(NEWARK, NJ) -- Children from two Newark arts organizations spent the summer designing colorful mosaics to brighten an industrial city block that is home to the PSE&G Federal Square Switching Station. The finished project, “Windows to the City”, commissioned by Newark Arts and sponsored by PSE&G, will debut at a community unveiling on Monday, December 11, 2017 from 3:30pm to 5:00pm.
Created by youth from Newark School of the Arts and GlassRoots, the mosaics are permanently affixed to planters and bollards that surround the wall-enclosed substation at Mulberry and Orchard Streets. The decorative images represent the young artists’ views of the City of Newark and the wonderful things discovered while living in or visiting the city.
“PSE&G is proud to call Newark home for more than 100 years,“ said Calvin Ledford, Director of External Affairs for PSE&G. “We welcome the opportunity for our city’s children to beautify a facility that provides safe, reliable electricity to Newark residents.”
“We see this project as an extension of Newark Arts’ mission to power the arts to transform lives for those who live, work and visit the City of Newark,“ said Susan Schear, Deputy Director of Newark Arts. “In the spirit of collaboration, we brought together these amazing Newark institutions to inspire the community through the power of creativity.”
"The Newark School of the Arts changes the lives of our youngsters through arts education,” said Carmen Santos-Robson, Assistant Director of Newark School of the Arts. ”We are happy to collaborate on a project in which students are engaged in beautifying Newark.”
“GlassRoots is excited to provide a learning opportunity for students to translate their images into mosaic fabrication and facilitate a creative process that will last for years to come,” said Katie Witzig, Chief Operating Officer of GlassRoots.
All are welcome to celebrate the “Windows to the City” Mosaic Project Unveiling on Monday, December 11, 2017 from 3:30pm to 5pm on Orchard Street in Newark (between Camp and Chestnut Streets).
TOP PHOTO: Students at Newark School of the Arts piece together tiles for “Windows to the City.” Photo Credit: Carmen Santos-Robson
About PSE&G: Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) is New Jersey’s oldest and largest regulated gas and electric delivery utility, serving nearly three-quarters of the state’s population. PSE&G is the winner of the ReliabilityOne Award for superior electric system reliability. PSE&G is a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (PSEG) (NYSE:PEG), a diversified energy company.
About Newark Arts (formerly Newark Arts Council): Newark Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which powers the arts to transform the lives of those who live in, work in, and visit Newark. The Council is the umbrella for the Newark Arts Education Roundtable (NAER) and is a partner with the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Development, Arts, and Tourism. The Council awards neighborhood grants through its ArtStart program, produces the Open Doors Citywide Arts Festival, and will oversee Newark’s Community Cultural Plan in 2017-2018.
About GlassRoots: GlassRoots is a Newark-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides opportunities for achievement to youth and young adults by engaging them in the creation of glass art and the development of entrepreneurial and life skills. GlassRoots programs are STEAM-based (science, technology, engineering, arts and math), and are offered as in-school residencies, after-school and summer arts programs, and as workshops for teens and adults, using competency in handling molten glass as a pathway to personal development. Additionally, GlassRoots offers workforce development programs to move young adults to the world of work.
About Newark School of the Arts: Starting in 2018, the Newark School of the Arts (NSA) will be celebrating its 50th Anniversary. The School provides high-level training in the performing and visual arts. Since 1968, the school has offered instruction for everyone with an interest in the arts regardless of age, talent and financial resources. NSA is a family and community oriented school that serves children from age 3 months to senior citizens. Specialized instruction is offered on all musical instruments, dance, drama and the visual arts. In addition to on site-training, the school also serves area preschools, public, charter and private schools as well as other organizations through special arrangement. The School received a 2015 and 2016 "Citation of Excellence" and is designated a "Major Presenting and Service Organization" by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
