“LEAD WITH KINDNESS”: The Arts Council of Princeton and EDENS have completed their collaborative work on a third mural at the Princeton Shopping Center. The new public art piece is located on McCaffrey’s courtyard wall. (Photo by Laura Dominick/EDENS)

The Arts Council of Princeton and EDENS have completed a collaboration on a new mural located on the courtyard-facing wall at the Princeton Shopping Center, 301 North Harrison Street.

Lead with Kindness, the third in a series of murals painted by the Arts Council in Princeton Shopping Center’s public art initiative, speaks to the notion of kindness and compassion as a mindset-first message to the community. The original design was created by Laura Dominick, lead design and media manager at EDENS, which owns and operates Princeton Shopping Center. Dominick said she sees this message as a part of a movement. “Art catalyzes and enriches communities,” said Dominick. “Our final mural with the Arts Council is a vivid reminder to live each day with more empathy and thoughtfulness.”

In the spring of 2021, the Arts Council of Princeton and Princeton Shopping Center announced a new partnership that would produce a series of three murals designed for exterior spaces at Princeton Shopping Center. Each mural would highlight a positive message to the Princeton community, celebrating public art’s ability to uplift and delight.

Last June, the Bring on the Joy mural was completed on the interior courtyard wall between Princeton Mattress and Smith’s ACE Hardware, and earlier this year ACP artists completed work on the second mural, LOVE, located next to Bella Boutique facing Harrison Street. Both pieces have enjoyed positive feedback from the community as welcome additions to Princeton’s public art scene.

“Completing this third and final mural allows us time to reflect on what a ‘joy’ it has been to work with the Princeton Shopping Center to launch their public art series,” said Adam Welch, executive director of the Arts Council of Princeton. “These three murals bring so much color and ‘love’ to the visitor’s experience, and this 36+ year partnership with the Princeton Shopping Center has embodied the notion of ‘kindness’ captured in this final mural.”

For more information, visit artscouncilofprinceton.org and princetonshoppingcenter.com.