This is Newark (East Ward)

  • The completed mural spans 90 feet and celebrates the history of the Ironbound neighborhood in Newark, New Jersey.
  • A detailed design plan is essential for all mural projects.
  • The Mayor of the City of Newark, Cory Booker, was present at the dedication ceremony.
  • The mural tells the story of how residents originally immigrated to the Ironbound neighborhood and how hard they worked once they arrived there.

Project Description

"This is Newark (East Ward)" was part of a larger initiative in which Groundswell worked with the City of Newark to train its artists, businesses, and community organizations in our unique collaborative model. "This is Newark (East Ward)" is based on a brief history of the Ironbound neighborhood in Newark, New Jersey. Groundswell partnered with the City of Newark, City Without Walls (cWOW), and the George Ulanet Company to create this historically and culturally relevant mural. The youth researched the history of the Ironbound neighborhood, interviewed each other, and compared family histories. The neighborhood was named Ironbound because of the many train tracks and metal smelting factories it houses. In the mural, vignettes showing the history of immigration, labor, and daily life of the Ironbound illustrate the influence of Portuguese and other national cultures. The composition of the mural begins with a train bringing the immigrants to their new home, followed by a chronology of various images of labor workers, ending with the contemporary workers at the George Ulanet Company. The various species of birds throughout the mural represent the diversity in the neighborhood.

Add new comment

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.

Project Info

Location: 926 Raymond Boulevard Newark, NY 07105
Neighborhood: 
Newark


Program: 
Community Commission


Theme: 
Community


Year: 
2010


Partner(s): 
City of Newark
City Without Walls
George Ulanet Company


Lead Artist(s):
Nicole Schulman


Assistant Artist(s):
Eder Muniz


Participants: 

 

Mauricio Trenard
Medium: 
Acrylic and Spraypaint on Brick Wall


Dimensions: 90 x 18ft

Fun Facts

Suggested Activity
Ask your parents about your family heritage or do some research on your ancestors: Where did they work? Where did they live?
Fun Fact
The George Ulanet Company has 78 years of engineering and manufacturing experience.
Quote
“I believe it is important for the community to see how similar their personal family histories are, and to see them represented in a monumental work of art. People are already talking about it.” – Nicole Schulman, Lead Artist