The Exchange Place Alliance recently acquired their first sculpture for permanent display on the Jersey City waterfront, “Adorn Me” by Tanda Francis.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“I am thrilled by the permanent placement of Adorn Me in Exchange Place. Maintaining the sculpture at its current location became my goal especially after learning of the connection of this waterfront as a major hub of the Underground Railroad,” Francis said in a statement.
“It honors our community and my vision of the sculpture serving as a symbol of visibility and historical remembrance.”
Made from concrete and steel, Adorn Me, along with other sculptural works by Francis, is inspired by the Ife Heads of Benin from the 13th century and Victorian colonial ornamentation.
The Ife Heads were used to represent spiritual or royal figures during ritualistic and spiritual ceremonies. The particular feature of many Ife sculptures is their representation of scarification, hence the deep marks through the face.
Adorn Me has been displayed at the Liberty Terrace Condos in Paulus Hook since 2019 as part of the Alliance’s waterfront public art program and walking tour.
While many of the artists in the alliance’s public art program are from Jersey City, many are also from around the world, according to Jersey City’s Office of Cultural Affairs.
“It is a strong statement to the community that Exchange Place Alliance’s first art purchase is one made by a woman of color who recognizes the importance of Jersey City’s diversity and history as the Golden Door for immigration as well as a key part of the Underground Railroad. I’m excited Adorn Me is now a permanent part of our city,” added Council President Joyce Watterman, who sits on the EPA board.
“The alliance is dedicated to featuring public art to help create a sense of community in the Exchange Place neighborhood. We have over a dozen installations currently on display and are excited to have made Tanda’s Adorn Me our very first purchase,” noted EPA spokeswoman Elizabeth Cain.
Francis is a Brooklyn-based artist with a primary focus of creating monumental African heads and masks for public and personal spaces.
She is inspired by ancient customs and rituals as a significant means of understanding and addressing our contemporary condition. She uses her work to activate a dialog of universal origin which crosses cultural barriers.
Levings Vander Voort, a woman-owned art advisory firm based in New York City, arranged the acquisition of Adorn Me.
Co-founders Courtney Levings and Devon Vander Voort have been working closely with Francis over the last several months to find a permanent home for the sculpture.
“At Levings Vander Voort, we work strategically when placing artwork, thinking about what the audience will be and what kinds of impact we can make. We are so grateful to Elizabeth and Martin Schmid at Exchange Place Alliance who have worked with us the past few months to support Tanda and her work,” stated Vander Voort.
“Adorn Me’s placement now opens the doors for community dialogue and public programming surrounding the sculpture and other public works in the area. We can’t wait to see how these opportunities develop and are excited to be a part of the process,” Levings said.
