Artworks to install Cass Street mural

Mercer County and the Mercer County Division of Culture & Heritage (MCDC&H) announced that Artworks, the Trentonbased visual arts center, has been selected to design and install a public mural on the side of the New Jersey state prison on Cass Street.

The mural, titled “Breaking Barriers”, will visualize the power art has to connect a community.

“Artworks has been a valued community partner for many years, and I’m excited to see work begin on the project,” said Mercer County Executive Dan Benson in press release. “Public art provides an opportunity for a community to express its values, its passions, and its hopes. This mural will serve as a lasting testament to the incredible creative talent in our Capital City.

The MCDC&H opened submissions for the Mercer County Cass Street Prison Mural Project (MCCSPMP) to professional, practicing artists and artist teams living or working within the tri-state area. Over 50 proposals were received and reviewed by a committee. After a thorough deliberation, Artworks was selected.

“Artworks Trenton’s proposal stood out for its ability to capture the essence of what the grant aims to achieve,” Samuel Kanig, Program Coordinator at The Center for Community Engagement at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) and a MCCSPMP Committee member said. “I’m excited about the collective of artists that will be working on the mural and the creativity they individually bring to the project. The Cass Street Mural is sure to be an inspiring community landmark.”

A team of seven artists will be working together to represent Artworks on this project, including Jonathan “LANK” Conner, Leon Rainbow, Jose “Busta” Bustamente, Dean “Ras” Innocenzi, Dave “Mek” Klama, Alia Bensliman, and April Cooper.

“Artworks is thrilled to have been selected for this project and is proud to be working with an amazing group of local artists led by Leon Rainbow and Jose Bustamente,” Conner said.

“We look forward to creating a beautiful mural that represents the city and can be enjoyed by Trentonians for many years to come.”

Artworks’ concept for the mural is a celebration of arts and culture in the City of Trenton, representing the power that art has to “break down barriers: mental, cultural, spiritual, financial, and institutional.”

Artworks will spend the spring and summer months workshopping and installing this mural, with an anticipated completion date in the fall of 2024.