CONNECTION

Connection between the past and present.
Connection between people coming together.
Connection between the art and the environment.
Connection yet unknown.
CONNECTION

October 30, 2011 – Mountain Lakes, NJ – The strength of Mountain Lakes artistic tradition was evident on this surprisingly snowy Sunday in October. In fact, the ties of the community glistened in the snow – with the wide range of colored bags popping through.

October 16, 2011 – Mountain Lakes, NJ – The Mountain Lakes Centennial Outdoor Art ‘Connection’ was installed on Sunday, October 16th at the grass embankment to the left of the entrance of MLHS, 96 Powerville Road. The 6’ high x 18’ long wall is composed of thousands of recycled plastic bags, tied together by hundreds of Lakers, woven in between 100 (one for each year of the centennial ) vertical, thin wooden warps painted blue hues for the lakes and sky and green tints for the mountains and trees. Artist Bob Richardson noted, “It’s amazing how many bags were contributed, this is a very special community. The varied colors, text and images of each recycled bag represent the diversity of Mountain Lakes and their knots together illustrate the unity, and the common threads we all share.”

Richardson’s woven wall is a creative symbol of Mountain Lakes’ Arts & Crafts past and its modern future,” Vivien Greenberg, chair of the Art Committee explained. “The committee was impressed with the way Bob made the connection with Mountain Lakes’ Arts & Crafts roots where weaving was an artisan craft.” The installation also has an uplifting message. The entire piece appears to be magically floating in an upward direction, symbolizing the upward and positive direction of the community and a reminder that individuals have an impact on the path their community takes.

Many Lakers collected and tied together colored plastic bags. Girl Scouts tied bags on their fall encampment last weekend. The Varsity boys soccer team tied bags in preparation for their county championship win. Wildwood students tied bags during recess. Many others made contributions including: the Centennial committee, girls soccer and field hockey, librarians at the ML library, MLHS cross country team, the Class of 1954, cast of Laker Voices, two birthday parties, Briarcliff homerooms and the MLHS senior class.

The crowning rope of the weave has special meaning. Each bag represents a different Borough Committee or Commission – with the following colors: 55 Plus Committee – grey; Centennial committee – wild print; Cove Restoration Committee – light green; Environmental Commission – ML green trash bag; Finance Advisory Committee – black & white; Green Team – bio-degradable green plastic bags; Health Commission – pink; Historic Preservation Committee – color circles; Lakes Management Advisory Committee – blue; Master Plan Update Committee – yellow & red; Memorial Day Committee – red, white & blue; Shade Tree Commission – green & silver; Recreation Commission – smiley faces; Traffic Safety Committee – red, yellow & green; Trustees of Memorial Park – yellow; Web site Committee – white apple; Woodlands Management Committee – green & brown; Zoning Board of Adjustments – Blue ribbon blue; Planning Board – Orange; Department of Public Works – day-glow green; Police Department – strong black; Fire Department – red; and Borough Council – blue and green.

September 30, 2011 – Mountain Lakes, NJ – The proposal by Robert Richardson has been selected for the Mountain Lakes Centennial Outdoor Art Installation. ‘Connections’ is a large woven wall – 6’ high x 18’ long composed of 100 vertical wooden warps and 1000s of recycled plastic bags, tied together to make horizontal multicolored wefts. The piece will be installed at the grass embankment to the left of the entrance of Mountain Lakes High School from October 16 – 30, 2011.

Community Involvement

• All ML groups invited to collect and tie together colored plastic bags.

– Use shopping bags, supermarket bags and newspaper bags; tie them together at the ends to form a long rope – as long as you like.

– Creative Possibilities: Choose specific colors that you like, develop a color pattern, Repeat knots to create an interesting beaded texture, Twist or braid lengths of rope together to form a thicker rope, Develop your own unique style

• All ropes will be joined together to form one common thread or weft that will be woven into the community installation.
• Submit bags at the ML Library and schools – boxes marked ‘Art Installation’
• Deliver balls of bags tied together to the Marshall’s front porch (55 Bellvale Road) or the Halpin’s side tunnel (416 Morris Avenue).
• Questions about the bags, please contact Liz Mazorra, 973/263-8192.

Description of the Art Installation
Robert Richardson’s woven wall is a creative symbol of Mountain Lakes’ Arts & Crafts past and its modern future that also preserves its history. The sculptural weaving represents Mountain Lakes’ connection with the Arts & Crafts movement. Weaving was an artisan craft heralded in the Arts & Crafts movement of the early 1900s.

The artwork’s 100 (one for each year of the centennial ) vertical, thin wooden warps alternate between the blue hues of our lakes and the sky and the green tints of mountains and trees. The horizontal multicolored wefts composed are recycled plastic bags tied together. The varied colors, text and images of each recycled bag represent the diversity of Mountain Lakes and their knots together illustrate the unity, and the common threads we all share.

The entire piece appears to be magically floating in an upward direction, symbolizing the upward and positive direction of the community and a reminder that individuals have an impact on the path their community takes.

Robert Richardson
Bob Richardson is an art teacher at Arts High School in Newark and a Geraldine R. Dodge Artist-Educator Fellowship grant recipient. He exhibits in galleries throughout N.Y and N.J.

Richardson was a sculpture major at Pratt Institute, N.Y.C., where he graduated with honors. He has worked as an artist at the Museum of Natural History, M.J.M. Studios an architectural sculpture company.

He has created many varied sculpture installations that often have community involvement and deal with a specific social issue.

Questions
For more information, please contact Vivien Greenberg, vivsher@hotmail.com

July 2011

Request for Proposal (RFP)

Artists are invited to submit a proposal for an outdoor public art installation that celebrates Mountain Lakes’ Centennial to be on display in the Borough in the autumn of 2011. Local artists – amateur and professional – are encouraged to apply. Proposals for this installation may be for existing or specifically created artwork.

The installation will be on display outdoors for 1 day to 2 weeks in October, November or December 2011 – depending on the type of installation. One date to consider is Homecoming weekend, October 21-23, 2011, but the Committee is open to other dates between October 1 and December 31, 2011.

Mountain Lakes Centennial
To celebrate its 100th anniversary, Mountain Lakes has scheduled events and activities that highlight the community’s history as well as attributes that have made Mountain Lakes a distinguished community; including volunteerism, preservation, and philanthropy. To celebrate our artistic heritage – many of our early residents were artists and promoted an artistic community – we are hosting an outdoor public art installation. (For more information about the Centennial, visit the website www.ML100.org ).

Mountain Lakes History
Mountain Lakes was one of the first planned communities in the United States, developed with the Arts & Crafts influence in the 1910s. The developer and entrepreneur, Herbert J. Hapgood, designed and built his vision of a vibrant outdoors community. The first family moved into Mountain Lakes in March of 1911, and by the end of 1923 six hundred stucco homes had been built in a park like setting with winding roads and several lakes. The Borough has grown to have almost 1,400 households with many of the Hapgood homes intact and the original design integrity preserved. (For more information about our history and the Borough today, visit the website www.mtnlakes.org).

Project Themes
Artists are asked to consider the following themes in their vision for the work:

• Celebration
• Environment and Natural Beauty of Mountain Lakes
• History or identity of Mountain Lakes
• Vision for the Future

Project Materials
All media for the artwork will be considered as long as it is durable enough to withstand the weather and the natural elements outdoors for a minimum of 24 hours. Examples of some media include but are not limited to: Metal, Stone, Concrete, Wood, Mosaic, and Fabric. Examples of some natural elements include but are not limited to: Rocks, Pebbles, Grass, Twigs, Branches, Flowers, and Plants.

Installation Sites
The first choice for the installation site is the lawn in front of the Mountain Lakes High School on Powerville Road between Kenilworth Road and Morris Avenue. This site allows the piece to receive maximum exposure and visibility since homecoming events will be held in or near the high school and will draw many attendees. These events will also likely attract press, media, and publicity. There is also ample parking there for visitors to see the art installation.

Other sites may be proposed, including:
• Kaufman Park at Boulevard and Briarcliff Road
• Memorial Park on Lake Drive
• Island Beach on the Boulevard across from Tower Hill Road
• Borough owned park across from the Community Church on Briarcliff Road and Barton Road

Installation and De-Installation
The artist assumes the cost for the installation and de-installation and is responsible for the coordination of both.

Restrictions
The Department of Public Works and the Selection Panel must approve the artwork and installation proposal. The art piece must be compatible with all applicable laws and regulations (including but not limited to environmental and safety laws and statutes).

Selection Criteria
Only projects that meet the following practical requirements will be considered:

• Work uses durable and safe materials specific or complementary to the outdoors
• Installation relates in terms of scale, form and content to the immediate surroundings
• Piece requires no or low level of maintenance
• Ability of the artist to meet deadlines
• Art piece is safe and stable in the outdoors and is installed with same considerations

Projects that meet the practical requirements will then be assessed for their artistic attributes. The installation that best meets the following criteria will be selected:

• Artistic merit as evidenced by the submitted materials
• Incorporation of the project themes

Note: If none of the proposals meet the criteria, the Borough of Mountain Lakes reserves the right to cancel or postpone the project.

Submission Requirements
Please submit the following via e-mail by Tuesday, September 6, 2011:

• Resume or Bio
• A brief statement not exceeding 2 paragraphs, which describes your proposed artwork and concept including preferred location and date(s) of installation
• A short description of materials/media used
• A High Resolution jpeg (300dpi) digital photo of the completed work
• If work is currently incomplete: Illustration or Model, photographs of any partially completed work, and timetable for completion
• If work is completed, please give year of creation, history of awards/exhibitions
• Detailed proposal for installation and de-installation

Please submit all required application materials to:
Vivien Greenberg: vivsher@hotmail.com

Award for the Project
The winning artist will retain all rights of ownership of the artwork and will be free to photograph it during its display period. If the timing works, the Centennial committee would also host a reception for the artist and promote the project in the local press. The artist will also receive an award/stipend of $500 (upon removal of the art piece).

Timeline
Submission Deadline: Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Selection Date: Monday, September 12, 2011
Installation: For 1 day to 2 weeks between October 1 and December 31, 2011.

Questions?
Contact Vivien Greenberg: vivsher@hotmail.com