Mud Girls Studios, a nonprofit dedicated to providing opportunities in art and entrepreneurship to economically disadvantaged and at-risk women by providing training and skills to transition out of poverty and onto a pathway of self-sufficiency, has long been a staple of excellence in Atlantic City, where the organization is headquartered.
Their artwork can be found at numerous spots in the resort town.
The opening of the Jack and Sheryl Cancer Center in New Brunswick gave the group a chance to show their abilities elsewhere.
The Mud Girls did not disappoint.
More than 15 Mud Girls — working more than 2 tons of clay — created more than 4,600 handmade tiles over the span of 12 months for the state’s first free-standing cancer hospital.
Thanks to five 5 professional tiles installers, the project is finished — much to the delight of the group, which thanked the New Brunswick Development Corporation (better known as DEVCO) for the chance.
“This incredible opportunity is due to our ongoing partnership with DEVCO, a partnership which formed just as Mud Girls was getting started,” a spokesperson said. “From the beginning, visionary President Chris Paladino and Vice President Sarah Clarke believed in us and in our mission, even before we believed in ourselves.
“That means the world to us.”
It wasn’t easy.
More than a year ago, DEVCO and the Mud Girls met to discuss a tile installation that would become the organization’s largest project.
Tasked with collaborating with an art consultant and an international feature artist, there were numerous conditions to consider:
How does the light capture it?
Does it work with the feature element?
How does it enhance the visitor experience?
“These were all concerns that we incorporated into our concept of natural textures and patterns found in rock formations or striations of matter,” the spokesperson said.
Early in the project, Mud Girls representatives put on theri hard hats and toured the construction site. They returned to their studio in Atlantic City, where every tile was handmade.
The project gave the Mud Girls an opportunity to experiment with new tools and multiple glazes to create different effects. The women worked with such heart over the course of many winter months. Slowly but surely — and tile-by-tile — they brought this wall to life.
And they did it while only working with a vision.
Over the course of a year, MudGirls and DEVCO worked without seeing the full picture in a true exercise in trust, patience and vision.
“Our team grew as designers, learning to think deeper about layers, textures and patterns,” the spokesperson said. “When we were finally able to layout all 4,600 tiles, what once felt abstract became real, whole and breathtaking.”
It became the latest success story of the Mud Girls.
The Mud Girls is more than just a nonprofit. It is an economic vehicle for a group of women that are showing they just needed an opportunity.
Through the creation and sale of functional art and aesthetic utilitarian objects, the Mud Girls are gaining a source of long-term supplemental income.
The spokesperson said the group was grateful for the chance — and the vote of confidence — they got from DEVCO.
“Their support has helped us bring our handcrafted, tilework into public spaces across the state — and, in doing so, put many women to work and off the street,” the spokesperson said.
“Devco is leading the transformation of cities in New Jersey and leading in transforming the lives of our women. We are truly grateful for their unwavering support. Congratulations DEVCO team for this beautiful Cancer Center and your commitment to making every city, a city for people to live, work and heal in dignity.”
