On May 12, 2011, over 350 attendees gathered for the unveiling of the PEACE mural, the first mural under the collaborative initiative of the Barat Foundation Youth Initiative and the Newark Interfaith Coalition for Hope and Peace, “Messages through Murals”. The PEACE mural was painted by over 500 students at 14 Newark Schools as a welcome to the highly anticipated arrival of His Holiness, the XIVth Dalai Lama, Nobel Laureates Dr. Shirin Ebadi and Jody Williams, and the Newark Peace Education Summit.
“The Peace Summit was motivating,” says Chandri Barat, Executive Director of the Barat Foundation Youth Initiative. “Now that the Summit is over, the PEACE mural remains as a permanent 4-story statement testifying to the power of art as a universal communicator.”
The mural is the largest community-based public artwork in the history of the City of Newark, NJ, and is placed on the prominent Broad Street façade of the Integrity House. Over the course of 45 days, 500 children, and 14 schools worked together with the mural’s designer, Dan Fenelon, mural facilitator Sue Daly, and a team of artists in residence provided by the Barat Foundation Youth Initiative to complete the PEACE mural.
The PEACE Mural was made possible by: MCJ Amelior Amelior Foundation, Nicholson Foundation, Horzon Blue Cross, Genova Burns and Giantomasi, Dr. Clement Price, Congregation B’nai Jeshrun of Short Hills, Episcopal Diocese of Newark, Linda & John Levi, Integrity House,, Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, Team Academy, St. Benedict’s Academy, and North 13th Street Essex County Vocational High School.
Mayor Cory Booker, the City of Newark, the Integrity House Choir, the Newark Interfaith Coalition, and the Sub-Urban Dance Group (a collaboration of Teaneck and Arts High Schools) participated in the unveiling festivities. The mural will be a mainstay in the City of Newark and will continue to further promote the mission of the Newark Peace Education Summit, the Barat Foundation Youth Initiative, and the Newark Interfaith Coalition for Hope and Peace.
ABOUT THE PROJECT – SEE THE ARCHIVED ANNOUNCEMENTS BELOW!
The Barat Foundation in partnership with the Newark Interfaith Coalition for Hope and Peace is proud to announce that we have a winning design for the Messages Through Murals’ first project!
Dan Fenelon, the winning Artist, was chosen from a field of over 35 local and international Artists. Dan was trained at the Museum School of Fine Arts in Boston, and has had fourteen one man shows in galleries from NY to LA, including a one year long exhibit at the Montclair Art Museum. He has gained public recognition by creating several landmark murals around the north east. His community outreach programs have helped children learn about art in Newark, Elizabeth, Orange and many other cities throughout NJ.
The winning artwork was chosen by a Community Panel including Mary Sue Sweeney-Price, Director & CEO of Newark Museum; Deputy Mayor Margarita Muniz; Jeremy Johnson, Philanthropic Liason to the City of Newark; Linwood Oglesby, Director Newark Arts Council; Hope Gambel, Organizer of Newark Peace Summit; Debby Kaminsky, Newark Yoga Movement; James Sheeley, Director of Visual and Performing Arts, NPS; Richard Grossklaus, VP Integrity House; and Chandri Barat, Executive Director of Barat Foundation.
This first mural is timed to greet His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, and the International Peace & Education Summit scheduled in Newark May 13th – 15th. The mural will be placed on the Broad Street facade of 105 Lincoln Park (Integrity House).
The mural will be painted on 5′ x 5′ panels at over 14 Newark Schools and at the Barat Foundation at 765 Broad Street. Over 300 Newark youth will be directly involved in producing the Peace Mural!
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We will be sending out a call to volunteers – stay tuned!!
Messages Through Murals
Barat Foundation and the Newark Interfaith Coalition for Hope and Peace
The Barat Foundation in collaboration with the Newark Interfaith Coalition for Hope and Peace is seeking artists to submit proposals for a 50’ high by 35’ wide mural for a prominent location on Broad Street in Newark, NJ. To promote messages of hope and peace, we are asking artists to create proposals that narrate the themes of either “Support and Protect Our Children” or “Our Community Our Responsibility”. The mural will be executed through a series of artist in residence workshops in various Newark Schools and will welcome the Dalai Lama to Newark in early May for the International Peace Summit.
Submission Deadline: February 1, 2011
Submission Materials: Please submit a completed design for the mural in the form of a jpeg, an artist statement, contact information, a resume or cv, and a link to a website/online portfolio to the following email address murals.baratfoundation@gmail.com or apply online here.
A substantial monetary award will be granted to the final winner.
About the Project
The foundation has partnered with the Newark Interfaith Coalition for Hope and Peace, launching a “Messages through Murals” campaign, a large public art program promoting the Coalition’s positive messages, “Support and Protect Our Children” and “Our Community, Our Responsibility”, with the intention of having the first large scale mural on the Broad Street Façade of 105 Lincoln Park completed in time for the Dali Lama’s anticipated visit to Newark in June 2011. Children in Barat Foundation programs are directly involved in this program, both in poster and essay contests to provide concepts to be included in the murals, and in the actual painting of the large, outdoor pieces where possible. Through a partnership with Benjamin Moore Paints, all paint and primer for this extensive project is provided to the Barat Foundation as “in kind” gifts.
