Artist at Work x 4CPA | GERALUZ
Sacred Water
Sacred Water by Newark’s own GERALUZ is a three story mural located on the corner of Market and Beaver Streets in Downtown Newark, NJ. The mural features hues of blue in its representation of water – more specifically, how communities can collaborate to address water and environmental crisis issues, and beyond, uniting across race, socio-economic status, gender and cultural backgrounds. crisis of access, and addresses community crisis and collaboration. The work promotes a united civic front to create a stronger Newark.
Sacred Water featured in Phase I of the Four Corners Public Arts (4CPA) project.
About GERALUZ
GERALUZ is a cross-disciplinary artist raised in Newark. Her family has a history in Newark, owning several businesses that are staples in the Ironbound section. GERALUZ’s art and work span photo, video performance, bookmaking, and public art. GERALUZ’s public art can be seen in the architecturally integrated art of eco-resin screens set into the bus shelters of BRIO, Sun Metro’s new rapid transit system. Her studio work and public artwork reflect the spirit of culture and dreams.
Follow @geraluz on Instagram.
TRANSCRIPT
GERALUZ: The process of this mural is actually very special. I free-styled that design in Mexico City, it’s called “Sacred Water.” There’s so much climate change happening, I feel that water is a perfect topic. Water being what gives so many things life, our oceans, the rain.
For me and my audience, it’s always the public, it’s called public art for a reason. And I personally make it for the neighborhood, for the people that live there, for the people that walk there everyday, that’s the people that I make art work for.
About Four Corners Public Arts
Four Corners Public Arts was initiated in 2019 through a public/private partnership convened to support public arts initiatives in Newark’s historic district “Four Corners”. The partnership includes The City of Newark, Invest Newark, Newark Arts, Newark Downtown District, Paramount Assets, and RBH Group. The partnership evolved out of a common interest to give care to under-acknowledged areas of the City through the arts, with the goal of cultivating creative communal space for everyone. At a time when Newark is undergoing a marked transformation, the partnership believes it is imperative to create opportunities that strengthen the local creative community.
This story was supported, in part, by a Newark Creative Catalyst grant.
Special thanks to The City of Newark, New Jersey.
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