Photo courtesy of Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates Inc.
Hoboken has been a hub for artists and families alike for years with its murals, painted utility boxes and the well known Pier A that holds its annual “Movie Under The Stars” event that happens every summer.
Hoboken piers are one of the cities main attractions as it provides walkways alongside the Hudson River and recreational areas like a playground, soccer field, courts and green spaces.
Over the past three months, the Hoboken Art administration and the city have been debating whether or not to add a new sculpture to Pier C. This sculpture will cost the city over $500,000 to build with addition of up-keep. Some are excited for a potential sculpture, others are concerned.
One of the groups opposed to the sculpture is the Fund For A Better Waterfront, a group created in 1990 that believes that the waterfront belongs to the residents of New Jersey. They have helped with planning and advocacy for the waterfront.
In a letter by its founder Ron Hine, he expresses multiple issues that can arise from the proposal. One of the concerns that the group has are the possibility of storm surges taking the sculpture down.
“The powerful storm surge that occurred during Superstorm Sandy washed over Pier C, devastating the park that had to be completely rebuilt from the deck up. It is not clear how these steel and glass arches would be attached to the deck of the fishing pier,” said Hine in the letter.
At a meeting in May with the Hoboken City Council, they also expressed similar concerns about Pier C.
“I’ve seen people sit on the top … or jump in the river. Have they looked at anything that would stop something from happening?” asked Councilman Paul Presinzano.
In the meeting, the art administration argues that with precautions, the statue and other pieces of art will help the community.
“We spent many, many months vetting artists … Art brings in revenue,” said Liz Ndoye, who is a part of the Hoboken Art administration.
At the end of the council meeting, they ended up not approving the piece, but they are currently in the middle of approving two new pieces with cultural and historical significance.
The administration wants to add a statue of LGBTQ icon Marsha P. Johnson who was a resident of Hoboken for 12 years and was pinnacle in the stonewall uprising in 1969.
“She’s one of the most famous figures to come out of Hoboken in recent memory,” said LGBT Historian Delvin Camp.
This statue is estimated to cost $250,000.
Other Art Projects In Hoboken
The city is also in the process of approving a mural that will be displayed at City Hall titled “Layers,” the goal of the piece is to show the beauty of everyday life. This project is estimated to cost $11,600.
The total cost of the projects would be over $700,000 adding additional cost to a city that is currently going through construction with the PATH and City Hall.
“If approved, these projects will be the latest step the City has taken to grow public art. Recently, the City completed a Public Art Master Plan designed to provide a strategic framework for the management, expansion, and maintenance of public art which includes an inventory of public art assets, a needs and priority assessment, and strategies to enhance public art,” Marilyn Baer, the communications manager for the Cities Cultural Affairs, told Slice of Culture.
In recent years, Hoboken has held free public studio tours in order to support local artists all over the city with the help of the Hoboken Business alliance.
Ultimately the city decided to not approve the funding for the sculpture that would have occupied Pier C. Instead the city has decided to put their funds to the two pieces—the Marsha P. Johnson statue and “Layers”—that are going to be built in Hoboken.
