Newark, NJ: Broad Street Station Stories: A selection.
Richard Kirk Mills, was selected as the artist for NJ TRANSIT’s Broad Street Station project. For this major public art commission, Mr. Mills created 21 vibrant enamel plaques that interpret the history of the Broad Street Station in Newark, NJ, and its connection to surrounding historic sites, contemporary Newark neighborhoods, and the commuters who use public transit.
The intent of the Broad Street Station project is, in Mr. Mills’ own words: “I am a landscape artist who has worked outside the studio with communities for more than a decade to create art that explores and illuminates the meaning of places, past and present. My goal as the project’s artist was to create highly evocative images that are felt by people while conveying a sense of the continuing vitality of Newark’s history. As in my previous projects, I have provided a deeper historical texture for NJ Transit’s transportation history themes through the inclusion of quotes, portrait vignettes of local people -- and depictions of the extraordinary places, institutions, and streets that surround the Broad Street Station. It is my hope that the sense of place my art creates will inspire greater appreciation, exploration, and enjoyment of Newark’s communities.”
A color catalog of all these works was published by NJ TRANSIT.
The Broad Street Station Stories project was made possible by the Public Building Arts Inclusion Act of 1978. The Arts Inclusion program is administered by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Funding for this project was administered by NJ Transit.
