(NEWARK, NJ) -- The New York Red Bulls, Newark Arts, Greater Newark Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Ironbound Business Improvement District (IBID) have announced the completion of a new public artwork, Unity Gol, by Newark artist Diegumberrto. The mural is located at 529-531 Market St., a site commonly crossed when local fans journey from Newark, over the Jackson Street Bridge to a match at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ. An unveiling for the artwork will take place on Tuesday, December 20th at 3:00pm.
Unity Gol (Unity Goal) is a spirited, illustrated portrait of our local soccer communities. The mural shares the story of soccer culture - each side populated with lively supporters in fanwear, throwing confetti, waving scarves and flags, immersed in the energy of our local arena. Centered, a player in mid-bicycle kick flies above a familiar landscape, demarking important Ironbound, Newark landmarks, and familiar facades. Diegumberrto hopes to capture the passion, and binding importance of the game. “Soccer is a sport that unifies people of all ethnic backgrounds, cultures, and languages. The mural embodies the love of the game and adds a level of excitement as people gather to walk across the bridge to Red Bull Arena,” said the artist.
Born and raised in Cañar, Ecuador, Diegumberrto moved to Newark, NJ in 2020. He was awarded the commission from an RFP administered by the Newark Arts Artsource program earlier this year. Unity Gol assisting artists and operators include Monet Sheard, Randy Harris, and Mark Hartmann.
“We are proud to partner with Newark Arts, Greater Newark Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Ironbound Business Improvement District to celebrate our community and its deep-rooted passion for the sport of soccer in the Ironbound. The art represents a true collaboration between the city of Newark and the club, showcasing iconic landmarks, our passionate supporters, and the rich culture of soccer that lives within the neighborhood,” said Justin Baier, Director, Marketing, New York Red Bulls.
The New York Red Bulls have collaborated with the Newark Arts Artsource program to create local public art opportunities. This is the third mural completed over the last 24 months with earlier works by Elijah Minton and Hans Lundy. Newark-based organizer Rebecca Pauline Jampol has managed the series.
“Newark Arts is honored to have worked alongside fabulous partners like the New York Red Bulls, Greater Newark Convention and Visitors Bureau and Ironbound Business Improvement District to bring this vibrant and poignant public art piece to fruition. Muralist, Diegumberrto, and Project Manager, Rebecca Jampol, and their talented team, have transformed a busy intersection into an eye-catching destination for soccer fans and art enthusiasts alike. That is the power of public art," said Felicia Swoope, Executive Director of Newark Arts.
The mission of Newark Arts is to power the arts to transform lives. Established in 1981 as the Newark Arts Council, the organization’s vision is to become a nationally recognized catalyst for the collaborative power of the arts in the City of Newark and urban America. Newark Arts is the producer of Newark Creates, a community-led citywide cultural plan, created in partnership with the City of Newark. Newark Arts’ key initiatives include Arts Education Newark, the ArtStart community grant-making program, and the Newark Arts Festival. Through Newark ArtSource, Newark Arts brokers relationships, connecting local artists and their work to major development projects throughout the City. With some $4 billion in development in the city, Newark Arts serves as an intermediary for developers that are building new buildings or revitalizing old structures and want their spaces to reflect local culture. Newark Arts is generously supported by Prudential Financial, the City of Newark, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Victoria Foundation, Turrell Fund, Bank of America, New Jersey State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, Mellon Foundation, Hanini Group, TD Bank, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Panasonic, M&T Bank, Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, PSEG, and individuals, businesses and institutions.
The New York Red Bulls are one of 29 teams in Major League Soccer (MLS). RBNY, one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, have competed in the league since its founding in 1996. The Red Bulls play home matches at Red Bull Arena (RBA) in Harrison, New Jersey. The three-time MLS Supporters' Shield Winners are owned by the Austrian beverage company Red Bull for which the team is named. The New York Red Bulls offer one of the nation's premier youth soccer development programs, from local soccer partnerships across New York and New Jersey to Regional Development Schools and the Red Bulls Academy teams.
The Greater Newark Convention and Visitors Bureau is charged with promoting and marketing the assets of the region, increasing the overall length of stay at area hotels, increasing per capita spending in the tourism sector, as well as attracting new events, meetings, and conferences to the region. We drive economic growth through tourism.
“The Greater Newark Convention and Visitors Bureau is proud to collaborate with the New York Red Bulls, Ironbound Business Improvement District and Newark Arts on the creation of a mural in the Ironbound section of Newark", said Ricardo Salazar, President and CEO of the Greater Newark Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Soccer is a sport that is deeply rooted throughout Newark’s many communities, bringing families, friends, and visitors together. Art, like sports, is a universal language that spans social, age and cultural boundaries. This mural is a visual representation of the uniqueness of Newark’s Ironbound and its rich culture and diversity, while at the same time celebrating the energy of the game and its fans."
The Ironbound is one of the state’s top dining and shopping destinations, with a fast-growing residential development scene. Established in 2000, the IBID is funded through special assessments of commercial properties, and is home to nearly 600 businesses, including hundreds of restaurants, cafes, shops, and boutiques. Close to the Prudential Center, NJPAC, Newark Museum, and Newark Symphony Hall, in addition to Red Bull Arena, the Ironbound is located at the center of an incredible transportation network, with Newark Penn Station a gateway to the district and Newark Liberty International Airport just minutes away.
“The Ironbound’s diverse community has always been energized in support of the national soccer teams from around the world that are represented in our district, but quickly adopted the Red Bulls as their local side,” noted Vince Baglivo, the IBID’s Executive Director. “This mural has been years in the making through the IBID’s collaboration with Red Bulls, joined by the GNCVB and Newark Arts, and this location is the perfect place to highlight the connection between our district and Red Bull Arena. On match days, supporters walk from the Ironbound to the stadium across the Jackson Street Bridge, and we hope this amazing mural will draw cheers from fans of the Red Bulls, the Ironbound District, and the City of Newark.”
