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If you have driven down Main Street in Boonton lately, you have seen it. A bold “Welcome to Boonton” mural now wraps the brick wall of the Main Pharmacy building at the corner of Myrtle Avenue, bursting with stained glass style blocks of gold, teal, coral and green.
The artist behind it is Jenna Morello, a Brooklyn based muralist whose work stretches from Times Square to the World Trade Center. But Boonton is personal for her. She grew up in Kinnelon, her family lives in town, and this is her second mural in Boonton. We covered the mural while she was painting it, and now that it is finished, we caught up with Jenna to hear the story behind it.
From Kinnelon Kid to Big Wall Muralist
Tell us a little about yourself. How did you get started as a muralist?
“I’m an artist based out of Brooklyn, New York. I jumped around in mediums, but my main one at the moment is spray paint. I became a muralist just as an evolution of my art career over the years. It’s been since I was little, so the canvases and surfaces just got bigger over time until we reached where we are today.”
Those surfaces got very big. Her best known piece, “Saint Liberty,” covers the front of RiseNY in Times Square, and her work also appears inside the World Trade Center. You can browse more of her commissions on jennamorello.com.
The Story Behind “Welcome to Boonton”
What’s the story behind the mural? How did it come together?
“A few years back I was commissioned by Boonton Arts to do a mural up on School Street. The town was nice enough to have me back to do a second one, this time commissioned by Boonton Main Street. They wanted to create something that paid homage to old Boonton, incorporating the iconic Boontonware logo font.”
“My older sister, Natalie, is the executive director of Boonton Main Street, so she asked me if I wanted to apply amongst the other artists. I submitted a proposal and was lucky enough to be selected because of my vision and experience working on large scale murals.”
What do you hope people feel when they walk by it?
“I hope people see the mural and if they live in town, it marks that they are home.”
Jenna Morello
Why Morris County Will Always Be Home
What’s your favorite thing about Boonton or Morris County?
“I grew up in Morris County in Kinnelon, so my favorite part is it will always be home to me. My favorite part about Boonton is my sisters are neighbors, so it allows me to visit everyone in one shot.”
What’s Next for Jenna Morello
What are you working on next?
“When the weather cools down I do inside work, different mediums or sculptures. This season will be big on merch thanks to a best friend who spent the last year creating merchandise of many of my pieces. There’s some school murals I have to get finished while kids are out on their holiday breaks too.”
See the Finished Mural
The mural is on the Main Pharmacy building at the corner of Main Street and Myrtle Avenue in downtown Boonton. It is the perfect photo stop on a walk through town, with shops, cafes and restaurants all along Main Street. Big thanks to Boonton Main Street for bringing it to life.
Commission Jenna Morello
Want a mural for your business, school or home? Reach Jenna through her website at jennamorello.com or on Instagram at @jennamorello for projects and commissions.
Snap a photo in front of the mural and tag @shopmorriscounty. We would love to see it!
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