Audible and Newark Arts Host Community Art Day in Washington Park

Audible and Newark Arts today hosted a Community Art Day in Washington Park. Audible employees joined professional artists from Newark to add their own artistic touch to the new Washington Park Sensory Lab. The Sensory Lab, a multisensory outdoor installation unveiled in late-May, includes new seating areas, planters, tables and solar lighting. During Community Art Day, employees and artists worked together, adding color and beauty to the circular cement bases of the solar light poles.

“Watching everyone come together for community art day was another great moment in the journey to celebrate Newark’s renaissance and its long-term success,” said Colin Newman, Audible’s VP of Public Policy and Community Affairs. “We’re continuing to breathe new life into Washington Park and we’re very grateful to the Audible volunteers and the talented Newark artists whose work adds so much to the Sensory Lab Installation.”

“We’re proud to collaborate with Audible to beautify Washington Park. This project involves some amazing artists who are connecting with workers and neighbors to create something distinctly unique for our city,” said Newark Arts Executive Director Jeremy Johnson.

Kween Moore, Project Manager and Curator of Community Art Day, convened local artists, including Malik Whitaker, Suliman Onque, Yvonne Onque, Carol Cleveland, Andrece Brady, Jay Golding, Kayla Muldrow, Amrisa Niranjan and Yvette Shelton. The artists, along with Audible employees, painted circular cement bases of solar light poles in the Washington Park Sensory Lab. The new bases now feature a sampling of the local artists’ creative styles which uses the park’s earthy color palette.

The Washington Park Sensory Lab curates an experience that invites both local residents and passersby to slow down, spend time in the park and interact with the new landscape. The Sensory Lab will continue to feature programming throughout the summer, including music and dance performances, fitness classes, food truck festivals and other community events. Visit Washingtonparknewark.com to view event programming.

About Newark Arts

Established in 1981, Newark Arts was created to advance and expand the resources and offerings of arts and cultural organizations in the great city of Newark, New Jersey.

Newark Arts serves as the anchor and umbrella for the arts community providing programs, services, advocacy and outreach that supports over 60 arts organizations throughout the city. Representing many, but telling one story, Newark Arts exists to improve the quality of life for Newark artists, arts organizations, and residents through sustainable initiatives that provide living wage jobs, improve education leading to greater levels of college readiness, increase the tax base, and create greater civic engagement.