(PRINCETON, NJ) -- The Arts Council of Princeton (ACP) and EDENS have completed a collaboration on a new mural located on the courtyard-facing wall at Princeton Shopping Center, 301 N. Harrison Street, Princeton, New Jersey.  Lead with Kindness, a third in a series of murals painted by the Arts Council in Princeton Shopping Center’s public art initiative, speaks to the notion of kindness and compassion as a mindset-first message to the community.

An original design created by Laura Dominick, lead design and media manager at EDENS, which owns and operates Princeton Shopping Center, sees this message as a movement. “Art catalyzes and enriches communities” says Dominick. “Our final mural with the Arts Council is a vivid reminder to live each day with more empathy and thoughtfulness.”

In the spring of 2021, the Arts Council of Princeton and Princeton Shopping Center announced a new partnership that would produce a series of three lively murals designed for exterior spaces at Princeton Shopping Center. Each mural would highlight a positive message to the Princeton community, celebrating public art’s ability to uplift and delight.

In June, the Bring on the Joy mural was completed on the interior courtyard wall between Princeton Mattress and Smith’s ACE Hardware and earlier this year, ACP artists completed work on the second mural, LOVE, located next to Bella Boutique facing Harrison Street. Both pieces have enjoyed overwhelmingly positive feedback from the community as welcome additions to Princeton’s public art scene.

Arts Council of Princeton Executive Director Adam Welch reflects on a meaningful partnership with the Princeton Shopping Center. “Completing this third and final mural allows us time to reflect on what a JOY it has been to work with the Princeton Shopping Center to launch their public art series”, shares Welch. “These three murals bring so much color and LOVE to the visitor’s experience, and this 36+ year partnership with the Princeton Shopping Center has embodied the notion of KINDNESS captured in this final mural."

The Arts Council of Princeton, a non-profit organization founded in 1967, fulfills its mission of building community through the arts by presenting a wide range of programs including public art projects, exhibitions, performances, free community cultural events, and studio-based classes and workshops. Arts Council of Princeton programs are designed to be high-quality, engaging, affordable and accessible for the diverse population in the greater Princeton region.  

For more than 60 years, Princeton Shopping Center has been a true community gathering place. Its unique design boasts 40 local and national retailers, and a two-acre landscaped courtyard that is warmly referred to by community members as “the living room of Princeton.” Anchored by local and family-owned McCaffrey’s Market, the center not only serves as a staple for goods, but is jointly used as a neighborhood events space. Partnering with local organizations, the center remains a vibrant meeting place for residents and visitors throughout the year. 

EDENS is a retail real estate owner, operator, and developer of a nationally leading portfolio of 110 places. Our purpose is to enrich community through human engagement. We know that when people come together, they feel a part of something bigger than themselves and prosperity follows—economically, socially, culturally, and soulfully. EDENS has offices in key markets including Washington, D.C., Boston, Dallas, Columbia, Atlanta, Miami, Charlotte, Houston, Denver, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle.  

PHOTOS: (TOP)  Photo by Laura Dominick/EDENS (BOTTOM) Photo courtesy of Princeton Shopping Center