transitional art project: exterior fiber art

NJ TRANSIT and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts are pleased to present the TRANSITional Art Project: Rahway Rail Station Exterior Fiber Art. This call is soliciting submissions from prospective fiber/textile artists to provide art to be exhibited as part of the temporary art installation at the Rahway Rail Station.

About the Transit Arts Program:

Recognizing that public art can have a significant beneficial impact upon the transportation system and the communities that it serves, NJ TRANSIT (NJT) initiated a Transit Arts Program in June 1994. The Transit Arts Program identifies opportunities for public art to be integrated into the system and establishes a process for artist selection and art fabrication. In 2019, NJ TRANSIT partnered with the NJ State Council on the Arts to create a temporary art program, showcasing local artists’ work, for several months, at various transportation hubs in New Jersey. A Transit Arts Committee (TAC), stakeholders including members of the community, will review and score Artists’ proposals.

Project Description:

The NJ TRANSIT Rahway Rail Station is in Rahway, New Jersey, and serves as an important hub for commuters traveling in the state. It is situated at 1 Billings Place near the Rahway River and provides access to several major NJ TRANSIT rail lines, offering convenient service to New York City and other parts of New Jersey. The Rahway Station is served by both the Northeast Corridor Line and the North Jersey Coast Line.

The project seeks to select one (1) artist (or artist team) who is a current resident of New Jersey and lives in one of the State’s central Counties (Union, Somerset, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, or Hunterdon Counties). Preferential consideration will be given to artists with a strong connection to the Rahway community. Qualified artists are encouraged to submit their ideas for designing fiber/textile-based artwork on the archways of the exterior facade at the Rahway Station (the site is also known as the plaza).

Suggested themes:

Artists are invited to explore the past, present, and future of Rahway’s industrial roots and the innovative spirit that continues to shape its identity. Celebrate the ingenuity, creativity, and industrial legacy that define Rahway.

Important Considerations:

Artists are encouraged to be considerate of the ridership and public nature of art in transit spaces. Artists must consider that the work will be situated in a public location and subject to the elements and potential vandalism. The NJ Transit TRANSITional Art Selection Committee (TASC) seeks artwork that is appropriate for public display and will not include images depicting violence, nudity, or that are sexual in nature in the project.

The TASC will review each application received and will select one artist or artist team. In addition to the commission of their work, the artists’ name(s) and images of the project will be shared with the public through NJ Transit and the State Arts Council's social media and other communication platforms.

Please consider the durability of the artwork, as the work must be on display for 3-6 months. Artists must work in a timely fashion with the NJ Transit team to ensure the work provided is installed on time, and is safe and appropriate for public display.

Timeline:

Project Planning/Prep Period: July – August 2025

Project Installation: Mid-September 2025

Opens: TBD – Late September 2025