MAIN STREET VINELAND TO HOLD FORMAL DEDICATION OF MEXICAN-THEMED MURAL ON MAY 5 AT 12 P.M.

Mural Located at 520 E. Landis Ave.
Mural by Alfonso Jimenez
Part of Urban Canvases on The Ave Mural Project
and Neighborhood Preservation Program (NPP) Public Art Initiative

Main Street Vineland will hold a formal dedication ceremony for a downtown mural honoring Vineland’s Mexican community and downtown Vineland’s abundance of Mexican restaurants, part of the Urban Canvases on The Ave Mural Project, on Thursday, May 5. at 12 p.m., at 520 E. Landis Ave., Vineland, the of the mural.

The muralist, artist Alfonso Jimenez, will be present, as well as representatives from the State, County, City, and Main Street Vineland. The public is also invited.

Jimenez uses spray paint as his medium and has done several such projects in the area.

The dedication will occur on Cinco de Mayo and Mexican-owned businesses are encouraged to join in the celebration, with Mexican restaurants being encouraged to offer specializes to add to the celebration.

“Vineland is proud of its ethnic heritage and mix of various ethnic backgrounds. Our downtown—The Ave—has many Mexican restaurants, several of which are on the same block as that of the mural,” Main Street Vineland Executive Director Russell Swanson said. “We think that it is only fitting and proper that we celebrate this latest mural on Cinco de Mayo.

Main Street Vineland Associate Director Robert Scarpa sees this as another opportunity to further enhance the beauty of the downtown and notes that plans for more murals will be announced that this dedication.

“We have sites in mind and want to turn what are now blank walls into beautiful expressions of art and of Vineland’s history and culture,” Scarpa said. “Stay tuned for more news.”

This mural is the latest in Main Street Vineland’s Urban Canvases on The Ave mural project, in which the sides of selected buildings will be used as “canvases” to help beautify and add creative spirit to The Ave. The murals will be the work of artists and also as community projects. This is also a Neighborhood Preservation Program (NPP) initiative to put public art in our downtown and neighboring areas.

A mural on the side of the building at 616 E. Landis Avenue was a community project through Appel Farm Arts & Music Center in 2011. This was followed in 2019 by a military-themed mural by renowned artist George Perez on the side of the building at 433-435 W. Landis Avenue, overlooking the southwest mini-park. A food-themed mural by Erin DiPalma on the side of the building at 636 E. Landis Ave

“Murals have been used to beautify buildings in cities and towns across the country. These ‘urban canvasses’ add to the richness and flavor of a city’s heritage and allow talented artists to display their talent and creativity while adding to the historical value of buildings,” Swanson said.

The project has been helped by the generosity of grantors, who have contributed funds or services. The Cumberland County Cultural & Heritage Commission/Department of State has been a generous grantor for the present mural.

For more information on this and all Main Street Vineland events and projects, call the Main Street Vineland office at 856-794-8653, visit the organization’s website at www.TheAve.biz, or visit the organization’s Facebook page.