FREEHOLD — Community members have rallied to support the Freehold Borough Arts Council (FBAC) following the destruction of a mural FBAC commissioned and had painted on a building at the corner of East Main and Spring streets.
The artwork depicted important people, historic buildings and events in Freehold Borough. The mural was in place at the site of a former gas station for about one month.
The property is at the center of a development application that is before the Freehold Borough Land Use Board.
In mid-December the owner of the property removed sections of the mural that had been painted on wood panels and attached to a building at the site. On Jan. 6 the property owner had the remainder of the mural painted over.
FBAC officials and residents were shocked to see the mural destroyed.
On Jan. 10, Freehold Borough police Sgt. Michael Sweetman noticed that the wood panels containing sections of the mural were inside the building at the site. Sweetman helped broker an agreement between the property owner and the FBAC that helped the council regain possession of those sections of the mural.
FBAC President Neal Girandola praised Sweetman’s initiative and effort.
Many residents have expressed outrage and sadness at the destruction of what they had come to regard as something wonderful for their town. About 40 people went to the corner of East Main and Spring streets on Jan. 8 to protest the destruction of the mural.
The property owner is in the process of re-establishing a gas station at the site.
FBAC members were surprised, upset and outraged, according to Girandola, when they saw the mural being painted over without any notification. He said an agreement to give the FBAC 30 days’ notice before anything would be done to the mural was not honored by the property owner.
FBAC members held a special meeting on Jan. 9 to discuss how to proceed. Girandola said the council decided to reserve a decision about possible legal action until after a Jan. 25 land use board meeting regarding the property.
The community has been very supportive of the mural project from the beginning, according to Girandola, who said many people want to support the FBAC.
On Jan. 14 the local band Mission Dance played a show at the American Hotel and some of the proceeds were expected to be donated to the arts council.
Old Monmouth Candies on Park Avenue has created candy bar wrapping that shows images of the mural. A portion of the candy sales with the special wrapping will be donated to the arts council.
The Court Jester on Main Street will hold a fundraiser for the FBAC, the second annual “Eat for theArts,” on Jan. 24 beginning at 5 p.m.
Girandola said people can download a coupon from the FBAC website or on Facebook, present the coupon to their server at the Court Jester and 10 percent of their check will be donated to the FBAC. Singerguitarist Astronaut Jones will entertain.
For more information, visit the website www.fbartscouncil.blogspot.com.
Girandola said FBAC is working to raise funds for another mural project. He said a comment made by Mayor Nolan Higgins to the effect that FBAC proved a mural would be welcome in Freehold Borough indicates to the arts council members that they should keep going with their plan.
“And with the lessons we’ve learned, that mural will not be going anywhere,” he said.