New South Orange Development Calls for Artists to Contribute Murals

The developers of South Orange's new luxury apartments and retail space are calling all artists to submit proposals for murals for a wall along the nearby NJ Transit rail fence.

EEA Industries, Inc. (EEA), developer of the new Gateway South Orange, and the South Orange Village Center Alliance (SOVCA), have announced The Gateway South Orange Mural Project.

The Gateway is a new mixed-used development in South Orange featuring 57 luxury apartments and 9,100 square feet of retail space that is scheduled to open in September.

The wall that will house these murals faces the new development. 

“We are thrilled to partner with EEA on this new mural project,” said Bob Zuckerman, SOVCA executive director. “These murals are intended to beautify this space and will be a real amenity, not only for the residents of the Gateway, but also for the shoppers and diners who will frequent their new retail spaces and the general public who will be able to see these murals from the Cameron Field tennis courts and playground area.”

Ed Ayuso, principal of EEA and SOVCA’s treasurer, stated “this mural project will bring public art to our South Orange Village Center which will add color, character and real vibrancy to what are now just plain, lifeless walls.  I can’t wait to see what artists from South Orange and around the area will propose for these walls, and I’m looking forward to seeing some great art in the Gateway when it opens in September.”

Sandy Martiny, director of Cultural Affairs for the Baird, was also instrumental in helping the team come up with the parameters for the mural project, and she will sit on the committee that will judge the winning proposals.  Other members of the committee will be Ayuso, Zuckerman, Mark Packer, SOPAC executive director, Village President Alex Torpey and Mary Cunningham, curator of the Summit Art Center.

The team is using ArtHere.org as the platform for artists to submit proposals, and ArtHere has set up a website just for this project (southorange.arthere.org.)  All proposals must be submitted through the local ArtHere site.

Proposals can come from local and regional artists and artist teams, and all murals must incorporate the “theme” of South Orange.  There are 12 individual mural panels, and each artist and/or team can submit one or more proposal.  Artists and/or teams will be paid $1,500 per mural, and painting supplies and a lift for painting will be provided.  

The deadline for submitting proposals is July 31. Artists will be notified the week of Aug. 4. Production of the murals will commence the week of Aug. 11 and work will be completed by Sept. 15.

For more details about submitting proposals, visit the website at southorange.arthere.org. You can learn more about SOVCA at SOVillageCenter.org.