Looking back at 2021!
Before we dive into our 2022 plans, we invite you to take a moment to reflect on last year with us. With the support of local businesses, organizations, volunteers, partners, sponsors, and donors - yes, it takes all of you! - we made 2021 an incredible year for the arts in Atlantic City! THANK YOU!!
Mural Art
In 2021, 6 new murals were created in Atlantic City through ACAF's mural program. "STEAM Dreams" by Layqa Nuna Yawar, "1 in 3" by Kelley Prevard, and "Tribute to Pop Lloyd and the Bacharach Giants" by Glenn Taylor were produced in collaboration with Create 48, a consulting company founded by our former program director, Zach Katzen. "Z is for Zebra" by Stephanie Segal Miller, "Teamwork Makes the Dreamwork" by Kenneth Lazan Faulk, Jr., and "Keep on Shining" by Heather Deegan Hires were also added to our mural landscape this year.
Atlantic City youth from the "Leaders in Training" program had the opportunity to work with Atlantic City artists on two of the murals. Artist Glenn Taylor also added an information panel to BK Foxx's "Sara Spencer Washington" mural. Marjorie Preston began work on the "To Be a Leader, Be a Reader" mural at the end of the year - it will be completed as soon as the weather allows!
Adirondack Chairs
Artists & community groups designed 14 new Adirondack chairs, including double and triple chairs. Our new chairs include artist information labels with scannable QR codes, linked to our website. You can check out many of the 2021 chairs in O’Donnell Memorial Park. We are excited to share that in 2022, for the first time, a child-sized Adirondack chair will be designed!
Travis Gibson and family with his newly installed “Sunset Sit-Down” chair in O’Donnell Park
Community Events
2021 saw the return of two in-person 48 Blocks AC events at both ends of Atlantic City - in Chelsea and the Inlet! Our 7th annual Chalk About AC was held in Brown's Park in October and featured large-scale chalk art by three professional artists in addition to the community chalk drawings. For the first time two schools - Sovereign Avenue School and Our Lady Star of the Sea - held Chalk About AC on their campuses.
Artist Amanda Klinger at Chalk About AC with her piece “Sol Fish”
"Water Table," a project funded by a grant from NOAA awarded to the NJDEP in support of their "Risk Communication: A Campaign for Coastal New Jersey" efforts, was installed at the Absecon Lighthouse by artists Nancy Agati and Rebecca Schultz. AC Arts Foundation was pleased to be one of four community-based organizations selected to host a project in 2021. Members of the Boys and Girls Club and students from Stockton University visited the project during field trips to experience & explore "Water Table."
Artists Nancy Agati and Rebecca Schultz with their installation “Water Table”
Chelsea Street Gallery was launched in June, in partnership with the Chelsea EDC. The first installation features work by artist Miko Beach, located at 3711 Ventnor Ave.
“Monumental Views” by Miko Beach for Chelsea Street Gallery
Memorial Art
We were saddened by the loss of Edwin Rivera, an accomplished Atlantic City artist who worked in varied media. Edwin created art throughout the city, including several murals, installations at ARTeriors exhibits, and murals at the beloved Back Sov Skate Park. ACAF worked in partnership with Skate AC and Create 48 to retouch and preserve Edwin's work.
Edwin Rivera’s restored work by Heather Deegan Hires
Mural Tours
In 2021 we (finally!!) launched neighborhood walking and biking mural tours, hosted by ACAF staff, board members, and community docents. We had so much fun taking a group of second graders from Weymouth Township school on our Orange Loop tour!
ACAF Team
We hosted our first summer intern, Ivett Carrasco, through the Stockton University Engelberg Scholarship program. After the internship ended, Ivett joined the team as a part-time financial assistant.
In addition to Ivett, operations manager Kate O’Malley, bookkeeper Marie Kirner, and executive assistant Jill Fermonte joined the ACAF team this year, and we continued to work with our former communications director, Loryn Simonsen, for graphic design and marketing support.
49th Block Society
The 49th Block Society was launched in the fall and we're pleased to announce that we already have 6 founding members supporting our mission as we move into the new year!
ARTeriors Ocean Ave
2021 also welcomed the long-awaited return of our 8th ARTeriors, last held at the Showboat in 2019. ARTeriors Ocean Avenue saw the transformation of a three-story row home - our first time giving artists space to create in a residential property. Twenty-one artists participated, and over 750 visitors from near and far visited the exhibition!
ARTeriors Ocean Ave artists and team
2021 Partners
We partnered with 23 local businesses, organizations, and agencies - Stockton University Chelsea EDC, Boys & Girls Club, Create 48, Lo in SoJo Designs, Weymouth Township school, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Orange Loop Beach House, Second Baptist Church Leaders in Training, Atlantic Cape, Avanzar, Special Improvement District, City of Atlantic City, Absecon Lighthouse, OLSS School, Sovereign Ave. School, Skate AC, CROPS, ArtPride, MeetAC, Masterpiece Advertising, Mighty Writers, and Light Shooters.
Artist investment
We supported over 70 artists through our various programs in 2021, most of them being local artists!
We are so grateful to our incredible artists, hardworking staff, supportive community and enthusiastic visitors who helped to make all of this possible. We can't wait for what’s in store for 2022!
Thank you for an incredible 2021!