Filling the windows

Hob’art, the Hoboken-based cooperative gallery, is starting a beautification movement.
Following the lead of New York City, hob’art is asking property owners with empty storefronts to donate the space to local artists. Hob’art President Liz Cohen said the group has the support of the city and is finding some success in reaching out to the property owners.
Artist Roslyn Rose is heading the movement, which has been talked about among the group for years.
After reading a New York Times article about how this has been done in New York, Rose forwarded the information to local business persons, city officials, and other artists.
“When people go past, they’re going to look at that store, and they’re going to look at the art,” Rose said.

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“It uplifts the spirits.” – Liz Cohen
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Mayor Dawn Zimmer, who has hung one of Rose’s art pieces in her office in City Hall, has been supportive, Rose said. Geri Fallo, cultural affairs coordinator, has been a supporter since the beginning of the hob’art cooperative began eight years ago, she said.
The first property owner on board is Barbara Tulko, a Hudson County real estate agent, who is offering up window space at 712 Washington St.
Tulko said the vacant space was most recently a high-end shoe store that did not survive the downturned economy.
“[The art] makes it look nice,” Tulko said. “I think it’s going to be helpful to me too, and it’ll beautify it.”
Cohen said, “It’s a win-win situation for the owners, the artists, everyone.”
Especially in tough economic times, she said, “This brings good feeling. It uplifts the spirits.”

Regional show coming up

It could be a food chain, a chain of events, a chain of fools, or the weakest link in the chain. But for sure it is art.
Hob’art opened their group show “Chains, Chains, Chains” at the Jewish Community Center (YM-YWHA) of North Jersey in Wayne on March 1.
The gallery will be open until March 31, with an opening reception on Sunday, March 21 between 1 and 4 p.m. The Garden State Dance Project will be performing at the opening, as well.
“Chains, Chains, Chains” depicts artists’ interpretation of chains. The work shown uses chains either within the artwork itself or as hanging implements.
Participating artists hail from the New York metropolitan area, but mainly Hoboken and Jersey City: Cohen, Leslie Rubman, Ibou Ndoye, Starr Tucker-Ortega, Don Sichler, Stan Lindwasser and Gailene St. Armand.
“All the work there has to [at least] be hung on chains,” Cohen said. In her own art, she uses chains as part of her installation featuring dolls.
The YM-YWHA of North Jersey is located at One Pike Drive, Wayne, N.J. For more information about the location, call (973) 595-0623.

Solo show

Hob’art is also sponsoring a solo gallery, “Moons & More,” an exhibition of prints by Constance Ftera at The Sovereign Bank, 86 River St., Hoboken.
The gallery is open during banking hours, and will continue until March 26.
Ftera writes on the hob’art website, “One of the images I have been concentrating on is the full moon over water (inspired by Edvard Munch). In repeating an image, it becomes abstracted, but retains the emotional and intellectual impact of the subject matter.”
She is experimenting with new materials, such as water-based inks; and techniques, such as collagaph, carborundum, monoprint, and drypoint on plastic.
For more information on any of the hob’art galleries, or to get involved with the local arts movement, visit www.hob-art.com.
Timothy J. Carroll may be reached at tcarroll@hudsonreporter.com.