Today, NJ TRANSIT and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts announced the latest installment of The TRANSITional Art Project, a temporary public art partnership between the agencies that selects artists for visual exhibition.
“The Trenton Transit Center is a hub for commuters in Central Jersey, so it’s only appropriate that it be adorned with original art created by artists from the same area,” said NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kevin Corbett.
“The New Jersey State Council on the Arts has been a great partner in bringing this unique experience to our customers in a way that we hope makes their travel more enjoyable and illuminating.”
According to NJ TRANSIT, the exhibition entitled ‘Moving Ahead’ will launch at Trenton Transit Center today and will run from September to November 2021.
The exhibition will include a 2D Art Banner system, vinyl murals located at the East and South Bus Stops, and a re-envisioned bike rack sculptural installation.
Selected artists receive stipends from The TRANSITional Art Project to help offset the costs of developing and installing their projects.
“We are thrilled to be hosting the TRANSITional Arts project in partnership with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts,” said NJ TRANSIT Assistant Director of Facility Signage and Transit Arts Christine Blanco.
“The exhibition is, we hope, one that will make the commuting experience more enlightening and inspiring for our customers.”
“The TRANSITional Art Program with NJ TRANSIT is an exciting opportunity to showcase New Jersey’s artists in a new way,” said New Jersey State Council on the Arts Director of Artist Services, Danielle Bursk.
“We are proud to help connect NJ TRANSIT riders and the people of Central New Jersey with new art experiences. We’re very excited about this partnership and the opportunities it provides to artists and to the community.”
The goals of this program are to connect NJ TRANSIT customers and the Trenton community with new and exciting experiences in their daily lives and to provide New Jersey artists both exhibition opportunities and a supportive experience creating public art in transit spaces, say NJ TRANSIT officials.
NJ TRANSIT and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts intend to continue providing new art exhibitions at Trenton Transit Station in the future and expand to other stations throughout the state.
Artists selected for this TRANSITional Art Project installation include Chee Bravo, Laura Beard, Leon Rainbow, Liz Amaral, Raphael Ogoe and Wills Kinsley.
The Trenton TRANSITional Art Project coordinated efforts with ARTWORKS, a local nonprofit arts organization, and their program entitled ‘Stepping Into Tomorrow’ to beautify the Wallenberg Avenue intersection with crosswalk art, in front of the Trenton Transit Center.
ARTWORKS received funding for this effort through corporate and foundation sponsors and has commissioned Artist George Bates for the crosswalk art; scheduled installation is for September 4th.
According to NJ TRANSIT, it is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing more than 925,000 weekday trips on 253 bus routes, three light rail lines, 12 commuter rail lines, and through Access Link paratransit service.
It is the third-largest transit system in the country with 166 rail stations, 62 light rail stations, and more than 18,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York, and Philadelphia.
IMAGE CREDIT: NJ TRANSIT