For decades, the rainbow of colors – or continents, as we want to look at it – reigned in Paramus on a giant mural at the busy junction of motorways 4 and 17. Today it's just a memory in a municipal garage in Carlstadt. But the famous colossus known as mural Alexandra soon has to leave the warehouse and go to Art Factory, the artistic space in Paterson. Next month, people will see him for the first time in almost 20 years.
The 60-metre mural of Polish artist Stefan Knapp decorated the facade of the great Alexander’s department store, opened in 1961. The network collapsed in 1992, the wall panel was dismantled after the panel – as many as 280 pieces. Today there's a blue-yellow Ikea.
In 1998, the Paterson team removed panels (each 1.2 x 2.3 m) from Alexandra's wall in Paramus. They went to a garage in Carlstadt.
After an article "New York Times" on the uncertain mural valley, David Garsia, the head of Art Factory, went into action. Space in the former spinning mill on Spruce Street (400 thousand sq ft) serves galleries, studios, and even weddings and film photos. "We have a place and opportunities," says Garsia. Problem? Not the length, but the height of 15 meters. Knapp (died in 1996) painted a 250-ton painting in an aircraft hangar – skiing and with a mop.
"It's an emotion for me – I grew up with this mural," says 47-year-old Garsia of Hawthorne, a shop man in Paramus. Transport gallery estimated at $15,000. "It's about care, not money." The panels were due to leave the garage in July – the action does not start until this Thursday at 8 am, it will last until 13 pm.
"We will hang on several walls. We will see" – he plans.
Transportation of mural and museum
The owner is Bergen Museum of Art and Science – once in Paramus, today without headquarters and vitryn.
In a few weeks the mural will see the light of day. Art Factory will show excerpts on 13–14 June during Paterson Art Walk in the Great Waterfall district – as South Bergenite stated.
"We won't put the whole thing together, but we'll put the scaffolding on. Panels will be able to touch – perfect on selfie" – Garsia promises. "Better than on the facade".
Art Factory in Paterson, a former spinning mill on Spruce Street, will become the new stronghold of Alexander's mural. (Frances Micklow/The Star-Ledger)
Knapp's valuation? $1.2 million. "Now it is important that people see it. Eventually it will hit the building – maybe in Paterson permanently. Bergen County had no idea about him," Waldron says.
Despite years in lethargy, mural awakens nostalgia in Bergen drivers. It was even featured on the cover of the album "Atlas" by the ridgewood band Real Estate.
Author: Amy Kuperinsky | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Source: https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2015/05/alexanders mural paramus moving to paterson art fa.html
No Responses