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 October 14, 2024, and invites the community to join them in celebration.
Lead artist Manuela Guillén is a freelance painter, muralist and digital illustrator currently living in Philadelphia, Pa. 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. Guillén 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.
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. Work will commence on an exterior wall at Cardinal on Oct. 1 with an expected completion date of Oct. 15. Guillén will also work with a roster of local artists of exceptional talent in their own right to assist her in completion.
Oct. 14, 2024 the Atlantic City Arts Foundation will host an unveiling event at Cardinal between 4-7 p.m. 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.
Manuela Guillén, lead artist, shared:
“Painting a mural in Atlantic City holds deep personal significance for me. 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, Executive Director, commented:
“The 100th mural installation is a major achievement for both the Atlantic City Arts Foundation and for Atlantic City. Due to the dedication and talents of many before me, we are celebrating this milestone and the whole arts community of Atlantic City. 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 Oct. 14!”
