METUCHEN — To tie the old downtown with the new, the Metuchen Downtown Alliance (MDA) has brought in a superstar in the art realm — Stephen Powers, a contemporary American artist best known for his text-based conceptual works — to do just that.
“The MDA’s purpose is to bring passengers in and bring business into the community,” said Eric Berger, chairman of the MDA Board of Trustees. “In order to do that, we looked at public art as a means to bring the pieces of the downtown together, to make it one downtown instead of multiple downtowns.”
Berger said as a result, a public art team was formed to discuss possible ways to tie the old downtown of Main Street and New Street with the new towards Lake Avenue where Whole Foods Market is located.
Sharon Matt Atkins, a member of the public art team and a curator for the Brooklyn Museum, suggested Powers for the project. She said she met Powers when he did a show at the museum.
“When I was invited to be part of the public art team and [through conversations and discussions] I thought of Stephen Powers in terms of the way he creates these works that are very witty,” she said. “He pairs his images with very witty sayings that are very engaged and very playful, but also really speak to connections and connections between people as a way of creating these heartwarming presentations.”
Powers was born and raised in Philadelphia and moved to New York in the late 1990s. Atkins said his work in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York, eventually led to a business calling, ICY Signs, established in 2003, and has brought him all around the world.
“[Powers’] works are very Instagrammable, very catchy,” Atkins said. “They really get your attention because of the graphic quality.”
Powers presented his project to the community in various meetings in April and August, which MDA officials said was well received. The project includes various sayings that will be displayed on buildings, street corners and the parking garage throughout the downtown area.
Atkins presented Powers’ art project to the Borough Council on Sept. 4. The internationally-known artist began working his magic on Sept. 29 in an alley way on Main Street and will continue work through October.
Powers’ project will include the saying “Stay in Touch,” which will appear in an alley way on Main Street, and for a transition to New Street, Powers’ will paint “Revive,” “Review,” and “Repeat” on banners, which will align the street.
“[The project] speak to connections,” Atkins said. “I think that was one of the things that Steve really heard when he was here is the connection [not only] that people feel to the town, but also to each other.”
For the Apple Montessori School on Center Street, Powers will paint “Be Right Back” for the parents and guardians dropping off and picking up their children. For the Pearl Street Parking garage wall, Powers will paint “OMW” for “on my way” and “BRT” for “Be Right There,” as well as some pop drawings of little houses.
Atkins said Powers will also paint “At Last” near the train station for people coming back into the borough.
“[Steve] created a package of work that connects and pulls you through the [various] spaces, but also he created this emotional wayfinding as he has done with a number of other projects,” she said.
Councilwoman Allison Inserro said she found the art project amazing. She inquired about how the artwork would hold up over time with the exposure to the elements.
Atkins said Powers has done so many similar projects and has perfected the use of his paints and the finish he puts on the paints to withstand the elements. She said the words on the banners on New Street will be painted on parachute cloth, which has been used by many muralists on a regular basis.
“It will be very long lasting,” she said.
Isaac Kremer, executive director for the MDA, said public art is a line item in the MDA’s 2018 budget. He said funding supporting Powers’ work comes from the assessment district owners pay and additional funds from the borough.
Contact Kathy Chang at [email protected].