The sidewalk celebration was classic Rodney Gilbert, Newark's impresario of art and culture, its guardian of creativity for murals and theater.

On Oct. 26, African dancers and drummers performed in front of his three-story brownstone on Spruce Street. Kenny Bobien, a House music legend, was there and belted out his 1997 hit, "You Are My Friend."

Gilbert was indeed a friend and much more for those who came for a public farewell and to acknowledge his work in the arts. Gravely ill, Gilbert was able to thank them for being in his life before he died Nov. 8th.

An actor, theater and film director, Gilbert fiercely promoted Newark's visual and performance artists, creating opportunities for them on stage and within the city's public art landscape.

"He was very much a champion looking for spaces for us to share our stories --making openings, throwing elbows, working his mojo'' said Chisa Hutchinson, a Newark playwright, whose work he has directed.

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As founder and chief executive officer of Yendor Productions, a Newark-based theater and consulting company in his basement, Gilbert made art accessible to Newark residents and surrounding urban communities. People of color, he believed, deserved to engage in the theatrical experience, to see themselves in art.

"He always talked about reaching the underrepresented and he wanted the murals to reflect that,'' said Jo-El Lopez, a Newark artist.

In a field where diversity is lacking, his colleagues said Gilbert pushed for inclusion of Latino and African-American artists on projects, showing them they could make it in the arts if they put in the work.

Gilbert certainly did. He gave everything he had to Newark before his fatal diagnosis - progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, a rare brain disease.

The city, numb and shaken from his death, is not ready for the celebration of his life to be over.

It continues today (Friday) as family, friends, and the artist community fill seats in Victoria Theater at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. The viewing is at 10 a.m., the funeral service begins at noon.

A Newark native, Gilbert's fingerprints are all over the city. Walk anywhere, especially its neighborhoods. He's responsible for half of the city's 50 murals through the Newark Mural Arts project, a city-sponsored program he's managed since 2009 by hiring artists under Yendor.

"Newark would not be where it is today with the arts were it not for Rodney Gilbert,'' said Jeremy Johnson, executive director of Newark Arts.

As much as he was known for murals, Gilbert's love for the arts started in theater, a gift he honed after graduating from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia in 1989. He would go on to have a 30-year career as a professional actor and director on stage, film and television. Gilbert, a leading teaching artists in the area, was in charge of the Newark Public Schools theater program. He used it to foster diversity for his students, co-creating a curriculum for the district's Advantage Arts program with the Drew University Theatre partnership. Newark students attended Drew in the summer to learn about theater and Drew students would come to Newark.

On the college campus, Gilbert was a popular assistant professor. He started teaching speech and introduction to acting and directing in the late 1990s, until he joined the faculty full time this fall.

"What set him apart was his level of intensity and rigor, pushing you to be better,'' said Nicolette Lynch, his former student, who is now an actress and co-manager of Yendor Productions.

From the streets to the corporate board rooms, he opened a lot of doors for artist in various leadership positions, including director of the Writers Theatre of New Jersey. There were stage readings at NJPAC and other venues. Any mural or theater projects that came to Newark, Gilbert made sure local artists were involved. And they had to get paid. He was a stickler for that.

"That's why people loved him so much,'' said Michele Morgan, a Yendor staff member and friend.

Oftentimes, he'd forgo a salary, doling out his cut to artist struggling with bills.

When seeking funding for programs, Gilbert became the voice advocating for minority artists. He wasn't afraid to use his platform and never shied away from it, said Chris Daggett, president and chief executive officer of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, which has funded his work.

"If we're really going to make organizations of color have an impact and get some presence and build some capacity, they need the kind of funding that foundations and individuals can provide,'' Daggett said.

Gilbert was serious about that, but on a lighter side, he looked fabulous getting his point across. His high end casual style had everyone waiting to see what he'd wear. It could be a drop-dead gorgeous fur coat draped over leopard patterned shoes; a captain jacket with an ascot and pocket square that blossomed like a flower; or a regal African ensemble, complete with headdress.

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His fashion swag came from his mother Camilla Gilbert, who talked about his penchant for dress at age 5. She bought him a plaid, red and blue suit for his kindergarten graduation. Instead of a solid colored bow-tie that she suggested, he picked a blue bow-tie with white polka dots.

"It was a hit,' his mother she said, laughing.

As an adult, Gilbert was cosmopolitan, high energy, down to earth and eccentric. His company, Yendor, is his first name spelled backwards. He didn't drive, opting for Uber or public transportation. He loved his Newark people, always stopping to greet folks.

This time, a steady stream of friends gathered Oct. 26 for his last-minute Facebook request: "Come help me celebrate life, love and happiness,'' he wrote.

"People usually don't get that until their death, but he was able to do that before,'' said Kim Gilchrist, his close friend, who is more like a sister since their freshman year at Newark's Arts High School. "He wanted to celebrate his life. And that we did.''

Some waited in the foyer. Some gave video testimonials outside. Among the crowd were artists philanthropists, educators and Mayor Ras Baraka, who, in a video testimonial, said: "The whole renaissance in this city couldn't be the way it is without you.''

They clapped as Bobien sang. They danced, too. They called Gilbert's name.

"We love you Rodney."

Overcome with emotion, Gilbert heard the people from the front room, where he sat on a lounge chair, his two favorite pictures hanging on the wall. One is of Diana Ross, his idol, whom he emulated.

In the second photograph, he's 10 years old. It appeared with a story about him, his mother said, in The Star-Ledger in 1977.

It was his first role as a young actor in the play, "A Raisin in The Sun.''

And the sun is where he stayed.

Barry Carter: (973) 836-4925 or bcarter@starledger.com or

nj.com/carter or follow him on Twitter @BarryCarterSL