TRANSITional Art Project: New Brunswick Rail Station Fiber Art

The New Brunswick Rail Station, built in 1903 by the Pennsylvania Railroad, is located in downtown New Brunswick and serves as an intermodal center accommodating NJ TRANSIT Rail and AMTRAK passengers, local and regional buses, Rutgers University shuttles, and cyclists. This call seeks fiber artists to create temporary installations for the exterior columns on the front façade of the station.

Fiber art installations may include yarn-bombing, rope sculpture, or other installation artwork using fibers (rope, weaving, thread, yarn, etc.) as the primary material. Materials must be sustainable, require minimal maintenance, and be appropriate for a public setting. Selected artists will receive a $10,000 stipend to cover materials, fabrication, installation, and artist fees. Artists are responsible for fabrication and installation within the established timeline, with project installations scheduled for July–August 2022 and the exhibit running through November 2022. The commissioned artist must de-install the work in coordination with the NJ Transit Arts team after November 2022.

Eligibility is limited to artists/artist teams at least 21 years old who are current residents of New Jersey and live in Central New Jersey (Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Somerset, Union, and Hunterdon counties). Preference will be given to artists with a strong connection to New Brunswick. Applicants must submit 2–8 high-quality digital images and up to 2 videos of previously completed work, along with a short narrative of their project idea. The NJ Transit TRANSITional Art Selection Committee will evaluate proposals based on artistic quality, appropriateness to the site, permanence and durability, absence of public hazards, innovation in materials and techniques, willingness to collaborate with the project team, and ability to complete installation within the timeframe. The committee will not accept artwork depicting violence, nudity, or sexual content. Decisions will be announced by mid-June 2022.