Newark Grounds, led by Project for Empty Space in collaboration with its civic and cultural partners, is proud to announce the unveiling of Constellation Bench, a new public sculpture by artist Eirini Linardaki. The work will be revealed on Monday, May 4, at 2:00 PM in Mulberry Commons in Newark, New Jersey, and will remain on view through August 2026.

The unveiling event will feature remarks by Mayor Ras J. Baraka, the artist, and project partners, alongside a live performance and the release of a new publication marking the occasion.

Constellation Bench is the inaugural sculpture of Newark Grounds, an ambitious initiative to create a more continuous and connected walkable cultural corridor through downtown Newark. The corridor now links nearly 100 public artworks and art spaces along a dynamic, pedestrian-friendly route connecting Newark Penn Station to Teachers Village and beyond. The initiative is a collaboration with the City of Newark Division of Art and Cultural Affairs, the Newark Arts and Education District, the Newark City Parks Foundation, the Newark Alliance, Newark Happening, the Newark Downtown District, the Newark Arts Council, the Four Corners Public Arts Partnership, and the Rutgers University–Newark Design Consortium.

“Over the past few years, Project for Empty Space and our partners have been shaping a public art program that both elevates existing work and creates new opportunities—not just for artists, but for audiences to actively engage in local arts,” said fayemi shakur, Director, City of Newark Division of Arts and Cultural Affairs. “The Constellation Bench is a natural starting point: developed with the community and designed to be experienced, not just observed. Our approach in Newark is intentional—centering audience experience, especially for residents and young people, as equally vital to the work itself.”

Developed in close partnership with the Newark City Parks Foundation, the sculpture program reflects a shared commitment to prioritizing parks as vital civic spaces and to integrating public art as a meaningful enhancement to the everyday experience of those spaces.

“Our parks are among Newark’s most important civic assets; places where people gather, rest, and recreate, and connect across communities. Investing in our parks means investing in the social and cultural life of Newark,” said Marcy DePina, Executive Director, Newark City Parks Foundation. “Through collaborations like Newark Grounds, we’re not only enhancing public space, we’re building a more connected, walkable city where art and community life are fully integrated. Constellation Bench marks an exciting step in that vision. We’re proud to partner on a project that centers community voices while activating our parks in meaningful and lasting ways.”

Constellation Bench was selected through a request for proposals inviting artists to submit concepts for Newark Grounds, with a focus on three-dimensional works for Mulberry Commons and new commissions at PES’s hub at 800 Broad Street. Chosen by an advisory committee, the selected projects respond to the curatorial theme “Collective Belonging.”

Linardaki’s Constellation Bench is a star-shaped sculptural installation that functions as both seating and gathering space. Inspired by a search for a place to picnic with friends, the work addresses the need for welcoming, inclusive public spaces in Newark. Drawing on the imagery of constellations—ancient systems of navigation and connection—the sculpture’s radiating arms symbolize the many cultures and stories that converge in the city, creating a landmark rooted in openness, comfort, and shared experience.

The work can accommodate individuals or groups of up to twenty people at a time, designed to support both intimate and larger group gatherings within the park. The project was informed by a rigorous community engagement process, ensuring that the final design reflects the identities of Newark residents. The sculpture is also fully hand-painted by the artist, emphasizing craft, material presence, and the care embedded in its making.

Beyond its physical presence, Constellation Bench will serve as an active site for community engagement. The work will host monthly children’s reading circles and co-anchor PES’s Summer NIGHT FEST, featuring a community picnic and an immersive projection project that activates the park after dark. In addition, the artist will design and install custom shade canopies—extending community-informed patterns into the sky—with support from the NJBPU Urban Heat Island Grant Program.

Following this inaugural installation, additional sculptures by artists Damien Davis and Shoshanna Weinberger will be introduced later this year as part of the expanding Newark Grounds program.

By bringing together artists and audiences in accessible public spaces, Newark Grounds continues to position Newark as a vibrant center for creativity, culture, and community exchange.

“Public space holds enormous potential as a site for connection, reflection, and shared experience,” said Rebecca Pauline Jampol and Jasmine Wahi, Co-Directors of Project for Empty Space. “By bringing strategic and engaging artworks into parks and across Newark, we are not only expanding access to contemporary art, but also investing in a community-engaged public practice that centers the voices, histories, and everyday experiences of the people who live here.”

These projects are supported by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) A.R.T. Grant, which fueled Project for Empty Space’s 2024 expansion. Through this support, PES significantly broadened its footprint, opening two new street-level galleries and deepening its investment in community initiatives like Newark Grounds. The corridor integrates wayfinding elements with both existing and newly commissioned public artworks, all grounded in community-engaged public practice.

Join us at Newark Grounds, Friday, October 10, from 5 - 10 pm, for the second edition of NIGHT FEST, presented in collaboration with the Newark City Parks Foundation and the Newark Arts Festival

Register on Eventbrite here.

Debuting this past spring, this biannual mini-festival transforms the lower section of Mulberry Commons Park, next to the Prudential Center, into a vibrant space for art, food, and community. The evening will feature live performances, a curated marketplace, and a welcoming picnic area for gathering and celebration.

The marketplace will highlight wellness initiatives, local food, education, and handmade artisan goods. Local growers will offer fresh produce for sale and share insights into civic agriculture and healthy, Newark-grown picnic options. For this fall edition, we’ve partnered with STEAM URBAN to present an inspiring lineup of growers and makers.

The rest of Mulberry Commons will remain open for picnicking—so bring your friends, family, and a blanket!

Attendees will also have the chance to explore highlights of the Newark Grounds footprint, including Four Corners Public Arts, Project for Empty Space, Gateways to Newark: Portraits, and select works from New Jersey Transit’s public art program.

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About Newark Grounds:
Newark Grounds is a walkable cultural corridor in Downtown Newark, New Jersey, featuring more than 75 consecutive public artworks and dedicated arts and culture spaces. Led by Project for Empty Space, this initiative is a collaboration with the City of Newark Division of Art and Cultural Affairs, the Newark Arts and Education District, the City Parks Foundation, the Newark Alliance, the Greater Newark Convention and Visitors Bureau, Newark Arts, the Four Corners Public Arts Partnership, and the Rutgers University–Newark Design Consortium. The project connects Newark Penn Station to Teachers Village through an immersive arts path.