Mural Installation by Unbound Afterschool Class

What do you think of when you think of public art? A sculpture or mural on a building? What about a hopscotch chalk drawn onto the pavement or a temporary lemonade stand sign? This past spring, students from People’s Academy’s Unbound Afterschool program at River Arts pondered how art engages with our community when installed in public places.

In our first few classes, we explored how ordinary public spaces could be activated by public art and we discussed the difference between permanent installations and temporary public artworks. Perhaps you’ve already stopped by River Arts and witnessed the joy of our Tiny Clay Animals machine, an idea born from the joy of gift giving as an art form. It doesn’t matter if someone is young or old, receiving a tiny clay animal is a moment of wonder and joy. We’ve already seen over 200 tiny clay animals find their way to new homes in the pockets of community members. The Tiny Clay Animal Machine will travel around our downtown this summer to public events to interact with more people in our community at events like Wednesday Night Live at the Oxbow, Music on Main at the Gazebo on Main Street, and Movie Nights at the Library.

Building on our foundation of what is public art, student began planning our main project, a permanent sidewalk mural at the Morristown Centennial Library. Tying into the summer reading theme of ‘Oceans of Possibilities’, students brainstormed ways to create a sidewalk mural that would capture the color and texture of moving water. Students decided they wanted to have pools that passersby could look down. What do you find in ocean pools?

Our rough draft will be installed at the Morristown Post Office through the end of June and although students loved creating the sea life, when we began installing they made the decision that the color and texture of water was engaging enough without sea creatures.

Public art allows us to use a visual language to tell a message to our community members. There is a calm and complexity in the swirling blue of ocean spray and a wonder of possibilities in exploration. Thank you to all of the students who participated in helping to make this project possible.

-Lisa Wolfgang, Co-Director (Instructor for this Program)