The Children’s Mural Project, 2021

Inspired by the pandemic and 2020’s acute social unrest, this project attempts to call on, and hopes to be a manifestation of Lincoln’s “the better angels of our nature”.

The Concept: The project is comprised of four separate 4 foot by 8 foot panels, with each panel having a particular “theme”. The four themes being Hope, Love, Peace and Community. Each panel's image is based on a painting inspired by, and created specifically for this project by a local artist. An outline of each of the original paintings was transferred to the 4 X 8 panels. The panels were then to be painted by Macfarland Intermediate School 3rd, 4th and 5th graders. However, with school still closed and with the children unable to gather for group projects the panels were then cut up into separate 16 x 16 or 24 X 24 inch sections for each child to paint remotely and autonomously at home. The sections were then reassembled, almost as a mosaic. Symbolically, this forced tactic introduces a sub-theme to the project: that though we were forced to be apart, we nevertheless continued to be a part of, and worked within, a larger whole.

We are especially proud of the stable of artists that committed to volunteering their time and talent to the project. Hamilton artist Thomas Kelly’s image “Koinobori” symbolizes hope. Bordentown City artist Jessica Petty’s “Loving Embrace”, love. Cranbury artist Catherine Martzloff’s “A Peaceful Reach” evokes the theme of peace. And lastly, we have Princeton native Marlon Davila’s piece, simply titled “Community”.

The Downtown Bordentown Association’s Board of Directors generously and unanimously approved a budget for the purchasing of the materials and supplies required for the project, thus no out of pocket expenses were incurred by any family whose child wished to participate.

Over 30 children participated in painting what are the project’s total of 52 separate pieces. This undertaking would have been impossible if not for the support and enthusiasm of the parents. The degree to which the parents embraced this project was humbling. It was a joy meeting and getting to know them, if just a bit. Community indeed.

The project will now find its forever home in the new Bordentown City Municipal Complex to be located at the former Divine Word Mission, slated to open in the fall of this year.

Our goal in undertaking this project was to have artists, but even more especially our children, in their own special way, memorialize this incredibly unique time in our history. And to then have their work remind us of the values that, as a community, helped carry us through this unprecedented and demanding time. We believe they very much succeeded. We hope you agree.