Artists from Ithaca, Central New York, Chicago and New York City will create murals in real time when Ithaca MURAL JAM returns to SouthWorks for a second year Oct. 3 and 4.
The free public arts event will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days at 620 South Aurora St. Visitors will be able to watch the artists work, meet them, contribute to a community paint wall and attend poetry and musical performances.
SouthWorks and Ithaca Murals are organizing the event, which will turn part of the former factory complex into a temporary open-air gallery. Organizers said this year's program will feature new artists and murals in a different area of the site.
Rob Lewis, SouthWorks development project manager, said last year's MURAL JAM drew more people to the property at one time than it had seen since its factory days. He said the event will give the public another opportunity to visit as work continues on affordable housing, child care and infrastructure at the complex.
Ithaca Murals Director Caleb R. Thomas said the shared painting environment is intended to create connections among artists, visitors and neighbors. The organization describes its work as using public art to strengthen communities and broaden participation in cultural projects.
Five artist groups will create new work
Chicago artist Natalie Shugailo, who has spent about 10 years painting murals, will bring work influenced by the contrast between urban and suburban settings and the relationship between people and the natural world.
Syracuse-based artist Iris Williams uses murals to explore identity, community and storytelling. Organizers said Williams' work is intended to encourage connection, creativity and community pride.
Bolivian-born brothers Ismael, Elias and Fabio Arcani, now based in New York City, create murals focused on everyday life and the people around them. Their MURAL JAM project will be the brothers' first independent art piece in the United States.
Cortland artist Ashe Martin has more than 20 years of experience in murals, mosaics, sculpture and teaching. Martin's projects are designed to reflect the people and places where the work is installed.
Ithaca-raised artist Margalo Guo will also participate. Guo's local work includes murals at Modern Ohana Restaurant, SouthWorks, Belle Sherman Elementary School and HH Cayuga.
Event is part of the SouthWorks redevelopment
SouthWorks is a 95-acre former industrial manufacturing site being redeveloped with nearly 2 million square feet of planned commercial, maker, residential, public and outdoor space. The project combines adaptive reuse of existing buildings with new construction.
Ithaca Murals is a fiscally sponsored project of the Center for Transformative Action. The network says it emphasizes leadership by people of color, working-class and under-employed residents, people with jail experience, women, LGBTQ+ residents, young people and others interested in public art and social justice.
Support for MURAL JAM comes from the Tompkins County Tourism Program, Highstreet Insurance & Financial Services, SWBR, John Snyder Architects, Taitem Engineering, WSKG, Meldrim's Paint Center, Three of Four Design Co., Argos Inn, Gimme! Coffee and Uncle Marty's.
More information is available through the events section of the SouthWorks website. Questions may be directed to SouthWorks community outreach coordinator Sarah Barden at sbarden@shiftcapital.us or Ithaca Murals project coordinator Caleb Thomas at 607-273-5242.
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