MuralFest Celebrates City's Emergence As A Mural Arts Destination

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Although it's difficult to keep building-sized works of art under wraps, New Rochelle is unveiling new street art murals created by acclaimed international artists in grand fashion this weekend.

The New Rochelle Industrial Development Agency (IDA), the New Rochelle Council on the Arts (NRCA) and curators Street Art for Mankind have been hard at work on a new set of murals taking shape around New Rochelle. An international group of artists have been creating art intended to reflect "the unique creativity, diversity and forward-thinking nature of one of the largest cities in Westchester."

The ultimate goal will be putting New Rochelle on the map as the American city with one of the largest curated collections of murals.

On Sunday, the entire community is invited to a free ArtWalk, a guided tour of the new murals led by Street Art for Mankind, with the artists on-site to discuss their work. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., starting at the Radisson Plaza.

The well-known international artists who will be on hand include Vinie Graffiti, Carlos Alberto, Cristian Blaxner, TlemoMiel, Belin, Louis Masai, Dragon76, Adry Del Rocio and Loic Ercolessi.

NY State Assembly Member Amy Paulin, County Executive George Latimer, New Rochelle Commissioner of Development Adam Salgado, Audrey and Thibault Decker of Street Art for Mankind, city officials (including city council members, members of the MAC and IDA), NRCA President Theresa Kump Leghorn and members of the New Rochelle Council on the Arts are all expected to be in attendance.

“We are excited about the new murals, and so grateful for the leadership of the IDA, which provided significant funding and is in full support of this significant contribution to New Rochelle’s artistic flavor,” said Theresa Kump Leghorn, President of the NRCA.

The murals are curated and produced by Street Art for Mankind (SAM), a Westchester-based global non-profit organization working with prominent street artists to create large murals all around the world. SAM is recognized for its mural series with the United Nations, but also for its Art Walk Murals with Cities to bond communities together.

The NRCA was awarded a ReStart the Arts grant from ArtsWestchester, with support from the Governor's Office, the NYS Legislature and the NYS Council on the Arts, in order to create a celebration around the mural completion. "MuralFest: Celebrating Art On and Off the Walls," an afternoon of free music, dance and theater performances, will take place at the Library Green, the New Rochelle Public Library and New Ro Parc from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. More information can be found on the NRCA website, on Facebook and their Instagram.

MuralFest Performances: Music at New Ro Parc:

• 1 p.m., Bear Mountain Brass
• 2 p.m., Third Stream Meme
• 3 p.m., Everything Omega
• 4 p.m., Charisa the Violin Diva

Dance Performances at Ruby Dee Park:

• 1 p.m., Gleich Dances
• 2 p.m., FJK Dance
• 3 p.m., TORCH Dance Theater
• 4 p.m., Steven Vilsaint/Josh Johnson

Theater at the New Rochelle Public Library:

• 1 p.m., Irvington Shakespeare Company’s production of “Acting Shakespeare” presented by NRCA and the NRPL will take place at the Ossie Davis Theater. Registration requested through this link.