Hoboken officials hear public support, questions for mural at Seventh and Jackson Resliency Park

Annie McAdams, public art administrator for Hoboken Cultural Affairs, presented a proposal to commission a community mural by Emily Strauss of Mural Painters Inc. for the fence along the east perimeter of Seventh and Jackson Resiliency Park, asking the council to allocate $75,925 from the city’s public art bond to cover the work.

The proposal includes community-based design work with Hoboken children enrolled in the summer mural arts program and an artist-led collaboration process. McAdams said the mural would cover roughly 2,025 square feet across 45 panels nine feet high and would be completed in summer 2025 if approved. “The content and execution of the mural will be created in collaboration with students who are participating in the summer mural arts program offered through Hoboken Cultural Affairs,” McAdams said.

The Hoboken Arts Advisory Committee recommended the location. McAdams cited two executive actions that support the program: an executive order establishing a 1% for public art funding mechanism and an advisory committee to the mayor and city administration that recommends public art projects. She said the project would not depict a specific historical event, but “will reflect the people who live and work on the West Side of Hoboken.”

Supporters at the public hearing said the mural would activate an underused part of the city and provide educational opportunities. “It is especially wonderful because this will be a communal project created by a local artist while working with Hoboken children,” said Liz Endoy, a member of the Hoboken Arts Advisory Committee. Chris O’Connor, a former chair of the Arts Advisory Committee, said maintenance funds exist in the public art program and noted that “this art has to last for at least five years” under the executive order that created the program.

Several members of the public and council asked process and maintenance questions. Resident Manuel Rivera Soler asked whether the mural’s useful life of 10–15 years means it will begin fading after that period, and whether the city will need to fund future restoration. McAdams said the quoted useful life was 10–15 years and that priming and a top coat are included; she also said the quote includes a coating to allow cleaning of graffiti. Councilwoman Fisher asked whether the teaching time for students was included in the artist fee; McAdams said instruction will be paid from Cultural Affairs’ summer program budget and that the artist will be paid the same rate as other teaching staff ($80 per session, four sessions = $320).

The council closed the public hearing on the mural and discussed the project’s next steps; McAdams said the artist’s final design would be developed with students and then submitted to the administration and city council for final approval before painting begins. No final funding or commissioning motion was recorded in the meeting minutes for that night.

If approved in a future vote, the project budget breakdown presented to the council included a professional mural cost at $35 per square foot for approximately 4,500 square feet (totaling $70,875), priming and top coat at $4,050, and $1,000 for design services. McAdams said the mural’s useful life is 10–15 years and that Mural Painters Inc. has national experience; she also noted prior local work by the artist at the Mission 50 building on Harrison and Jackson.

The council and administration will have final approval of the design before painting commences; the public comment period on the item closed at the meeting.