By Sally Deering

 Photos by Fermín Mendoza

You can see it from Rt. 139 feeding into the Holland Tunnel or catch it from downtown Jersey City as you head into Hoboken. David Bowieâ€s image 18-stories high on the side of the Cast Iron Lofts in Jersey City, painted by international muralist Eduardo Kobra.  Bowie passed-away January 10^th of this year, but his music and artistry live on throughout the world; and Kobraâ€s mural is now part of the Jersey City landscape, an urban landmark and the latest addition to the Jersey City Mural Arts Program.

On Fri, Nov. 4, Mayor Steven M. Fulop, members of the City Council, local real estate developers, and local artists welcomed Kobra to Jersey City and thanked him for painting the dazzling, eye-catching image of David Bowie. Mayor Fulop held the press conference on the buildingâ€s 5^th floor deck where visitors could get an up-close look at the mural, and meet and take pictures with Kobra who spent the past few weeks painting from a scaffold hanging 180-feet off the side of the Cast Iron Lofts hi-rise on Jersey Avenue.  

The Mural Arts Program which links established and emerging local, national and international mural artists with property owners city-wide is part of a beautification project to reduce graffiti and engage local residents. Murals are painted on walls throughout Jersey City, turning Jersey City into a public art gallery. According to Mayor Fulop, public art is a shared experience.

“Iâ€m a believer in public art,” Mayor Fulop told the crowd. “If you look at every period of time, public art is a reflection of whatâ€s happening during that time. Itâ€s symbolic of the times we live in. Iâ€m proud of what weâ€re doing. Jersey City is a thriving art community, and a welcoming community.”

Real estate developer Paul Silverman of Silverman Properties in Jersey City, attended the event. Silverman, who owns several properties in Jersey City, said having artists paint murals on buildings enhances the aesthetics of Jersey Cityâ€s architecture and brightens up the vibes in the neighborhood.

“A mural brings attention and discussion,” Silverman said. “It improves the buildingâ€s value and it helps make people proud. It changes your feelings about a neighborhood.”

 “I think itâ€s awesome,” local muralist 4Sakn of Jersey City said. “The scale and the colors. The geometric shapes mixed with realism.”

4Sakn sees the mural of David Bowie as a tribute to Bowieâ€s influence on the music industry. He said, “Itâ€s a memorial to Bowie and all the music he created.”

Kobraâ€s fame as a mural artist is as international as his mural projects. He just earned entry into the Guinness Book of World Records for the “largest spray paint mural by a team” for his “Ethnicities” mural featuring five faces from five continents painted outside the Rio 2016 Olympic stadium. Working with a four-person crew, Kobraâ€s murals enhance the landscape of many major cities throughout the world including London, Athens, Lyon, Los Angeles and New York.

Kobra, who is Brazilian and spoke through an interpreter, was asked why he chose an image of David Bowie to paint on the Cast Iron Lofts.

“I wanted to paint David Bowie because he is an icon and I wanted to represent his life to all of his fans,” Kobra told the assembled guests. He mentioned how thrilled he was to be in Jersey City and how an early visit to New York City when he was a boy helped shape his love of art.

“When I was 12, I was inspired by New York artists,” Kobra said. “Thatâ€s what made me who I am today. I have enjoyed working on this project. Itâ€s been a privilege and honor to be here.”

Artists John Ruddy and John Falcon are the curators of the Jersey City Artist Studio Tourâ€s gallery on the first floor of the Cast Iron Lofts building. Ruddy said Kobraâ€s mural of David Bowie stretches the limits of identity and creativity.

“An icon like David Bowie is a local hero in the spiritual sense,” Ruddy said.

“Itâ€s timely,” Falcon said, “and to have someone on the level of Kobra is great. Heâ€s painted one of the biggest murals in the world.”

Falcon said the Murals Project has established Jersey City as an art city.

“Art helps maintain Jersey City as an art-centric city,” Falcon said. “I hope a lot of other developers finance and pay local and international artists to work.”

Anne Novado, who is soon opening the Novado Gallery on Morgan Street in Jersey City, compared the mural to one of the ancient wonders of the world.

 “Its great energy,” Novado said. “Itâ€s a wonderful interpretation of David Bowie. By the scale of the piece, I would compare it to the Pyramids of Egypt.”

For more info on the

Mural Arts Project, go to

www.jerseycityculture.org

 

For more info on Kobra, go to

www.eduardokobra.com

 

 

The post KOBRA & BOWIE Int’l Muralist KOBRA paints 18-story David Bowie in Jersey City first appeared on River View Observer.

The post JC Artists Studio Tour Saturday, October 5th first appeared on River View Observer.

Here is another example -more to come

The post The Art of Hudson County first appeared on River View Observer.

On Wednesday, May 12, Hudson County Community College’s Fine Art Department and the Office of Student Activities held an unveiling ceremony of a 4′ x 18′ mural painted specifically for the Student Lounge at 25 Journal Square.

 In addition to the mural reception, the Fine Art Department had the students’ works on view in the Student Art Gallery on the fourth floor at 25 Journal Square.

 Pictured are Laurie Riccadonna (third from left), Coordinator of the Fine Art program, and College students who participated in the production of the mural during the spring semester.

The post HCCC Art Student-Produced Mural Unveiled at 25 Journal Square’s Student Lounge first appeared on River View Observer.

Carl Ellis was born and raised in Erie Pennsylvania and earned his BFA in photography, at Edinboro University in 1991. He moved to New York City in 1992.

Camera in hand, he had hopes of becoming a commercial photographer.

He began his professional career at a pre-press house in New York City where he learned the commercial aspects of the industry: from duping film, to account management, and everything in between; including managing a commercial photography studio.

Through this experience he soon realized Commercial Photography was not for him. He now manages the retouching department at one of New York City’s largest advertising agencies, and keeps photography on a more personal level.

Carl focuses on the Natural World, but doesn’t limit himself to Mother Nature. Most of his work is considered abstract or contemporary. His shooting style combines vivid color, motion, and blur. Rarely using a flash, he prefers natural or existing light.

In addition to his fine art work, Carl recently began exploring the many possibilities of shooting for NGO’s.

On a volunteer basis, he will travel and shoot, handing his work over at the end of each assignment. After his first trip to Uganda, he certainly hopes to continue this work in the future.

Carl exhibits his work whenever the opportunity presents itself.

The post Art Views- The Fine Art of Carl Ellis first appeared on River View Observer.

By Evelyn Bonilla

 Emerging new artist John Marto aka “Johnny Pens” is unique and very talented; his ability to create cartoon drawings with the use of color pens is amazing as it is impressive. An artist in the downtown Jersey City area, Pens, inception into his art began by making small circles and lines on regular paper. As Pens recalls it, it began as just simple doodling on the Path train, but later turned into an assortment of cartoon characters.

He went from drawing on the Path train to drawing in front of his home, which would soon gather an audience of children as well as adults; they would stop in front of his home during the summer to view him as he drew. Pens began to sketch these lively cartoon characters on manila folders, and with each drawing he captured more and more detail. Framed and displayed they are artistry at its finest.

Never without his pens, has he drawn on an average of 10 hours a day. He has surmised a total of 30 paintings in one year and counting. Each drawing is unique and some when observed feature a message, with a majority that is love inspired. His drawings have attracted many and he is petitioned daily to create special cartoon characters for special occasions. Not only does he draw the cartoon, but he also adds poetry and prose to the drawing, making it an extra-special gift for whoever is to receive it.

Some of the things he has been asked to draw are clowns and baseball players which are drawn in his special cartoon form. Most recently Pens has begun to transform his artwork on to canvas with the use of oils.

Asked how he received his name Johnny Pens, he explained he always has drawn with colored pens, so his good friend Carla Anderson, from Balance-Salon for Hair in Jersey City named him none other than “Johnny Pens”.

Inspired by people he believes as an artist he is paid twice; once by seeing the end product and the other by watching the faces of the people who buy his art.”

Looking forward Jersey City can be proud to have such a talented artist, and as the future unfolds we look forward to the wonderful creations of this new emerging artist called “Johnny Pens”.

If you’re interested in viewing the artwork of “Johnny Pens” make a stop at Balance-Salon for Hair on 18 Erie Street, in Jersey City where they are on displayed. They can also be viewed on a video created by Carla Anderson. Log on to www.vimeo.com and select Johnny Pens.

Or visit his facebook page

The post Art Views- Emerging Artist Johnny Pens first appeared on River View Observer.

 Opening Reception: Friday, January 15, 2010. 6-8 p.m. Free.

 

Off-site Location:
The Majestic Theatre Condominiums
222 Montgomery St.
Jersey City, NJ 07302
Phone: 201.435.8000

www.majesticjerseycity.com

 

“Jersey City-the places, the stuff, the subject matter-is expanding like helicopters that fly a little too low, could be nothing or big trouble, a spectacle along with the everyday sublime.” – Tim Daly

 

Jersey City Museum and The Majestic Theatre Condominiums are pleased to present Tim Daly: Here and Away, an exhibition featuring a new series of paintings and drawings by renowned New Jersey artist Tim Daly. Daly is in known for painting Jersey City, the Meadowlands, and its immediate environs. He says, “The oddness of the New Jersey landscape has been what draws me.” However, in this exhibition, he expands his range of vision to include areas around Dover Air Force Base in Delaware and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in Southern California.

 

An opening reception for Here and Now will take place on Friday, January 15, 6-8 p.m. Wine and light refreshments will be served. The event is free and open to the public. The exhibition will be on view by appointment at The Majestic Theater Condominiums through April 1, 2010. To view, please contact The Majestic management office at 201.435.8023.  Here and Away is guest curated by Brendan Carroll. More information about the artist’s work can be found at www.timdalypainting.com.

 

JCM @ features selected artworks and exhibitions curated by the Jersey City Museum and on view throughout the community.

 

Founded in 1901, the Jersey City Museum is the major presenter of contemporary art serving the people of Jersey City, Hudson County and the region.  The museum organizes many group and solo exhibitions every year, featuring works by culturally diverse, contemporary artists and from its 10,000-piece collection of regional significant art and historical objects. Through exhibitions, educational initiatives and programs, the museum welcomes over 25,000 visitors each year, including 11,000 school-aged children and youth.

 

Jersey City Museum’s gallery hours are Wednesday through Friday from 11am to 5pm and Saturdays from 12pm to 5pm. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and students, and free for children under 12 and museum members. Admission is free for all on Saturdays at part of Target Free Saturdays. Jersey City Museum is located at 350 Montgomery Street at Monmouth in the Historic Downtown District of Jersey City, within walking distance of the Grove Street PATH and Jersey Avenue Light Rail stations.  For more information, visit www.jerseycitymuseum.org or call 201-413-0303.

 

The post Jersey City Museum @ The Majestic presents Tim Daly: Here and Now first appeared on River View Observer.

Here are over 100 such designs from 13 remarkle artists. Some of these designs can be located in museums and also in various  exhibitions within the world.  PAPER ART 

 

The post 13 Remarkle Artists and their 100 Extraordinary Paper Art Designs first appeared on River View Observer.