Community Corner

Sculpture Loan Extended Once More

The Public Arts Advisory Council works with The Sculpture Foundation to keep art on display in Chatham's downtown.

residents can look forward to another year of public art, thanks to an agreement with The Sculpture Foundation.

The foundation and the borough's Public Arts Advisory Council have agreed to of three bronze sculptures: and both by Seward Johnson, and "Crescent" by Richard Jolley.

Jen Kaplan of the Public Arts Advisory Council said "we're absolutely thrilled. The arrangement has just been good for everyone. We get continuous positive feedback, and the children just love it."

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, "and it felt like there was an undercurrent of interest." So along with other volunteers from the community, she founded the Public Arts Advisory Council in 2008. The council relies on donors to such art to Chatham's downtown, where residents, commuters and motorists can appreciate it.

"Attic Trophy," which depicts a young girl playing with a hula hoop, was first installed next to the in 2009, thanks to a loan from The Sculpture Foundation, a grant from and a donation from of moving services. The sculpture helped Chatham Borough win the 2009 Morris County McFlower Award, and the award plaque is still displayed in front of the library.

Find out what's happening in Chathamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In 2010, a grant from HSBC Bank made the installations of "The Search" and "Crescent" possible. Again, Westy donated moving services. "Crescent" is currently located in the Commuter's Oasis in the parking lot of the .

"The Search" was originally located in the park behind the library and adjacent to North Hillside Avenue. In August 2011, Kaplan coordinated its relocation to the front of the library along Main Street.

The Sculpture Foundation, Kaplan said, was "thrilled to let us have the sculptures," despite that caused some damage to "Attic Trophy." "They give a lot of sculptures to [different] towns, and unfortunately this isn't the first time this has happened," Kaplan said. "At the time this didn't look like a malicious act. The Sculpture Foundation, I think they recognize that."

The California-based nonprofit The Sculpture Foundation encourages the placement and sharing of art in the public realm. Paula Stoeke, the director of The Sculpture Foundation, said, "Any placement of art in a park or along the streets brings the gift of inspiration and visual stimulation. We celebrate Chatham Borough’s Public Arts [Advisory] Council’s commitment to the arts and encourage everyone to come down to visit the sculptures.”

Train Mural

The Public Arts Advisory Council's next major project, which Kaplan is "particularly excited about," is a mural for the railroad underpass along Fairmount Avenue.

According to Kaplan, the council is currently finalizing the images for the mural. "We developed a community council to advise us as we approach the final stages," Kaplan said.

Kenji Hasegawa, who teaches art at and , will be the primary artist for the project. "He's familiar with our community, he's an experienced muralist and a fantastic artist," Kaplan said.

Once the council gets permission from the Chatham Borough Council and New Jersey Transit, painting will begin. Hasegawa and several volunteers will do the painting. The process is likely to take several months.

"It's an exciting time to get involved," Kaplan said.


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