(JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- Jersey City Theater Center (JCTC) hosts a gallery art exhibition opening and short documentary film screening of "Sister Cities: Discovering Common Threads" featuring the work of 2021 Jersey City Summer Youth Mural Arts Program participants on Wednesday, October 27, 2021, from 6:00pm to 9:30pm at White Eagle Hall (337 Newark Ave., Jersey City).

The Jersey City Summer Youth Mural Arts Program is a hands-on, intensive muralist workshop for young artists led by fine artist and filmmaker Duda Penteado fine artist and muralist Catherine Hart, both from Jersey City. Thirty students ages 13 to 25 participated in 2021's six-week program, chosen from a pool of over 100 applicants. The student artists installed a 100-foot by 30-foot mural at James J. Ferris High School (35 Colgate St., Jersey City), inspired by the 22 sister cities across 19 countries with whom Jersey City has a sister city relationship.

"Sister Cities: Discovering Common Threads," a short documentary film directed by Penteado and produced by Unshakeable Productions, captures the creative process of the student artists, who formed small teams to work on specific sections of the wall. Throughout the six weeks, participants received instruction on public art techniques, concept development, surface preparation, design enlargement, paint application, and preservation of outdoor art.

"The mural is meant to inspire dialogue within the community of Jersey City. The students worked together with the art instructors putting together the final layout that would be placed on the wall, selecting inspiring figures, places, and cultural elements from the different cities and countries," said Penteado. "The program instills in students a comprehensive work ethic that is essential to a future career as professional artists," adds JCTC's executive producer Olga Levina.

This is a free event; advance registration is encouraged. A cash bar will be available, along with complimentary hors d'oeuvres. In addition, attendees can purchase student art.

2021 program participants are as follows: Ysabelle Abis, Roshard Ali, Cheyne Anderson, Dawson Anderson, Imani Anighoro, Coda Camaya, Frank Gadson, Viktoria Gaiser, Rakeelah Gardner, Claire Goldfinger, Barbara Gochis, Leigh Isaac, Nicole Isaac, William Kunga, Muhammad Masood, Amina Masum, Ria Monga, Exodus Medina, Phoenix Medina, Maya Phillips, Colby Reed, Zhania Scull, Muhammad Shahid, Isha Sidibay, Eja Simms, Nina Uy, and Sandra Youssef. 

The program team includes Brooke Hansson, Director, Jersey City Mural Arts Program; Duda Penteado, Creative Director, Jersey City Youth Summer Public Art Program; Catherine Hart, Assistant Creative Director, Jersey City Youth Summer Public Art Program; Maya Sanders, Artist and Senior Project Coordinator; LucPaul Adams, Artist and Junior Project Coordinator; and Bukola Adeleye, Artist and Junior Project Coordinator.

The mission of the Jersey City Mural Arts Program is to activate and inspire through public art. Since 2013, over 200 large-scale murals have been painted throughout the city by a mix of local, national, and international artists.  

Founded in 2006, Jersey City Theater Center is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) arts organization committed to inspiring conversations about important issues of our times through the arts.