jeaninep 
The city of Hackensack, located in the heart of Bergen County, New Jersey, just outside of New York City, is experiencing a renewal. As the plans are coming to fruition, buildings are being constructed, new businesses are opening, tenants are moving in, art is being generated on Main Street and the surrounding areas, and the future is bright. Among the newest attractions for art in the city is Union Street Park, located at 97 Union Street and home to local artists and creative graffiti. Keep reading to learn about Hackensack’s growing arts culture.
What is Graffiti?
Street art & graffiti have been present since the early beginnings of time, from the cave paintings in the Chauvet Cave in the South of France, to the indigenous Aboriginal rock art in Wunnumurra Gorge in Australia, and wall writings from the lost city of Pompeii in Italy.
Graffiti began in the United States in the 1960s in Philadelphia and New York City when kids began “tagging” walls and subway cars with their names. In the decades to follow, graffiti formed an entirely new subculture and expanded to cities all over the world.
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Today, the lines sometimes blur between graffiti, graffiti art, street art, and mural art. The differences appear in the legality, commissions vs anonymity, messages, words vs drawings, and the type of paint and platforms. Many cities now commission graffiti artists to add positive messages and art to beautify public spaces. This also assists with tourism and enticing art enthusiasts to make the trip.
Graffiti is art, it is mysterious, colorful, vibrant, tells a story, and defines communities through creative placemaking. While the word has many connotations, it has evolved over the years to become more accepted in society. From vandalism to art shows and commissioned art, the journey is truly inspiring. The outdoor art form is temporary, can be tagged, painted over, or fade with time.
Understanding that there is “graffiti for good” in the world and how it connects not only the art arena, but fashion, beauty, the skateboarding community, hip-hop music, health and wellness, and more. Emerging street art is a true sign of a neighborhood changing and committing to the arts program. It brings hope, structure, and creativity, while supporting the individual artists.
Hackensack’s Public Art
Off the beaten path in Hackensack is the Union Street Park (at the corner of Union and Myer Streets), which is comprised of a basketball court, picnic benches, a small playground, and a collection of street art curated and led by Darrius-Jabbar Sollas (aka Nasty Neo). It has featured artists including Hef, Meres One, Pase, Sue Works, and Yes One. As a longtime visitor, the park is an incredible array of street art displayed on the walls of the buildings surrounding its interior. The city does not commission the art; the buildings allow the artists to paint on their walls, which perfectly frame the park. A black brick backdrop provides the pristine canvas and adds dimension as an environment for the tags, characters, and bright colors to really pop and catch your attention. Currently on display are works from:
- King 157/@og.king157
- Pedro Fernandez/@why5tsu,
Paul Rubio/@sueworks - and Paul Sisco/@takart2.tds, amongst others.
The Hackensack Performing Arts Center (HACPAC) decided to bring the art inside to a gallery show last year entitled Outside In, highlighting five of the Union Street Park artists. The gallery event was within walking distance of the park. I attended the reception, and it was such a pleasure to meet the artists and the man behind the park, Darrius aka Neo, and hear the fascinating behind-the-scenes stories.
The art itself is not permanent, and it changes over time. It is energetic, full of life, and adds character to an up-and-coming city atmosphere. There is no set schedule or formal announcement when the art changes, which adds to the mystique of a visit, as you truly do not know if the same art will be there each time. Lucky visitors may catch the artists mid-paint, which is a sight to see. As a longtime resident, I love to see how it has thrived. It is so peaceful yet motivating and offers a great visual aesthetic and uplifting setting.
See More: 11 Must-Visit Art Galleries at The Jersey Shore
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