Local Arts Organizations Team with Youth to Paint Community Mural in Red Bank

Indie Street Film Festival, Kitch Organic and Two River Theater are proud to announce that they will partner for Red Bank's second community mural project, which will take place the weekend of July 7-9.

After a successful installation in 2016, Indie Street's Artistic Director, Jay Webb, and world renowned street artist, MDot, will team up again to bring public art and an unforgettable community experience to Red Bank, NJ. This year's mural, to be painted by local youth and community volunteers on the wall of Kitch Organic, will be a celebratory launch for two inspirational and creative events to be hosted in Red Bank this summer: the Indie Street Film Festival happening July 26-30 at multiple Red Bank venues, and the Crossing Borders (Cruzando Fronteras) festival of new Latino plays happening Aug 2-6 at Two River Theater. Both events, along with the interactive mural project, hope to inspire diverse communities, which help make the arts in our town so captivating, to come together.

More than 20 local youth will take part in painting the mural, representing: Two River Theater's Education Programs, Project Write Now, Red Bank Regional High School, Horizons at Rumson Country Day School, JBJ Soul Kitchen and more!

This year's Red Bank Community Mural project is sponsored by Red Bank RiverCenter. Says Executive Director James Scavone, "This community mural project is a perfect example of what the arts in Red Bank are all about-inspiring the community to unite around the arts. The Indie Street Film Festival and Two River Theater's Crossing Borders Festival are both events that reach out into the community to engage them in the arts. RiverCenter is thrilled to partner with them to help present this mural to the community of Red Bank."

THE INDIE STREET FILM FESTIVAL brings the most talented storytellers from across the globe to the screens of Red Bank, NJ. Born from a cooperative of filmmakers, Indie Street Film Festival combines top-notch independent cinema with industry discussions, live art and music experiences, and social gatherings that look to spark important conversations within our diverse communities. For more details on festival events: indiestreetfilmfestival.org.

KITCH ORGANIC: Our mission is to create the healthiest, most delicious and nutritious life experience for the communities in which we serve through the vision, energy and passion of our team...growing + feeding + leading life! kitchorganic.com

TWO RIVER THEATER'S CROSSING BORDERS (CRUZANDON FRONTERAS) FESTIVAL is entering its 7th year and attracts more than 700 audience members, artists, businesses and civic leaders to Red Bank each summer. This festival of new plays by Latino writers includes play readings, audience discussions, a keynote address from a leader within the Latino arts community, and a neighborhood kickoff party with food and live music-all free and open to the public. The festival will expand this year to include the visual arts, through a community mural project on Red Bank's West Side. Two River Theater launched the Crossing Borders festival in 2011 to create opportunities for Latino theater artists and foster a stronger relationship between the theater and Red Bank's Latino community. For more details on festival events: tworivertheater.org or 732.345.1400.

MDOT, MURALIST: Misha Tyutyunik aka MDot is a Ukrainian-born, prolific painter, muralist, street artist, illustrator and, most recently, virtual-reality artist, living and working out of Brooklyn, New York. A graduate of Pratt Institute, he is living his lifelong dream of being a professional artist. Misha has traveled the world gracing the walls of buildings and has been commissioned to paint and illustrate for many reputable brands, publications and collectors. He works in a variety of styles and media, to produce pieces that are both visually pleasing and thought-provoking. His work, while tailored to the task at hand, always retains his persona and aesthetic. Misha balances his life between corporate endeavors, public art and personal work, often painting with youth and community organizations and exhibiting in galleries throughout New York and abroad. He is currently facilitating and fabricating several mural projects, working on commissions, and creating a new body of work at his studio in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. mishat.com