(above) Jennifer Kaplan of the Public Arts Council, David Hill of the Mural Steering Committee, and Jason from Dreyer’s Lumber & Hardware preparing for the second mural.
Chatham Borough Begins Installing a Second Mural
The Public Arts Council of Chatham Borough (PAC) plans to install a second mural at the Washington Avenue underpass. It will be designed as a sister mural to the existing Fairmount Mural. Like the Fairmount Mural, the Washington Mural will educate observers about our history, showcase our contemporary culture, and unify our identity as Chatham residents.
(above) Jennifer Kaplan of the Public Arts Council and David Ferguson of Village Hardware & Paint getting mural supplies.
“The community response to our Fairmount Mural has been overwhelmingly positive,” says Jennifer Kaplan, project manager and PAC founder. “Two coordinating murals that symmetrically straddle the train station will create a cohesive mural experience in our town.”
The PAC received material donations from two organizations well-known for serving the Chatham community: Dreyer’s Lumber & Hardware, located at 20 Watchung Avenue, and Village Hardware & Paint, located at 223 Main Street. The project also received seed funding from the Woman’s Club of Chatham and the Chatham Jaycees.
Kenji Hasegawa, the lead artist of the celebrated Fairmount Mural, has agreed to stay on, which will ensure aesthetic congruence between the two murals. Jennifer Kaplan and Dawn Paruta serve as project managers. Walter Vargas of Walter’s Homecrafters, located at 37 Commerce Street, will work as lead carpenter. Jim Greener, Helen Ann Rosenfeld, David Hill, Vicki Fife, and Joanna Siauw serve on the Mural Steering Committee. Community volunteers will help paint once painting commences.
The PAC’s mission is to enhance the public spaces of Chatham Borough through the arts. Since its inception, the PAC has played a major role in the artistic transformation of our community by overseeing the Fairmount Mural, Green Takes Back Gray (the painting of traffic control boxes), three sculptures, the Commuter’s Oasis, visual art exhibits, and community events.
For more information, please refer to the Public Arts Council’s webpage under Advisory Committees at Chatham Borough’s website.
West Wall – Right side panel
(above) West Wall – Left side panel
(above) East Wall.
