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"The jam is just a different way to showcase graffiti in a positive light so that everyone in the community can appreciate it. Urban art is often seen as negative, but really it's just a different way to express yourself as an artist," Jackel said.
TerraCycle is a small ecologically friendly startup company in Trenton that creates goods sold in recycled materials produced from local garbage. Some products produced by TerraCycle are tote bags, lunch boxes and binders, all made from recycled materials. TerraCycle also creates natural fertilizers made from organic worm waste and awards cash for collecting recyclables such as corks, product wrappers and plastics.
The TerraCycle Graffiti Jam will take place from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 9 at TerraCycle's factory headquarters, 121 New York Ave. in Trenton.
In addition to the factory's walls and some offices being decorated by graffiti artists, the event will showcase local music and children's painting workshops.
Jackel said the event began four years ago through the company's relationship with local Trenton artist Leon Rainbow.
Rainbow, a graffiti artist with a degree in computer graphics and Web development, has shown in galleries on the East Coast such as Cafe Ole Trenton, N.J., in New York's teneleven gallery and in the Art Whino Gallery in National Harbor, Md.
Jackel said Rainbow is a driving force behind the fourth annual graffiti jam. He and more than 50 graffiti artists from across the United States will decorate the walls of the factory.
"It's important to interact with the community so that they have more of an understanding. There are a lot of negative stigmas attached to urban art. That day, people get to know what a diverse group we are and know what we do. We want to be able to showcase our work and give back to the general arts community," Rainbow said.
See Rainbow's work at www.leonrainbow.com
