The New Brunswick Community Arts Council, Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, Highland Park Arts Commission, the Metuchen Arts Council, and the South Plainfield Cultural Arts Commission announce the fifth annual “Windows of Understanding” public art project, an initiative that unites local artists, organizations, and businesses to promote awareness and engagement around social justice issues impacting local communities.

As Windows of Understanding embarks on its fifth year, the vision of the public art project is to transform “main street” spaces into literal windows of understanding; spaces in which the community can learn about the positive strides taken by local organizations around a wide array of social justice issues that do not make daily headlines. Expanding its reach to a fourth town in Middlesex County, South Plainfield—joining New Brunswick, Highland Park, and Metuchen—Windows of Understanding is a creative, community-building response to the negativity and hate being perpetuated in today’s media landscape. It is through visual language, that artists can communicate methods of understanding in powerful ways that cut across cultural boundaries.

“Windows of Understanding has always been thought-provoking and important,” said New Brunswick Mayor Jim Cahill. “Each year, the contributing artists have masterfully captured the nation’s most talked about social issues and presented them honestly and authentically, stimulating thought and generating dialogue. We anxiously look forward to another year of success in 2022.”

This year, over 20 non-profit organizations will be paired with an artist facilitator to illuminate positive strides they are making in local communities. The works will be on display in storefronts and public spaces throughout New Brunswick, Highland Park, Metuchen, and South Plainfield, New Jersey from January 17-February 28, 2022.

“The Windows of Understanding collaboration and multi-site exhibition is always one of the highpoints of Highland Park’s annual calendar of activities,” said Gayle Brill Mittler, Mayor of Highland Park. “Our arts community, and many of our residents, deeply appreciate the variety of artistic works displayed each year and the socially conscious messages they advance.”

Organizers have curated this year’s art and supporting events around the selected issues of economic justice; public health; climate change; and protest to policy; as well as a focus on youth engagement. Installations will be on view along Church, George, and French streets in New Brunswick; the Rite Aid Windows on the South 4th Avenue Gallery in Highland Park; on XXX in South Plainfield; and at Berkshire Hathaway Home Services NJ Properties in Metuchen.

The project launches on Monday, January 17, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, as a way of paying homage to Dr. King’s legacy with a designated “Day of Understanding.”
Current efforts include expanding the importance of creating conversational windows of understanding through events; educational workshops in partnership with local schools will run through the end of April.

“It’s important to note that art is a universal language that evokes thoughts, ideas, and meaning to the eye of the beholder,” said Dr. Aubrey A. Johnson, Superintendent of New Brunswick Public Schools. “We are proud of our partnership with Windows of Understanding, which provides our students a framework to develop a critical consciousness, understand the world as they see fit and take action around social injustices.”

“As the President of Art on the Block club, I believe art can make people explore the world of imagination, as art students see every day,” says Nezzle Mendez, 12th grade New Brunswick High School student. “We wanted to show awareness to climate change. We need to change our ways in polluting the world and continue our efforts for generations to come after.”

Free virtual programming such as panel discussions, youth art exhibition, art workshops and film screenings around social justice themes will complement the window displays throughout the season. The Metuchen Arts Council will team up with the Metuchen Human Relations Commission to present a virtual “Community Conversation” with the agency directors and the artists involved to highlight the timely work of each agency.

“We in Metuchen look forward to, once again, embracing the principals of Windows of Understanding as it brings to our attention through art those organizations in our community doing important work to addresses economic justice, public health, climate change and the encouragement of civic engagement,” said Metuchen Mayor Jonathan Busch. “Through the art comes awareness; through awareness comes opportunities to create solutions as a community.”

The Windows of Understanding project pairs artists with local organizations. The local organizations involved include The Black Community Watchline; Brady – United Against Gun Violence; Citizens Campaign; Dina’s Dwellings, Town Clock CDC; Elijah’s Promise; First Presbyterian Church Food Pantry of Metuchen; Food and Water Watch; Highland Park Gives a Hoot; The League of Women Voters; Moms Demand Action; NAACP; New Jersey Black Women Physicians Association; New Jersey Harm Reduction Coalition; RCHP Affordable Housing Corporation; REPLENISH; The Rutgers Climate Institute; Rutgers Student Food Pantry; RWJUH HVIP Working together Against Violence to Empower (WAVE) Community Consortium; Stop NESE Coalition; Sustainable South Plainfield; and Urban Ag Lab, Rutgers University.

Leadership support for Windows of Understanding 2022 has been provided by Middlesex County, the New Brunswick Cultural Center, and Berkshire Hathaway Home Services NJ Properties. Special thanks to the Arts Institute of Middlesex County and Rutgers University Office of Community Affairs for their in-kind support of this program.

Businesses hosting art installations for 2022 include: New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC), The Heldrich Hotel & Conference Center, the Yard at College Avenue, New Brunswick Parking Authority, Harvest Moon, Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce, New Brunswick City Center, The Borough of Highland Park, Rite Aid of Highland Park, Johnson & Johnson, Earth & Ivy, and Berkshire Hathaway Home Services NJ Properties.

For more information on Windows of Understanding, including a complete list of featured organizations, participating storefronts, and a full calendar of free events, please visit HYPERLINK “http://www.windowsofunderstanding.org” www.windowsofunderstanding.org. On Instagram at @windowsofunderstanding, #weseethroughhate.

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About the New Brunswick Community Arts Council
Comprised of leaders from across the Arts sector appointed by the Mayor to serve three- year terms, the New Brunswick Community Arts Council exists to promote a diverse range of Art and Culture throughout the city. “Windows of Understanding” complements the council’s existing programs such as the New Brunswick Holiday Market.

About Mason Gross School of the Arts
Established in 1976, Mason Gross School of the Arts is the flagship public arts conservatory of New Jersey and a division of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Founded in 1766, Rutgers is the nation’s eighth-oldest institution of higher learning, a leading Big Ten public research university with more than 71,000 students, and a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. The Mason Gross School is home to the departments of Art & Design, Dance, Music, and Theater as well as Rutgers Community Arts, Rutgers Arts Online, the Rutgers Filmmaking Center, and the Rutgers Print Collaborative. The school has an enrollment of approximately 805 undergraduates and 257 graduate students across five disciplines, supported by approximately 390 faculty and 66 staff. Students at Mason Gross hail from 29 states and territories and 21 countries. Mason Gross is one of the most selective schools at Rutgers–New Brunswick, ensuring that students have the opportunity to work closely with accomplished artists in their fields.

About the Highland Park Arts Commission
The purpose of the Arts Commission is to support and facilitate cultural programs in Highland Park for the benefit of its residents. Such programs may include, but are not limited to, dance, theatre, music, visual arts, poetry, spoken word, culinary arts, fashion design, paper arts, woodworking and interdisciplinary art forms. Of particular interest to the Arts Commission is both the inclusion of diverse cultural programming and the training of students (of any age) in these art forms.

About the Metuchen Arts Council
The Metuchen Arts Council was established in 1967 to advocate and promote culturally enriching programs which foster an appreciation for the arts in the community. The Metuchen Arts Council accomplishes its mission by sponsoring exciting, innovative and entertaining programs in all arts disciplines; supporting local artists and arts organizations through grants, sponsorships, and networking opportunities; working with others to create a welcoming community to attract artists and audiences of all ages, backgrounds and cultures; and by being an advocate for arts education at all levels.

About the South Plainfield Cultural Arts Commission
The South Plainfield Cultural Arts Commission was founded to promote a variety of cultural arts programs to the residents of South Plainfield.