theme for the murals is "This is Newark." But each mural's specific message and design comes from each neighborhood's own residents at community meetings.

"The Mural Project links together art agencies, local artists, youth, all factions that may not otherwise work together or even know about each other," Straughter said.

Once a local artist is selected and a community partner is in place, a community meeting is hosted to come up with specific themes for the mural. The artist then conceptualizes the theme and presents it at a subsequent community meeting for approval. 

Once the design is approved, the artist works with local youth, through a summer program, to actually paint the mural. The mural is painted onto panels of parachute material, which serves as a transfer medium, so that no one has to be up on scaffolding. Each mural takes about four to five weeks to complete, from first drawing to final painting. "It's a great mentoring opportunity for the kids and for the artist," Straughter said. 

Two of the murals were done in the West Ward. The mural at 1040 South Orange Ave., called "Tree of Life" was produced in partnership with Unified Vailsburg Service Organization and done by Manuel Acevedo with Spencer Frohwirth and a local youth team.

"Time to Build, Time to Grow," the mural on 168-176 Springfield Ave., was done by artists Kate Dowd and James Blake, of Glassroots, along with a local youth team and in partnership with the Greater Newark Conservancy and City Without Walls.

Funded by the "One Percent for Art" initiative, which earmarks one percent of the city's capital budget for public art, 12 murals have been completed throughout the city, since the first mural was completed two years ago. The Mural Project continues this summer, with three more murals scheduled this year and there is a proposal for another five murals to get started in 2012.

"I pledge my continued support of this public art program as we work together to transform every neighborhood in every community," Booker said.