A rendering of 180 River Drive South, a new residential tower in the Newport section of Jersey City — Courtesy: LeFrak
By Joshua Burd
LeFrak, the developer of Jersey City’s iconic Newport neighborhood, is seeking the help of local artists to adorn a wall inside its newest waterfront apartment tower.
The builder and city officials are soliciting proposals for what would be a featured piece measuring 15 feet long by four feet high — or multiple pieces that would take up the space — as they look to profile local art and artists through its project at 180 River Drive South. They are marketing the opportunity to artists working or living in Jersey City, noting that the piece will be prominently displayed in the building’s ground-floor lobby and juxtaposed with unobstructed views of New York City.
Proposals are due Feb. 19.
“Newport is a vital part of the fabric of Jersey City,” said Jeremy Farrell, a managing director with LeFrak. “That is why we are so pleased to partner with the Fulop administration to identify the best proposal from the highly regarded art community in Jersey City. To showcase local talent in the lobby of our newest building is exciting for Newport.”
LeFrak and the Newport team have made the open call for proposals in tandem with the Jersey City Office of Cultural Affairs, according to a news release. They will select five finalists for a second round review, while the artist who submits the winning proposal will be awarded $12,000 plus $500 for supplies to complete the piece by April 28.
Each of the other four finalists will receive an honorarium of $250.
“We have established ourselves as a premier destination for the arts, and we’ve seen the positive impacts throughout our community — from expanding youth programing to becoming a hub for live theater and performances,” Jersey City Mayor Fulop said. “This new opportunity for a local artist to showcase their work in Newport is a great step and we are thankful the Lefrak Organization is supporting our local artists.”
