Current Projects:

CALL FOR ARTISTS: Mercer County Cass Street Prison Mural Project

Round 1 Entry Deadline: 12/08/23

The County of Mercer, New Jersey, is issuing a Request for Qualifications (Phase 1), inviting artists/artist teams who wish to be considered to submit their interest and qualifications for the creation of a public mural. This mural is to be installed on an exterior 319 ft (w) x 19 ft (h) wall (located at 600 Cass Street, Trenton, NJ) on the New Jersey State Prison. This project is known as the Mercer County Cass Street Prison Mural Project, and this document is a Request for Qualifications (RFQ).

Qualification submittals will be evaluated by the Mercer County Cass Street Prison Mural Project Committee (MCCSPMP) who will review all submissions and will invite up to five qualified candidates to submit a full proposal for the design and fabrication of a mural. It is expected that the initial phase of the design installation will take place sometime in mid-spring of 2024.  

The Project

One (1), 319 ft (w) x 19 ft (h) decorative mural is sought for the exterior of the New Jersey State Prison on Cass Street. Sculptors, artists or artist teams are invited to submit their professional and artistic qualifications for a public art project of this type, and an expression of interest in being considered for this project. Traditionally, Trenton’s South Ward has been a multicultural entryway for diverse groups of people. Those finalists selected by the Committee to submit a full proposal for the project will be expected to incorporate, in some way, the following key words/phrases into their final design:

-          Vibrant & Welcoming

-          Inclusive & Aspirational

-          Iconic & Eye-catching

-          Embracing Community

Past Projects: 

CALL FOR ARTISTS: Mercer County Courthouse Public Art

The County of Mercer County, NJ, looked to identify a pool of qualified artists or artist teams for consideration for an outdoor art installation. Qualified artists were invited to submit proposals to design, fabricate and install permanent site-specific public art for the new Mercer County Courthouse (Trenton, NJ). (Qualifications from artists, only, were sought in this RFQ).
 
Specifically, artists were sought to create five (5) low-relief works/elements to be permanently installed on an exterior, Warren St., Trenton, wall of the Courthouse.  In particular, designs were sought that have a general theme reflecting the rich history of the Mercer County Court system, the County of Mercer, and/or the city of Trenton. This RFQ was open to artists/artist teams residing or working within 50 miles of Mercer County, NJ. The process was managed by the County’s Division of Culture & Heritage.

For photos and elevation schematic:  Site Plan/Details

For map of 50-mile eligibility radius: 50 miles to Mercer

Awarded Artist: Tim Gaydos 

Final Project Title: "Seeking Justice" 

ABOUT "SEEKING JUSTICE"

In this five-panel mural installation titled “Seeking Justice” New Jersey artist Tim Gaydos depicts key events and landmarks from Trenton’s past to illustrate the constant move towards a more just society.

Mural 1 presents an idealized picture of colonial-era Trenton. Against the backdrop of the Delaware River are depicted eleven historic buildings from that time (see next panel for more detail). In the foreground the artist illustrates just some of the diverse community – enslaved peoples, Quakers, indentured servants, Lenni-Lenape, landowners – that helped build Trenton.

Mural 2 portrays the historic public reading of the Declaration of Independence on the steps of the original county courthouse to be built in Trenton – the Hunterdon County Courthouse (Trenton was part of Hunterdon County at the time). After the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776, copies were sent out to the thirteen colonies. The first public readings of the Declaration of Independence took place July 8, 1776 in Trenton, Philadelphia, and Easton, PA.

Mural 3 depicts the historic Battle of Trenton. Early on December 26, 1776, after crossing the Delaware River the previous day, Gen. George Washington led 2,400 Continental Army soldiers for a surprise attack against Hessian forces garrisoned at the Trenton Barracks. This victorious battle was a turning point in the Revolutionary War, boosting morale and inspiring supporters of the newly formed United States.  

Mural 4 portrays Trenton as an industrial powerhouse in the late 1800s. The buildings shown represent those of Roebling Steel as well as some of the giant kilns of Trenton’s world-famous ceramics industry. The Old Wooden Bridge that crossed the Delaware at end of the 19^th century is seen in the background. As a manufacturing and innovation hub for more than a century, the city attracted people from around the world seeking equity and opportunity.

Mural 5 depicts the artist’s vision of all those who have come to Mercer County “Seeking Justice Through the Ages.” A statue of “Lady Justice” stands in a public square. In the background, the artist has placed Mercer County’s three historical courthouses. The first, a Greek Revival style building at the corner of Broad and Market Streets (1838-1901) was built the same year the County of Mercer was formed; the second courthouse (1902-2013), a classic Beaux Arts design, still stands on the original Broad and Market site; and the current Courthouse, here at 400 So. Warren Street, was dedicated in 2013.    

"Seeking Justice" is now fully installed and on public display. 

Arts & Economic Prosperity 5

In 2016, the Division - with the County's Office on Economic Opportunity - partnered with ArtPride New Jersey and the the Americans for the Arts on the Mercer County portion of Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 (AEP5), a national survey studying the economic impact of the nonprofit arts and culture industry. Twenty-five of the County's non-profit arts and cultural organizations responded to the detailed survey and many more participated in audience intercept surveys during the year. We are extremely grateful to those organizations for their time and commitment. A list of those organizations may be found here.

The customized snapshot provided for Mercer County demonstrates that the County's cultural industry is an important engine for local economy. These non-profits generate thousands of jobs, leverage many millions of dollars annually, and drive the local tourism engine so integral to this region. The study also underscores the generosity of citizens involved with the local cultural community: the 25 organizations, alone, reported that more than 1,700 volunteers contributed close to 89,000 hours to help cultural programs that year.

The links below provide additional information on the Mercer County survey results, as well as results for the State of New Jersey, overall and the national AEP5 study.

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