Cedar Grove News reached out to members of the council Joe Zichelli and Melissa Skabich for comment. Both councilmembers declined to comment, in similar messages stating that they could not speak about a matter currently in litigation. Each referred our questions to Township Manager Thomas Tucci, who had not responded as of this writing. The council will likely make a decision regarding amending the sign ordinance at the next council meeting, 7pm Monday October 4th 2021. It also appears increasingly likely that they will receive extensive public comment on the topic.
Rather than speculate on the rights of the shop owner, the pending legal matter, or what might be decided by the council sans comment from the town, we caught up with Natty Bumpercar who is at the center of a movement to bring public arts to Cedar Grove and help the community build programs that mirror some of the success public arts have seen in neighboring communities. That movement is called Cedar Grove Artists Alliance.
Natty's comments follow.
Hi Natty, who are you and what's your background?
have a Bachelor of Arts in Painting from the University of Georgia, and a Master of Fine Art with a focus on Painting from Pratt Institute. I work in the visual arts of painting, illustration (Douglas: A Christmas Tale https://www.amazon.com/Douglas-Christmas-Tale-Joseph-Carney/dp/B08NZTPSBR/), animation, cartooning, and sculpture, but also perform both stand-up and improv comedy, act, do voice-over work, write, and have a podcast (The Bumperpodcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-natty-bumpercar-bumperpodcast/id330037859). I like to stay busy. I consider myself a maker of things and a doer of stuff. Also, I love art.
Why was Cedar Grove Artists Alliance formed?
Natty: The Cedar Grove Artists Alliance (CGAA) was formed to be a beacon for every variety of artists at all levels of their artistic journey in and around Cedar Grove, NJ. Our mission is to promote advocacy for the arts and support for artists in the hopes of building a shelter for cultural vibrancy, expressive community outreach, and inclusive creativity through shows, performances, talks, and meetings.
I am the father of two kids in Cedar Grove, and have lamented the seeming lack of culture and artistic representation in the community. Through the years, I have taught after school art classes, worked with camps, and have engaged in some interactive virtual arts functions — and at every level, I am always amazed at how much joy making things brings to people. The act of creation is immensely powerful, and should be championed. Art should be accessible. Anyone can do it, if they allow themselves. Anyone can do it, if they allow themselves to shed the shackles that the world has been slipping on them and breaking out of the pigeon-holes that life has been sticking them in, day after day. Art is magic, and if people are open to it, the world is full of that magic just waiting to be discovered or created. We are hoping that the Cedar Grove Artists Alliance can help in that regard.
What projects would Cedar Grove Artists Alliance like to see in the near future?
Natty: Currently, the main goal of the Alliance is to work with the community. To listen to what people are saying, what they need, what they are upset about, and what makes them hopeful for the future. Without open channels of communication, people feel unseen, unappreciated, and unrepresented — so, the hope is to take the voices of the community, and create a conduit between the public, the Board of Education, the Town Council, and local businesses to build a foundational pathway for the arts in Cedar Grove for the future.
What can members of the public do to help support the arts in Cedar Grove?
Natty: Members of the public can join the CGAA Facebook page. We are currently at the stage where the seed has been planted — but, all intentions are to break out of the proverbial shell that is symbolized by the current lack of representation, start working our artistic roots into the ground, and finally sprout and stretch towards the sky with varying branches of focus growing out upwards and outwards with the intention being to provide a safe haven for the arts, and a nice shady spot where culture can be fostered, promoted, and advocated.
Has the group considered a large scale project like an art park or sculpture park?
Natty: We aren’t quite to that level of future project exploration, yet. But, I will say that I’d love to bring the Art Walk back, have a craft fair, bring more live music and other performances to town. Too often in my time here, I have heard people complain about all of the events that are happening in other towns, and ask why nothing ever seems to happen here. Well, I’m a firm believer that things happen through action. So if we want there to be progress in the realm of artistic representation, then we need to stand up and make it happen. Art and culture are an integral part of society. Without those things, there is no heart. No spirit. No music. No love. No Joy.
Does the Alliance have a position on public art and murals in Cedar Grove? Related, what does the group think of the public arts program in nearby Montclair that has led to so many murals in that town?
Natty: Public art is good, and adds to communities. Having unexpected pops of color, composition, structure, and design are good for brains and help to build a communal identity. The Statue of Liberty, the Sistine Chapel, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, the Space Needle in Seattle, and an endless multitude of other examples are all public art that define the spaces, cities, and environments that they are in.
To the point of Montclair, they have an in depth process by which their murals and public art is created. Here is a link to the artCONNECTS Mural Project website (http://artconnectsmontclair.org/) where everything is laid out. Obviously, Cedar Grove is not Montclair, and we are just starting to have a dialogue about the arts which is how progress happens.
So, to answer your question, public art is good. And this isn’t just my opinion — it is an opinion that has been with and inside of people since people began. Since the first caveman grabbed a rock, and made markings on a wall, or a tree — public art is inherently intertwined in who we are.
Should art be restricted? Particularly if it is located in a public place?
Natty: This question is less about emotion, and more about precedent and law, and the First Amendment states that: “Congress shall make no law restricting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances,” which encompasses all forms of art, and allows the arts a significant level of protection. Arts bring culture, and there have been studies that show that communities with vibrant culture are more attractive to both residents and businesses. Visible public art is an integral piece that helps to raise knowledge of cultural scenes — which in turn raises the awareness of the community in general.
With all of that being said, there are several examples of expression that are not allowed protection under the First Amendment, including obscenity, fighting words, defamation (including libel and slander), child pornography, perjury, blackmail, incitement to imminent lawless action, true threats, solicitations to commit crimes.
To quote the ACLU*: “The answer is simple, and timeless: a free society is based on the principle that each and every individual has the right to decide what art or entertainment he or she wants -- or does not want -- to receive or create. Once you allow the government to censor someone else, you cede to it the power to censor you, or something you like.”
I think that the best option is to establish a process by which proposals for public art are submitted, debated, and vetted before a committee. No one wants anarchy. Artists and lovers of art understand that we live in a society. All that is being asked is that there is an acknowledgment that we exist, that we would love to make the world a better/brighter place, and want to build bridges towards making those goals happen.
*https://www.aclu.org/other/freedom-expression-arts-and-entertainment
Top photo: Photo by Anna Kolosyuk on Unsplash
