(TRENTON) – The Trenton Mural Arts Project (TMAP) celebrated the completion of its first mural, Passage of Time, on the walls of the Home Rubber Company on Route 129 during a dedication ceremony early Saturday. The mural, inspired by input gathered from residents during a series of community meetings, celebrates the city’s industrial history, and highlights the Delaware River as a significant link between its past and future. 

Dedication Ceremony Photos
Photographer: David Cajio

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About 50 people joined TMAP committee members, Mayor Tony Mack, South Ward Councilman and Council President George Muschal, North Ward Councilwoman Marge Caldwell Wilson, Philadelphia Mural Arts Project (MAP) Director Jane Golden, mural artist Phillip Adams, Noliwe Rooks, Associate Director at the Center for African American Studies at Princeton University and other dignitaries for the festivities.

 

“We are extremely proud of this moment which was years of conversations and many months of on the ground effort,” said TMAP committee member Phil DeRose. “Several organizations came together as one to make it all happen; and the Trenton community joined us in driving this project through community conversations that set the vision for the mural’s content, and by putting brush to wall during Community Paint Day.”

 

“The entire Trenton community can be proud of this mural which has transformed these factory walls into a public work of art, one that will be seen by people who live in Trenton, work in Trenton and visit Trenton for many years to come,” said DeRose.

 

While actual painting began earlier this year, the work by TMAP to successfully create a mural in the city began more than two years ago. Painting of the mural began in April and was completed by Adams, who also designed the mural. Residents had the opportunity to participate in the painting during TMAP’s Community Paint Day in early April.

 

“This has been an incredible project to work on. From the beginning, the ideas that were brought to the table (at the community conversations); it was an extremely amazing opportunity to conceive of and think of and deal with almost the responsibility of coming up with something everyone could be proud of,” said Adams.

 

TMAP is led by ArtWorks Trenton and the Trenton Downtown Association/Destination Trenton, with the support of the Capital City Redevelopment Corporation and the City of Trenton, and the assistance of Princeton University and Philadelphia MAP.

 

“This has given us the opportunity to partner with arts organizations here, with political organizations, the mayors office, the city council’s office, and we feel like were able to start a spark to give a beginning to something that’s bigger than all of us,” said Rooks.

 

Councilman Muschal called the mural a “great improvement” for the South Ward.

 

Mayor Mack said it was an example of what can be achieved when people work together.

 

“We cannot build this city the way we need it built without partnerships. Only way Trenton will be Trenton again is having the private sector working with us, non profits, community stakeholders working with us,” said Mayor Mack. “I’m going to open our doors to you, I’m open to the arts community, I’m endeared to it. My college years were spent in Washington DC, so I know what the arts community can do to build a city and I will do my best to do that here in Trenton. As we speak, we’re working on an arts district and we’re going to commit human and financial resources to see it to fruition.”

 

Golden said she knew she spoke on behalf of Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter when she said, “it’s a compliment to Philly that you welcomed us into your home.”

 

“This is just not easy, to bring together all these partners and engage in a community process. It takes a lot of courage on everyone’s part because it’s a risk,” Golden told the crowd. “When we talk about the role art can play it’s sometimes puzzling, people are not sure about it. It took a group that was tenacious, and dedicated and realized that often you have to believe in something before it’s real. And you keep that belief in your mind and you just keep plugging away because you believe that art can really make a difference.

 

Golden said government has a role to play in it, but as Mayor Mack alluded, it cannot do it alone. “This partnership right here is an example of how things can work and how you can make the world better; so the model you have created, nourish it, grow it,” she said.

 

Golden talked about MAP’s art education programs and its highly successful mural tours, as just some of the accomplishments Trenton has to look forward to. “Last year 20,000 people came on mural tours, they are sold out every Saturday,” she said. “What does that say? It says art is important, art changes hearts and minds and communities and there is a nexus between art and economic development, and if you cultivate that carefully, and if you really believe in the importance of culture and community based pubic art and everything that art can do across the board, then things will get better.”

Thank you to everyone who came out and painted with us Sunday, April 17 during Community Paint Day. More than 125 people joined us to paint on the Home Rubber Factory and help complete the “future” section of the mural – the flowing blue waters of the Delaware River. The sun was shining, there was music, food, paint and best of all, community!

Thank you, Trenton! And a big thanks to all the volunteers who helped make the event happen. Check out some video and photos of the day. More photos coming soon.

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Phillip Adams (muralist) and Phil DeRose (TMAP volunteer) spent this Saturday morning at the Sam Naples Community Center painting with youth who are part of the PEI Kids COOJS program. These young Trentonians painted three panels of parachute cloth and did an amazing job together.

Big thanks to Ryan Gale from the TCNJ Bonner program for making a first contact, Rob Fiorello, Director of the COOJS program, Rich Wilson, Assistant Director of the Bonner Program at TCNJ, all the Bonner students who came out today, and most of all the kids from Trenton who spent their morning working together and painting with us. We know we’ll be seeing them on community paint day, April 16.

Because the youth in the program are minors and we did not have prior parental consent, these photos show only the faces of Rich Wilson, the TCNJ Bonner students and Phil DeRose; and of course the amazing work of the kids:

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MORE ABOUT PEI KIDS AND ITS CJOOS PROGRAM:

http://www.peikids.org

Comprehensive Juvenile Offenders Outreach Services (CJOOS) offers first or second time juvenile offenders on probation who have been involved in auto theft, motor vehicle related crimes or entry-level offenses an intensive, 16-week curriculum intended to help redirect them toward more positive approaches and pursuits. The program is geared toward youth offenders between the ages of 11 and 17 with the intent to help them develop positive value systems and goal-setting abilities, teach them decision-making and conflict resolution skills, and instill in them a respect for authority. Significant emphasis is also placed on the value of education, participants are strongly encouraged to remain in school and if they have already dropped out, are assisted in the re-enrollment process. An anger management track helps participants identify anger triggers, suggest methods to manage emotions, and focus on ways in which participants can re-route their energies.   The program aims to help them modify their behaviors and thinking to avoid further negative involvement with the juvenile justice system.

JOOP has an open door policy and any graduate of the program is welcome to attend the weekly sessions. Attendance by graduates is a regular occurrence and often these young people serve as examples for currently enrolled participants. The success of the program is measured in the recidivism rate of JOOP graduates. To date the majority of graduates have not re-entered the juvenile justice system.

The program meets on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings.

Contact:  Robert Fiorello, CJOOS Coordinator – rfiorello@peikids.org

More about PEI Kids COOJS program: