Wilmington, DE: United Neighbors, a collaborative of residents, stakeholders, and leaders from both sides of I-95 through Wilmington, with support from Wilmington Mayor Michael S. Purzycki, will install a mural on the Delaware Avenue Bridge, a major corridor in Wilmington. Professional artist and local muralist Christian Kanienberg will be creating and installing the mural in the month of May, starting on Wednesday, May 10. The mural will be installed on the I-95 overpass bridge on Delaware Avenue between Jackson and Adams Streets. 

United Neighbors has completed five murals on bridge overpasses between Jackson and Adams Streets over the past four years. With the involvement of hundreds of community members, residents, local organizations and churches, United Neighbors celebrates the communities bordering I-95, emphasizing their unique experiences, rich history, and impact of the construction of I-95, as well as hope for the future of the community. The intent of the mural installations is to grow the communities together and “bridge” the gap between the neighborhoods that I-95 divided back when it was introduced. The mural artist for the final bridge mural on Delaware Avenue was selected by a committee of local business owners, elected officials, neighborhood residents, and the City of Wilmington. The committee put out a public artist call, a public community vote on proposed submissions, and facilitated discussions with the Mayor’s office. 

“I am grateful to United Neighbors for its ongoing efforts to beautify the City by adding important themes, colors and fun impressions,” said Mayor Purzycki. “Christian and I had a chance recently to discuss his design because this particular bridge art will be viewed frequently by residents and visitors alike as they travel along this gateway to the City. I look forward to seeing and enjoying Christian’s final work.”

“The design is meant to marry metaphors to all of Wilmington and the larger State of Delaware as a whole,” says artist Christian Kanienberg about his design. “The use of the Peach Blossom and the American Holly slip in some trivia, before the river names and area code allow the viewer to recognize the mural as a location-themed work.”

The Delaware Avenue mural, in conjunction with the 9th & 10th Street murals completed in 2022, were made possible by the support of the Delaware Division of the Arts, New Castle County, Healthy Communities Delaware, M&T Bank, Kiewit Construction, University of Delaware, Wilmington City Council, DelDOT, Flux Creative Consulting, CommUnity Nation, Interfaith Community Housing of Delaware, Charity Crossing, West Side Grows Together, Be Ready CDC, Hilltop Lutheran Neighborhood Center, Jarret “Posi” Harris, Francesco Iacono, and Lewis Elementary School. For more information about United Neighbors, email unitedneighbors@westsidegrows.org or visit westsidegrows.org/unitedneighbors.