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On my recent visit to Newark, arts educator and photographer Rachel Fawn Alban<\/a> introduced me to The Golden Life,<\/a> a joyous, brilliantly crafted mural project adjacent to the city\u2019s Broad Street Station. Eager to find out more about this transformative venture, I\u00a0 posed a few questions to Rachel, who created this richly radiant mural project in collaboration with Newark-based artist Armisey Smith<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n This mural project is such a rich addition to Newark\u2019s visual landscape. Whose concept was it?<\/strong><\/p>\n The Golden Life<\/em>\u00a0is a collaboration between Armisey Smith<\/a> and me. Armisey is a talented artist and close friend who believed in me long before I believed in myself. She encouraged me to partner with her, and together we set out to create something special and meaningful for Newark.<\/p>\n We chose to honor real community members\u2014not famous or historical figures\u2014which made the project deeply personal. The mural features large-scale portraits of 14 women and girls who live or work near the intersection, celebrating the diversity and creativity of Newark women and girls. The portraits are connected by vibrant lines and color, symbolizing community, connection, and sisterhood.<\/p>\n Can you tell us something about its process?<\/strong><\/p>\n Creating this mural was both challenging and rewarding. In April 2023, Armisey and I hosted a free art workshop at the Newark Public Library for women and girls of all ages. We presented the project, took portraits, and led participants through creative exercises including a selfie station, collage-making, and haiku writing\u2014all centered around the theme of The Golden Life<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n One of my favorite aspects of the project is the audio component. While we couldn\u2019t feature everyone\u2019s portrait on the wall, we were able to present all of their poems\u2014so even more voices were included. The recordings are accessible via the Bloomberg Connects<\/a> app, along with a beautiful introduction by Newark artist Kween Moore. It\u2019s a way for people to experience The Golden<\/em> Life<\/em> beyond the visual\u2014listening while walking around the site adds another layer of engagement and accessibility.<\/p>\n What were some of the particular challenges involved in seeing this project through?<\/strong><\/p>\n There were quite a few! It took about six months of planning before the workshop, then about a year from the time of the workshop to the ribbon cutting. Scheduling was a challenge since we are all educators and artists juggling multiple projects. And, since the project spanned multiple seasons, weather impacted our fabrication and installation timeline.<\/p>\n This was a complicated project with many stakeholders and technical processes. In fact, just before we were set to begin, two of our original walls became unavailable. This required a complete redesign and budget revision, which pushed us back several months. Thankfully, our amazing project manager, Rebecca Jampol<\/a>, and our partners helped us stay on track. In the end, it all came together beautifully.<\/p>\n How has the community responded to it?<\/strong><\/p>\n The response has been overwhelmingly positive. People have shared how they love seeing it every day and how meaningful it is to see their stories reflected in public art. In a diverse, majority-Black city like Newark, it\u2019s especially powerful to create space for women and girls of color\u2014who are often underrepresented in public art and media \u2014 to be honored and celebrated. The project also beautified a neglected and dilapidated intersection at Broad Street Station\u2014used by hundreds of residents and commuters every day\u2014transforming it into a welcoming and inspiring space. It\u2019s a powerful reminder of how art can profoundly alter one\u2019s environment and strengthen community.<\/p>\n What\u2019s ahead for you?<\/strong><\/p>\n I\u2019m excited to continue creating art that celebrates diversity and brings people together. As a Jewish woman in Newark, I\u2019ve been reflecting on the Black-Jewish alliance in America\u2014a historic and ongoing partnership rooted in shared struggles and a commitment to justice. I\u2019m eager to work on future projects that explore and honor these intersections, amplifying stories that haven\u2019t always been told.<\/p>\n I\u2019m also thrilled to keep collaborating with Armisey. Working together on this mural was incredibly rewarding, and we\u2019re already brainstorming future projects. I\u2019m confident that whatever we do next will be just as meaningful.<\/p>\n And before we wrap up, I want to thank the key supporters who made this project possible: Project for Empty Space<\/a> for organizing and managing the initiative; the City of Newark\u2019s Department of Arts and Culture<\/a>; and Bloomberg Philanthropies for their incredible support. I\u2019m also deeply grateful to our team of local artists who helped facilitate the workshop, fabricate, and install the mural\u2014and of course, to all the participants who brought their creativity, stories, and spirit to the work. Golden Life for Life!<\/p>\n Interview and photos 1-5 by Lois Stavsky<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Featuring Newark community members:<\/em><\/p>\n Photo 6\u00a0 \u00a9 Charles David<\/a><\/strong>, featuring Armisey Smith<\/a>, Rachel Fawn Alban<\/a> and members of the Newark community<\/em><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/streetartnyc.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/rachel-alban-golden-life-mural-project-newark-nj.jpg\")
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