Greetings from Summit Public Art! Our mission is to enrich and inspire our community by bringing art to public spaces in Summit. We hope you'll find something here to pique your interest and help you see the art around town with fresh eyes. Thank you for supporting public art in our community!
Above: Andrew Light's "Anomie Exquisite" on the Village Green
|
|
A Sense of Home
“It's an artist's duty to reflect the times."
–Nina Simone
|
|
With 2020 finally behind us, Summit Public Art has been working through the winter to deliver a new season of exciting artworks this spring. Though we have often exhibited work by local artists in the past, we're proud to announce that this season will feature more local artists than ever as part of our new theme for 2021: ART LOCAL.
Like the “Shop Local” movement to support local retailers, SPA will be highlighting “Art Local” this year to support area artists. To that end, we are seeking art that feels relevant to our times from artists in our own backyard. Look for works this season that reflect the diversity of our community and the challenging era we live in. Our goal is to assemble a collection that will bring us together during this period of disconnect and hopefully remind us just how important a sense of home can be.
On a similar note, we have also issued a call for artists for a special fountain project that we hope will help reimagine the fountain at the Summit Promenade downtown. You can read more about this exciting project in the special feature below.
As we begin the new year, we're pleased to welcome three new members to our board. Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Carol Abruzzo, Ray Merritt and Deepa Whipple.
Above: Tom Fruin's "Maxikiosco" at City Hall
|
|
NO PEOPLE LIKE SNOW PEOPLE |
|
SPA Hosts 1st Annual City-Wide
Snow Sculpture Contest
|
|
A near-record snow storm provided the perfect occasion to kick off SPA's first annual city-wide Snow Sculpture Contest this February. Making the most of more than a foot and a half of snow, dozens of Summit families put on their boots and got creative to compete in two categories—best snow man/person and best snow artwork or sculpture. The winners were "Snowgre" by David Drohan and "Snowman Family" by the Gonzalez family, both of whom received a $50 gift card to their choice of local business or a donation to their preferred charity. Honorable mention went to "Shark Car" by the Rush family.
Thanks again to everyone who participated—we love to see your creativity!
Above: "Snowgre" by David Drohan, winner of the "Pretty Cool Sculpture" division
|
|
Below: "Snowman Family" by the Gonzalez family, winner of the "No People Like Snow People" division |
|
Honorable Mention winner: "Shark Car" by the Rush family, |
|
"Psychedelic Snow People" by Bethany Stanton |
|
Igloo by Roman Perera, Aidric Lester, and Julia Kramar |
|
“Snow Duck” by Ruth Sibaja |
|
To see the full album of this year's Snow Sculpture photos, click on the link below: |
|
SPA Announces
Promenade Fountain Project
|
|
This winter SPA announced a Call for Artists for a project that proposes to reimagine the fountain in Summit's downtown Promenade Park. Dedicated in 1972, the park has been host to a variety of SPA art works over the years, including Kate Dodd's "Cloudscape" and "Connections 1" by students in SPA's Rising Artist Mentorship Program at Summit High School.
This special project offers artists an exciting opportunity to create a site-specific, architecturally-integrated public art piece in a spot often referred to as Summit's "urban oasis." SPA's hope is for this installation to become the focal point of the plaza and an iconic site for the city.
The deadline for submissions was mid-March. Artists are expected to be notified by May 1st with installation, pending city approval, projected to take place in the spring of 2022.
To learn more about the project, please click the link below:
|
|
Summit Public Art would like to thank The Summit Foundation (formerly Summit Area Public Foundation) for the vital support they have provided to our organization over the years. Since 2010, The Summit Foundation has awarded $6 million through more than 430 competitive grants to tax-exempt organizations that serve our area. We are especially grateful to them this year for awarding us a very generous grant that will go towards new artwork, lighting, and community outreach.
We would also like to thank the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation for awarding us a grant to support our first-ever photo exhibit, Summit Under Quarantine, which chronicled the impact of the pandemic on the Summit community. Founded in 1998, NNJCF works to improve community life by fostering collaboration among local governments, school districts, businesses, non-profits, and community groups.
Thank you Summit Foundation and NNJCF for enabling us to continue our mission to bring art to public spaces throughout Summit!
|
|
Stuck inside? Need a little art in your life? Why not take an art break and explore these recent works by SPA artists! |
|
Clockwise from top left: Paul Santoleri, Yellow Bird mural, Roxborough, PA; Andrew Light, “Dream the Horizon” steel sculpture; James Tyler, “Iron Brickface,” architectural ceramic; Kelsey Montague, “2021” design; Hellbent, work on paper, collaged HPM; Donna Dodson, “Lakshmibai, the Rani of Jhansi,” wood sculpture in progress |
|
Top left to right: Untitled rose mural by Paul Santoleri (Media, PA); Prayer Hands by Kelsey Montague; South Bronx gouache by Valeri Larko.
Bottom left to right: Lungs by Kate Dodd; Light Houses by Tom Fruin (Gansevoort Plaza, NYC); untitled plastic debris sculpture by Aurora Robson
|
|
To see our full online gallery visit us at www.summitpublicart.com where you'll find inspiring works from both the past and the present. |
|
Or follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news about new installations and upcoming projects. |
|
For the all the latest info on Summit Public Art,
follow us on Instagram or Facebook
by clicking the links below:
|
|
From our followers:
“Truly one of the best perks of living in Summit is
the public art displayed. Thank you and looking
forward to the next installation!”
“The artists and work you support
@summitpublicart is soul lifting!”
“Go Summit Public Art! I so enjoy all of your selections
and really look forward to seeing what pops up next.
“Amazing & brilliant works of art! Love them all!”
|
|
Summit Public Art Needs You |
|
As a 100% volunteer-run, donor-funded, non-profit organization, we rely entirely on the generosity of Summit residents to provide the public art and community projects that you, your families, and visitors to our town enjoy on a daily basis. If you would like to help us continue to enrich and inspire our community through public art, please click on the button below:
|
|
Stay safe and stay inspired! |
|
Summit Public Art | summitpublicarts@gmail.com | www.summitpublicart.com |
|
|
|
|
|
|
