2019

Dettifoss

Titled Dettifoss, the work is part of a series by artist Emil Alzamora, in which he explores “the ideas of erosion, distillation, purity, reduction and simplification as it may occur to the human form and as a metaphor for one’s state of mind or being.”

“I love the idea of an unsuspecting person stumbling upon a work of art in a public space and having that be the circumstances in which they engage art.”

The installation is situated perfectly to maximize the impact of its stillness on the commuters who pass by it daily.

Dettifoss evokes a meditative state of mind to passers-by outside the Summit train station.

Emil has had two solo shows in 2019, one in London and one in NYC, and other shows in New York State, wrapping up his busy year at the Miami art shows. He works out of his studio in Beacon, NY. Of his current work he says, “I’m excited to bring together the many visual and material sculptural experiments that I have made over the years to start building a more unified body of work. This has been percolating for a number of years and is coming more into fruition now.” We anticipate continued success for Emil and look forward to seeing what he does next.

https://www.emilalzamora.com/

Togetherness Trail

Measuring a tenth of a mile, this ambitious, large-scale installation spans the pathway along the Summit Park Line’s upper Overlook Road entrance, combining repurposed branches and hundreds of multi-colored plywood rings to display a mosaic design that can be seen from Morris Avenue. Constructed by the artist Sarah Langsam with the help of dozens of Summit residents, the Togetherness Trail marks a new milestone for Summit Public Art–its first collaboration with the Summit Park Line Foundation.

Sarah Langsam grew up in Northern New Jersey and found her true passion for sculpting while attending the University of Delaware, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. Her organic material arrangements have earned multiple awards and have been exhibited across the country, most notably at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington DC.

Walk The Streets

Stretching across four floors, this sprawling mural, with its colorfully-patterned diagonal stripes, has transformed the facade of Summit’s Springfield Avenue parking tier into a vibrant, eye-catching space. Artist Hellbent describes his approach as “taking a vast array of colors and patterns and making them work together, which I think is what anyone wants from a community.”

Hellbent (JMikal Davis) lives and works in Brooklyn. A street artist-sculptor-muralist, Hellbent works with spray- and bucket-paint to create vivid large-scale compositions that “resemble overlapping layers of wallpaper” (NYTimes). His work has been exhibited around the world with solo shows in New York, LA, Chicago, San Francisco, and the UK.

Vuida

This whimsical sculpture immediately attracts attention with its oversized petals and graceful curving neck. Artist Joni Younkins-Herzog calls “Vuida” (a play on the Spanish for “widow”) “an abstracted morning glory, a woman in mourning with her lace veils.”

Younkins-Herzog lives and works in Athens, Georgia. Her work has been exhibited across the United States and in Poland, Peru, and Ghana, Africa. Says Joni: “My sculptures combine beauty with absurdity, often blurring the lines between reality and fantasy. My search for beauty and purpose manifests into forms that abstract femininity and vitality.”

The Watcher

Paul Santoleri is best known for his drawing installations and wall-sized murals that can be found in public spaces around the world. His work encompasses a variety of media, but endlessly returns to the stories found in the drawn line. He has received numerous honors and awards, including awards from the Pollack-Krasner Foundation and the Independence Foundation. Most recently, Santoleri installed a massive tile mural at Philadelphia International Airport. He lives and works in Philadelphia, P.A.

http://www.paulsantoleri.com/

Connections 1

“RAMP UP (Rising Artist Mentorship Program) is a student-centered program guided by a recognized teaching artist and results in a collaborative public art installation. Ten high school students in Summit who have a strong interest in art engage in the conceptual design, creation and implementation of a public art piece. RAMP UP pushes the art education of young artists beyond the classroom walls and ensures a unique, hands-on creative experience with public art.

Jorge Wellesley, a Cuban artist, alternates between painting, drawing, installation and video art. He serves as artist-mentor to students in the RAMP UP program at Summit High School.”

http://www.jorgewellesley.com/

Back from the Yellow Brick Road

Richard Pitts explores the various metaphors inherent to the natural environment, suggesting that art is not only bridged with life but is also a product of it. His abstract sculptures create aesthetic intersections where personal narratives commune with the visual. Pitts has exhibited both nationally and internationally and served as Professor of Fine Art at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City for several years. His works can be found in public and private collections across the country. He is a former President of M55 Art, an artist initiative Gallery dedicated to exhibiting contemporary art, and he has been reviewed in the New York Times. Pitts lives and works in the New York area. Of Back from the Yellowbrick Road, he writes: “My Sculpture references the environment by creating a sense of place. It is my intention that Sculpture gives a sense of distinction to place until that place gives a sense of importance to the Sculpture.”

http://richardpittssculpture.com/

Love Long Last

Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein a.k.a. “The Myth Makers” are based in Massachusetts but their sculptures have been exhibited through the United States and abroad. Their collaboration is born from a mutual love of the wild. Dodson takes inspiration from the mysterious nature of animals that spark her imagination. Moerlein takes inspiration from events in the natural world that leave visual marks which strike a narrative chord in the artist. Monumental in scale, their works, made from natural materials, are site-specific, adding a chapter to the life stories in the communities in which they appear. On Love Long Last: “The Northern Cardinal is an inspiring sight. It shares many traits with the people who call Summit their home. This lively bright bird is outgoing, loyal to its locality and very social. Cardinals mate for life and are romantic partners. Males feed the females beak to beak throughout their summer courtship as the females protect the nest. In folklore the Cardinal has great significance. The belief that Cardinals are spiritual messengers has existed in many cultures. They are seen as harbingers of good health, renewal, and happy relationships. Whether it is an omen or just a delight, it is very evident that sighting a red cardinal makes everyone feel special. These two avian avatars stand independently but show a loving camaraderie and partnership. Like the spirit of Summit NJ, this Northern Cardinal pair celebrate a long lasting love of home.”

http://donnadodsonartist.blogspot.com and http://andymoerlein.blogspot.com