Jean-Paul Picard has witnessed many changes since moving to Hoboken in 1981. He has seen stores and shops close only to be replaced by newer and hipper bars or restaurants. He has seen Hoboken become more than that small town across from the big city. And he has recorded everything he has witnessed with a lens and a creative eye.
This month, Picard joins eight area photographers in an exhibit at Maxwell’s titled "Hoboken – A Group Exhibit of Street, Portrait, and Documentary Photography from the 1970s to the Present."
"So many people think Hoboken is only Yuppies or only Italians or only…something," said Picard. "But there is so much else going on. And what people see at the exhibit is what has been here and what is here."
Picard’s eight photographs on display at Maxwell’s are portraits of different members of the community that Picard has encountered over his 22-year residency in the mile-square. But Picard does not characterize his work as portraits in the traditional sense of the word.
"My photographs of people are specific to an event going on around them," Picard said. "I think it is also important how people play into the space that they are in."
Picard is also extremely honored to have been asked to be a part of the exhibit. It wasn’t something he expected, he said.
Maxwell’s hosts various art exhibits that change each month. For June, its owners were looking to do something big.
"One day I was going through some old photographs that I had taken around Hoboken and I said ‘Eureka! That’s the show,’" said co-owner Jackie Post. "The exhibit is all about Hoboken and the photographers."
The exhibit is being displayed through July 4. The other artists are Ralph DeMatthews, Ben Fernandez, Ron Force, David Plakke, Roy Thomas, Marie Papp, Rozanne Levine, and Harvey Wang.
The venue is located at 1039 Washington St. For information call (201) 653-1703 or visit www.maxwellsnj.com. q