Newark Arts to launch interactive online mural map on July 31

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Mural hopping, anyone?

It’s on the horizon in Newark with the launch of an interactive Newark Public Art Map to honor Newark Arts’ 40th anniversary, the organization announced July 21.

Sponsored by the Greater Newark Convention and Visitors Bureau and in collaboration with the City of Newark, Four Corners Public Arts, and multiple artists and collaborators across the city, the interactive online map shows the city’s many murals and public art projects in relation to each other in on accessible, mobile-friendly site.

“Not only will the digital map enable people from all over the world to experience Newark’s richly colorful and diverse public art, but visitors and residents alike will be able to explore individual murals and free public art in every corner of our great city,” said Regina Barboza, interim executive director of Newark Arts, in a prepared statement. “This is possible, in large part, due to the generosity of Newark Arts’ major funders.”

The city’s newest mural, “uncanny” by Boris Bernard, will be unveiled on July 31 at the official launch of the Newark Public Art Map. It will become available to the public that day.

In collaboration with Fine As Art Entertainment, the free event will include live art, music and food from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Newark Riverfront Park.

“Public art continues to be an important way to celebrate the vibrancy and creative expression that fuels our city and shares stories of our resiliency, history and culture,” said City of Newark Arts and Cultural Affairs Director Fayemi Shakur in a prepared statement. “It also gives the public greater access to enjoy and appreciate artistic expression of all kinds.”

The map is powered by CANVS, an interactive platform that collects street art data worldwide including mural photos, artist profiles, mural descriptions, timelines, tags, etc. and drives arts programs and festivals in cities across the country.

Greater Newark Convention & Visitors Bureau Acting President and CEO Ricardo Salazar said that the map is “proof that creativity exists throughout the city.”

“These public displays of artistic expression add to the cultural, social, and economic value of a city by bringing residents and visitors together, encouraging dialogue, and strengthening a sense of community and place,” Salazar said. “The arts boost tourism in cities such as Newark, and we are proud to play our part by putting Newark art on the map, literally and figuratively.”