Manuela Guillen Leads Atlantic City Arts Foundation’s 100th Mural
Photo of Manuela Guillen courtesy of Atlantic City Arts Foundation.
AC JosepH Media
ATLANTIC CITY — 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 Oct. 14.
Lead artist Manuela Guillén is a freelance painter, muralist, and digital illustrator currently living in Philadelphia 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 and mental health, as well as sociopolitical and environmental issues. As a teaching artist, Guillén hopes to inspire the next generation of artists to be creative while continuing 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.
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.
“Painting a mural in Atlantic City holds deep personal significance for me,” Guillén said in a statement. “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, the executive director of the Atlantic City Arts Foundation, said the 100th mural is a major achievement.
“Due to the dedication and talents of many before me, we are celebrating this milestone and the whole arts community of Atlantic City,” Atkins said. “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 14.”
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.
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