A new public mural was unveiled in Newark on Friday.
The mural is called “Collecting Dreams” and surrounds the Boyland Street Recreation Center outdoor pool area. This is located along South Orange Avenue in Newark’s West Ward.
The mural depicts young children swimming among colorful fish, coral and flowers.
"The walls were covered in vines, so we wanted to, you know, give the children something beautiful to look at and see reflections of themselves,” says Fayemi Shakur, director of Newark Arts & Cultural Affairs.
The mural was created by artist Mohammed Awudu, who received a commendation from the city for his work.
"The best thing that we have to do, we need to mentor the kids. We need to make sure we empower the young kids coming up where we live so that one day they can continue what we started,” he says.
The mural joins a number of other large-scale art projects unveiled in the Brick City this year.