PRESS RELEASE: Atlantic City Arts Foundation Prepares for Milestone 100th Mural by artist Manuela Guillén

Atlantic City Arts Foundation Prepares for Milestone 100th Mural by artist Manuela Guillén

Press Release – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ — The Atlantic City Arts Foundation is preparing its 100th mural installation in Atlantic City since 2017. This milestone mural represents the resilience of Atlantic City’s arts ecosystem and the accomplishment of artists and supporters to uplift civic self-esteem through the vibrancy of arts. The Atlantic City Arts Foundation will host a public unveiling on October 14, 2024, and invites the community to join them in celebration. 

Lead artist Manuela Guillén is a freelance painter, muralist, and digital illustrator currently living in Philadelphia, PA whose murals can be found in both the U.S. and Mexico. Born in Miami to Cuban and Salvadorian immigrant parents, Guillén grew up in Atlantic City, where she worked in a casino while pursuing a career in the arts. Guillen began her mural career in 2015 in Atlantic City with the AC Arts Commission, creating “Protectors,” located on S Georgia Ave. In 2016, she created “Bright Skies” for ACAF’s inaugural 48 Blocks Atlantic City. She returned in 2018 with “Viva Campensina” at the 2nd Ward Firehouse, and this summer she completed the organization's 99th mural, “Green Voices,” teaching and working with youth artists from Mighty Writers. She has nurtured her lifelong love for arts into collaborating with local, national, and global art organizations such as PangeaSeed, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Mural Arts Philadelphia, Gender Justice Fund, the Atlantic City Arts Foundation and more. 

Recently, Guillén installed “Hands of Nourishment”, which encourages viewers to reflect on the many hands that touch our food chain, in the cafeteria at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. This major commission and achievement demonstrates the critical importance of her art and its social justice themes. Inspired by plants, tropical colors, and her cultural upbringing, Guillén aims to bring awareness to art education, mental health, sociopolitical, and environmental issues. As a teaching artist, Guillen hopes to inspire the next generation of artists to be creative as she continues to bring communities closer together through art.

For the 100th mural, Guillén has developed a design titled, “Always Dreaming, Always Growing” for Cardinal. This design pushes further into Guillén’s floral motifs and will be a vibrant, colorful panel that augments the welcoming open-air garden space at the restaurant. Work will commence on an exterior wall at Cardinal on October 1st with an expected completion date of October 15. Guillén will also work with a roster of local artists of exceptional talent in their own right to assist her in completion. 

October 14, 2024 the Atlantic City Arts Foundation will host an unveiling event at Cardinal between 4pm-7pm. This free event open to the public falls on Indigenous People’s Day and celebrates the conclusion of Hispanic Heritage Month. For the first hour, ACAF will welcome Atlantic City youth to engage with the art, and provide blank coloring pages of Guillén’s design so that they can imagine their own vibrant colors in this floral design. A short program will commence with speakers, before a brief mixer to allow for the public to connect with both the artist and the Atlantic City Arts Foundation. ACAF is partnering with El Pueblo Unido Atlantic City to provide bilingual materials and assist in event outreach. 

Manuela Guillén, lead artist, shared:

Painting a mural in Atlantic City holds deep personal significance for me. My journey as an artist began here in 2014 with my very first mural, and it was in this shore city that I discovered my unique style and honed my craft. Attending the local college to study fine art painting not only nurtured my artistic abilities but also taught me the invaluable lesson of building a community wherever I go. Over the years, I have witnessed Atlantic City's growth, which has paralleled my own evolution as an artist. Creating this mural would be my heartfelt way of saying thank you to a city that has been instrumental in shaping my artistic journey. It would be an honor and a profound gesture of gratitude to give back to the community that has given me so much.

Michael Atkins, Executive Director, commented: 

The 100th mural installation is a major achievement for both the Atlantic City Arts Foundation and for Atlantic City. Due to the dedication and talents of many before me, we are celebrating this milestone and the whole arts community of Atlantic City. I am thrilled that Manuela Guillén is our lead artist for this milestone; her story as a native child of Atlantic City who found her visual identity in art through opportunities provided by the Atlantic City Arts Foundation is something for which we are extremely proud. We look forward to celebrating with our neighbors on October 14th!

Atlantic City Art Foundation’s 100th Mural is made possible through the generous support of Presenting Sponsor ThriveAC Fund, with additional support from New Jersey Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, Midtown Community Development Corporation, the Casiello Philanthropic Foundation, and Kitten & Puff. The 100th Mural event celebration is held in partnership with Cardinal and promotional support from El Pueblo Unido Atlantic City.

Manuela Guillén, Lead Artist for the 100th Mural

The Garden at Cardinal, 201 S. New York Avenue, site of the 100th Mural

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About the Atlantic City Arts Foundation

The Atlantic City Arts Foundation’s diverse programs and partnerships activate community pride and civic self-esteem through interaction with public art, including the city’s largest mural arts program. The Atlantic City Arts Foundation is dedicated to increasing public art access and fostering community art appreciation in Atlantic City, NJ. Programs include 48 Blocks Atlantic City, Chalk About AC and ARTeriors. The Atlantic City Arts Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Learn more at www.atlanticcityartsfoundation.org/.

Media Contact

Michael Atkins
michael@atlanticcityartsfoundation.org
(609) 217-5569

PRESS RELEASE: Atlantic City Arts Foundation Appoints New Executive Director Michael Atkins

Atlantic City Arts Foundation Appoints New Executive Director Michael Atkins

Press Release - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ATLANTIC CITY — The Atlantic City Arts Foundation has appointed Michael Atkins as its new Executive Director, effective Sept 1, 2024. Atkins is native to South Jersey and leverages extensive experience in multimedia production and nonprofit communications into the crucial role of executive director. He is a proud Atlantic City resident with a lifelong passion for literature, visual arts, and performing arts. 

Monica Casiello, Board President, shared, “The Board conducted a thorough search, with applicants from far and wide, yet found Michael’s unique set of qualifications and incredible dedication right here in Atlantic City. The Board and I are thrilled to bring Michael’s talents and experience to the Atlantic City Arts Foundation. This will be a perfect fit for our organization, and will lead to great things for the arts in Atlantic City. This is a pivotal moment for the organization, as we will unveil our 100th public mural this fall. Michael will lead this organization to expand and enhance our arts programming and presentation.” 

Michael Atkins, Executive Director, commented: “I draw inspiration from the rich history and vibrant culture of Atlantic City, a place where the arts and social progress have long gone hand in hand. It is my intention to expand the offerings of arts in the city, for the benefit of its residents, to exhibit local artists, and to invite artists to draw their own inspiration from this historic city. I want to thank the Board for this opportunity, and look forward to connecting with my neighbors in the weeks to come.” 

For the past two years, Atkins worked as the communications director for New Jersey Future, a statewide policy nonprofit that advocates for equitable investment in infrastructure, and a fair balance between development and preservation. Prior to relocating to New Jersey in 2021, Michael served as the communications director for Friends of the Los Angeles River, an environmental humanities nonprofit that utilizes art, poetry, and ecological education to advocate for equitable access to a rewilded river. Atkins worked in broadcast film television before entering nonprofits, whose production credits spanned independent film and documentary to reality television, during which he interviewed hundreds of subjects including congresspersons, indigenous tribal leaders, architects, authors, and artists. 

This fall the Atlantic City Arts Foundation will celebrate its 100th public mural at Cardinal Restaurant in the Orange Loop at a free public event. Throughout Fall 2024, the organization under Atkins’s leadership will conduct listening sessions and develop a strategic plan to set a direction moving forward, with sustained emphasis on community engagement, artists' opportunity, expanded programmatic offerings, and economic development. As such, they welcome the suggestions, reflections, and imaginations of residents and artists who also love Atlantic City by emailing michael@atlanticcityartsfoundation.org. 

Michael Atkins, Executive Director, Atlantic City Arts Foundation

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About the Atlantic City Arts Foundation

The Atlantic City Arts Foundation’s diverse programs and partnerships activate community pride and civic self-esteem through interaction with public art, including the city’s largest mural arts program. The Atlantic City Arts Foundation is dedicated to increasing public art access and fostering community art appreciation in Atlantic City, NJ. Programs include 48 Blocks Atlantic City, Chalk About AC and ARTeriors. The Atlantic City Arts Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Learn more at www.atlanticcityartsfoundation.org/.

Media Contact

Michael Atkins
michael@atlanticcityartsfoundation.org
(609) 217-5569

PRESS RELEASE: Atlantic City Arts Foundation Announces Milestone Mural By Renowned Muralist Mona Caron

Atlantic City Arts Foundation Announces Milestone Mural By Renowned Muralist Mona Caron

The organization’s 100th and city’s largest mural will commence in April 2024

Press Release - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Atlantic City, NJ  – Feb. 26, 2024 – The Atlantic City Arts Foundation, along with presenting sponsor ThriveAC Fund and partner Create 48, today announced renowned Swiss-American artist Mona Caron will paint the largest mural in Atlantic City, commencing in April 2024. Located at The Atlantic, the 19-story mural will be the organization’s 100th mural, and become the largest mural in the city. Part of Caron’s WEEDS project, the mural will incorporate flora native to Atlantic City, narrating themes of resilience, renewal, and perseverance.

“My WEEDS project is a tribute to resilience against all odds. I paint spontaneously occurring wild plants, native or non-native, and paint them big, at a scale inversely proportional to the attention and regard they get. It’s a metaphoric salute to the struggle of authentic grassroots communities, and it’s a reminder that we need to shift Nature’s ranking in our priorities," said Caron.

The 2024 mural, set to be unveiled at the 48 Blocks Atlantic City festival in June, represents a significant milestone in Atlantic City’s cultural landscape. The installation, which is scheduled to commence at the end of April, will involve a six-week collaborative effort between Caron and four assistant muralists, including Charles Barbin and Randi Meekins-Barbin, co-owners of Dunes Gallery in Brigantine and creators of several notable murals in Atlantic City, Jenna Morello, a multi-disciplinary artist from Brooklyn, and Morello’s assistant, Baran Duzgan.

“This is a watershed moment for the arts in Atlantic City,” shared Monica Casiello, Board President of the Atlantic City Arts Foundation. “What better city than Atlantic City to be graced with Mona Caron’s art? Her work proclaims resilience. Atlantic City is nothing if not resilient.”

As the leading public arts organization in Atlantic City, the Atlantic City Arts Foundation has played a pivotal role in transforming the city's landscape through public art. Their mural initiative began in 2017 with only enough funding for paint and supplies; the original artists donated their time. The program has since flourished, culminating in the installation of 96 impactful murals; 80 are still on view, transforming Atlantic City's 17.2 square miles into a vibrant outdoor gallery.

“This project is the result of years of work by our team, volunteers, community members, and artists to build a thriving arts community in Atlantic City,” said Kate O’Malley, Executive Director of the Atlantic City Arts Foundation. “We’ve seen firsthand that murals not only beautify our city, but also boost community pride, drive economic development, and attract tourism. Mona Caron’s mural will further highlight Atlantic City as a destination for arts and culture.”

The 100th mural project is made possible through the support of ThriveAC Fund, the Atlantic, Casiello Philanthropic Foundation and Inlet CDC. For more information about sponsorship opportunities, contact kate@acartsfoundation.org.

For more information about the Atlantic City Arts Foundation visit https://atlanticcityartsfoundation.org/

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About the Atlantic City Arts Foundation

The Atlantic City Arts Foundation’s diverse programs & partnerships activate community pride & civic self-esteem through interaction with public art, including the city’s leading and largest mural arts program. The organization is dedicated to increasing public art access and fostering community art appreciation in Atlantic City, NJ. Programs include 48 Blocks Atlantic City, Chalk About AC, and ARTeriors. The Atlantic City Arts Foundation is a 501(c)3 public arts nonprofit organization. www.atlanticcityartsfoundation.org/ 

Media Contact

Kate O’Malley
kate@atlanticcityartsfoundation.org
(856) 217-1823