Hoboken officials, the Hoboken Business Alliance (HBA), and the Hoboken Arts Advisory Committee unveiled a new, five-story tall mural at Garage B this morning.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
The City of Hoboken, the Hoboken Arts Advisory Committee, and the HBA partnered to bring the mural inspired by color theory and matters of the heart to the western facade of Garage B, located on Hudson Street south of Second Street.
“What was here before was a dull, very unappealing, gray, just chipped facade. It adds some real pop, so when you pass by, you notice: that creates vibrancy,” Mayor Ravi Bhalla stated at the press conference.
He argued public art was good for “revitalization, bringing people together, supporting small businesses, and making the community stronger and more resilient.”
Bhalla also explained that this is the first completed project following a 2018 executive order he signed that dedicated one percent of all bonding for public art.
The artist, Michelle Hoogveld, is world-renowned and has completed murals in Mexico, Peru, and Germany.
“It’s about bringing this idea of love into this space. It’s like bringing this soul, this passion, this light, through layers … into what you see as a heart. To me, that’s love,” she explained.
“I like to bring colors that evoke emotions of happiness and joy and positivity and light and ultimately radiance in the space. They have seen my work before, and often in my work, it emphasizes this heart formation. It was definitely unique compared to other walls.”
Hoboken Arts Advisory Committee Chair Jon Vesey said Garage B was a prime location for an art project such as this one.
He explained that Bhalla sought for the HBA to coordinate with the Hoboken Arts Advisory Committee as a source of funding. The commission first came up with the location as a place suitable for a mural in 2019 following a survey.
“It’s 13,500 square feet, mid-century modern …. seemed visually ideal but posed many challenges,” Vesey said
He continued that the mural is actually made of over 200 bent steel panels. In addition, it spans a 220-foot city block and is 60 feet high and a block from the Hudson River, where strong wind gusts are common.
Hoboken Business Alliance President James Runkle said it is a “place that says welcome to Hoboken, a place that encourages residents and visitors to come to Hoboken, dine in Hoboken, and support our business community.”
“Every vibrant community appreciates an art mural. Everything that helps elevates our town helps elevate our town businesses.”
Runkle also praised the work of HBA Executive Director Roxanne Earley, who could not attend since she is on her honeymoon.
“A city is defined by the art it brings. Its soul is defined by its art, and I just feel like a lot more food for the soul has come to Hoboken,” Bhalla said.
5th Ward Councilman Phil Cohen noted he sits on the HBA board as a member of the city council.
“The Business Alliance is so enthusiastic about this project. It was not a very special parking garage. In fact, it was a very much maligned parking garage,” he said.
“A lot of people are going to be coming to downtown Hoboken and parking in this garage… and they’re going to see it for themselves, this speculator world-class art installation. Congratulations to her team. There are a lot of holes in that wall. It was an extraordinarily challenging installation.”
The garage mural is in 1st Ward Councilman Mike De Fusco’s district and he praised it as a welcome change for downtown residents.
“It’s beyond beautiful. The state of the garage was accurately described by my colleague. To me, what it stands for is the essence of creativity and collaboration. Art, to me, is something that brings us together. It does take a village to do something like this, but in a good way.”
Furthermore, Bhalla noted 6th Ward Councilwoman Jen Giattino sits on the Hoboken Arts Advisory Committee.
“It definitely takes a village. Hoboken, today because of our village, has this. Thank you, Michelle, so much. It’s amazing. I just think we have amazing things to come,” she stated.