During PRIDE month 2024, local artists, activists and community members repainted the Sound the Rainbow! (2023) mural, a 550 foot long asphalt mural on Treat Place and Maiden Lane in Newark, New Jersey. This public engagement, led by the volunteer coalition “Service & Solidarity,” restored the ground murals to their full, colorful glory. The two-block mural has become a powerful statement and a vital space for community building, care, and joy.
“Let us acknowledge the adversity we face today as the wellspring of our strength, and together, let’s forge a future where every voice is heard, every identity is valued, and every dream is achievable.”
Susu Stewart, Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Concerns Advisory Commission – The City of Newark, New Jersey
“As we gather to repaint this mural, we do more than simply apply fresh paint. We commit to the growth, safety, and well-being of our communities.”
fayemi shakur, Arts and Cultural Affairs Director, City of Newark, NJ
The event featured other highlights, such as a youth activity zone, facilitated by local artists Mashell Black (Temporary Mural Project) and Damien Davis (Blooming with Pride Workshop) and music and performances curated by YEIMY, featuring Janétza Miranda and Shell Spin.
The Sound the Rainbow! mural, as well as the companion All Black Lives Matter (2023) murals, have brought together thousands of people in Newark since 2020.
The event is part two of the SERVICE + SOLIDARITY initiative to restore Newark’s ground murals.
Aerial Photography by Tehsuan Glover
“In moments of unrest, they have stood as powerful statements, providing vital spaces for community building, care, and healing. They have been steadfast symbols of solidarity and sources of unbridled joy.”
– SERVICE & SOLIDARITY
Rebecca Jampol, co-director of Project for Empty Space, helped lead the cohort “on the ground”; as a champion and organizer of the Four Corners Public Arts initiative, which aims to support community-engaged, public arts initiatives in the Four Corners Historic District in Newark, New Jersey.
Learn more at Four Corners Public Arts.
Aerial Photography by Tehsuan Glover
#SoundtheRainbow
Organizers
City of Newark, NJ – Division of Arts and Cultural Affairs
Newark Alliance
Rutgers University-Newark
ACM Graphic Design Program
Express Newark
Equal Space
Four Corner Public Arts
Newark Arts
New Arts Justice
Project for Empty Space
Special Thanks
YENDOR
Femme Curator Arts
Kevin Cristiano and Marylin Gomes
Music & Programs:
YEIMY, sound curator and performer
Janétza Miranda, performer
Shell Spin, DJ
Mashell Black, Temporary Mural Project
Damien Davis, Blooming with Pride Workshop
Video Credits
Produced by Igor Alves
Camera by Peter Morris, Gabriel Kurzlop
Aerial Photography by Tehsuan Glover
Edited by Victor Buitrago
Color by Gabriel Kurzlop
Assistant Editing by Andre Marques
Music: “Power to the People” performed by Janétza Miranda, Courtesy of Janétza Miranda and Stanley Ipkiss
Production company: DreamPlay Media
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