NJ TRANSIT UNVEILS TRANSIT ART PROJECT AT THE WALTER RAND TRANSPORTATION CENTER AND LIGHT RAIL STATION
NJ TRANSIT and New Jersey State Council on the Arts Partner to Connect Commuters with the City of Camden and Camden County Artists
September 15, 2023
NEWARK, NJ — NJ TRANSIT and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts today announced the latest installment of The TRANSITional Art Project, a public art partnership between the agencies that selects visual artists for temporary exhibitions. This year, Camden FireWorks also collaborated with NJ TRANSIT to help promote and highlight local talent.
The exhibition – entitled ‘Community Arrives, Then Hope Remains’ – will officially launch at the Walter Rand Transportation Center and Walter Rand Light Rail Station and will be on view until late November 2023. It will include an exterior mural, 2D illustrative art in the waiting area, and banners at the light rail station.
“The TRANSITional Art Project offers a fresh perspective on the transformative power of art, and continues to add a vibrant new dimension to our facilities and surrounding communities,” said New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner and NJ TRANSIT Board Chair Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti. “We are proud to partner with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and Camden FireWorks to bring the latest installment of this program to the Walter Rand Transportation Center in Camden.”
“Our collaboration with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and Camden FireWorks aligns perfectly with our goal to enhance the commuter experience at the Walter Rand Transportation Center while also providing a platform for local artists,” said NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kevin S. Corbett. “As we work to modernize and expand the facility to better connect South Jersey rail, bus and light rail service, we are pleased to feature this beautiful exhibition, which represents the creativity and diversity of Camden’s arts community.”
“We are excited to be hosting the TRANSITional Arts Project in partnership with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, along with the support and collaboration of Camden FireWorks,” said NJ TRANSIT Assistant Director of Facility Signage and Transit Arts Christine Blanco. “This exhibition is curated to bring a sense of joy and pride to customers and the surrounding community of the Walter Rand Transportation Center.”
“The State Arts Council is very proud to once again have the opportunity to highlight local artists through our ongoing partnership with NJ TRANSIT,” said Danielle Bursk, Director of Community Partnerships & Artist Services for the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. “Not only does The TRANSITional Art Project provide paid opportunities to New Jersey artists, but it also allows residents, commuters, and visitors the chance to engage with the arts as part of their everyday lives. And the exhibit at Walter Rand is a wonderful reflection of the vibrant arts community here in Camden.”
Selected artists receive stipends from The TRANSITional Art Project to help offset the costs of developing and installing their projects. The goals of this program are to connect NJ TRANSIT customers and the Camden community, while offering new and exciting artistic experiences in their daily lives. The program will also provide New Jersey artists with exhibition opportunities and a supportive experience creating public art in transit spaces. NJ TRANSIT and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts intend to continue presenting new, temporary art exhibitions at other stations throughout the state.
Artists selected for this TRANSITional ART Project installation include Breiner Garcia, Brittany Baum, De’von Downes, Laura Howard and Mark Natale.
About NJ TRANSIT
NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing more than 925,000 weekday trips on 253 bus routes, three light rail lines, 12 commuter rail lines and through Access Link paratransit service. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 166 rail stations, 62 light rail stations and more than 19,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.
About the New Jersey State Council on the Arts
The New Jersey State Council on the Arts, created in 1966, is a division of the NJ Department of State and a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. The Council was established to encourage and foster public interest in the arts; enlarge public and private resources devoted to the arts; promote freedom of expression in the arts; and facilitate the inclusion of art in every public building in New Jersey. The Council believes the arts are central to every element we value most in a modern society including: human understanding; cultural and civic pride; strong communities; excellent schools; lifelong learning; creative expression; and economic opportunity. To learn more about the Council, please visit www.artscouncil.nj.gov.