Park Partner's Grant
BREAKING BREAD
By Raul Ayala
July 2020
To Break Bread
by Raul Ayala, an MFA alum of Mason Gross School of the Arts-Rutgers and Part-Time Lecturer.
Artist Raul Ayala was commissioned by HPAC using a Park Partner's Grant awarded in 2019 to create a mural about multi-culturalism. Residents of Highland Park voted by ballot at the Park Partner's Day in 2018 to determine the location of the mural, choosing from three previously scouted possibilities: (1) Kybele Cafe Bistro (323 Raritan Ave - north-side); (2) Robert's Florals (114 Raritan Ave - south-side); and (3) All Colors, LLC (176 Woodbridge Ave).
Read article posted on Rutgers Today September 4, 2020
HPAC Members at the Park Partner’s Day
The town chose the location of Robert's Florals at 114 Raritan Avenue as the site for the mural on multiculturalism. Ayala incorporated both flora and food to create a metaphor of the diverse community of Highland Park. HPAC, the Highland Park Borough Council, and the owners of the building reviewed the artist's proposal and the artist created the work in his studio in fall 2019.
Installation of the work on-site below. Ayala's installation was assisted by Karina Cunningham Mason Gross MFA alum 2019, Amee Pollack (HPAC), and John Marron (Chair, HPAC).
