​Works Created by Mercer County Artists Installed in New Department of Health Building

​TRENTON, N.J. (November 25, 2020) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) and the New Jersey Department of the Treasury today announced the installation of artwork from 11 Mercer County artists into the newly constructed New Jersey Department of Health building on Willow Street in Trenton. The installation marks one of the final steps in the construction of the first new state office buildings in Trenton in more than 25 years.

The State Office Building Development Project is a partnership between the NJ Department of the Treasury’s Division of Property Management and Construction (DPMC) and the NJEDA. As the client, Treasury authorized the NJEDA to fund and provide development and construction services for the new Department of Health and Division of Taxation buildings in downtown Trenton. Department of Health employees have already begun moving into the new building, located at 55 N. Willow Street. The Division of Taxation building is scheduled for completion in early 2021.

The artwork, installed yesterday, was provided by the following artists:

Adriana Groza of Hamilton (Acrylic painting on canvas entitled “Chasing Dragons”)

Alan Chimacoff of Princeton (Photographs entitled “Corrugated,” “TTN Corrugated,” and “Modern Tradition”)

Alia Bensliman of Robbinsville (Ink drawing entitled “I Am Roebling”)

C.a. Shofed of Trenton (Photograph entitled “Colors of Hamilton Avenue“)

Patrick Compagnucci of Trenton (Photograph titled “Inner City Dreams”)  

Joyce Chen of Hightstown (Mixed media collage entitled “Orange Crème”)

Marina Ahun of Princeton (Digital print- Giclee entitled “Bridge ‘Trenton Makes/The World Takes’”)

Richard Chenoweth of Princeton (Watercolor painting entitled “Morning on the Millstone“)  

Rich Hundley of Hamilton (Photograph titled “Capital Flyover”)

Sean Carney of Robbinsville (Painting – wood stain on wood – entitled “Main Street America”)

Sejal Krishnan of Princeton (Acrylic and latex painting entitled “Lily Pond”)

“Our state’s artists each have a unique story to tell, which they often express through their artwork,” said Department of Health Commissioner Judith M. Persichilli. “We are thrilled to be showcasing the talents of these local artists in this highly-visible and enduring manner.”

Two representatives from the Department of Health were a part of the 10-person selection committee that chose the artwork for the building, along with representatives from the community, as well as arts experts, architects, building stakeholders, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, and employees with NJEDA and the Department of Treasury.

“We knew early in the State Office Building Development Project process that we wanted to feature local artists in prominent spots throughout the Department of Health building,” said Danielle Bursk, Director of Artist Services & Public Art at the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. “The selection committee received and reviewed over 600 submissions from within Mercer County and, from those, brought in 25 artists to showcase their work in person before making a final decision.”

The artwork was selected in coordination with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts who issued a call for artists earlier this year, pursuant to the Public Buildings Arts Inclusion Act (N.J.S.A. 52:16A-29 to – 42) which governs how art is selected for newly-constructed public buildings.

“New Jersey has a vibrant arts and culture community that contributes more than $23 billion to New Jersey’s economy each year,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “Spotlighting this artwork in state office buildings will serve as an inspirational reminder of the breadth of creativity stemming from our state’s talented artists.”

As part of Governor Phil Murphy’s goal to build a stronger and fairer New Jersey economy, Treasury and the NJEDA hosted two Subcontractor Opportunity Forums to help small, women, minority, and veteran-owned subcontracting companies (SMWVBEs) explore opportunities to work on the State Office Building Development Project. Since construction began in December of 2018, eight of the 14 professional services providers and 69 of the 119 subcontractors hired to work on the projects are local and/or SMWVBEs.

“Engaging the local community to enhance the aesthetics of the buildings is part of our broader effort throughout this endeavor to foster opportunities for a diverse network of individuals and small businesses,” said New Jersey State Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio. “This has been central to our work from the very beginning of the State Office Building Development Project and it continues to be as we near the projects’ completion.”

The NJEDA expects to announce the artwork selected for the Division of Taxation building in the coming weeks.

About the New Jersey Economic Development Authority
The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) serves as the State’s principal agency for driving economic growth. The NJEDA is committed to making New Jersey a national model for inclusive and sustainable economic development by focusing on key strategies to help build strong and dynamic communities, create good jobs for New Jersey residents, and provide pathways to a stronger and fairer economy. Through partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders, the NJEDA creates and implements initiatives to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life in the State and strengthen New Jersey’s long-term economic competitiveness.

About the New Jersey Department of Treasury
The New Jersey Department of the Treasury is one of the oldest units of state government and oversees a broad range of fiscal matters for the State of New Jersey. Comprised of a dozen divisions and countless other “in but not of” agencies and offices, Treasury is responsible for, among other things, management of the state budget; administering pensions and health benefits for state and local public employees; operating one of the largest lotteries in the country; administering and collecting taxes; issuing business certifications; purchasing and procurement; managing and maintaining hundreds of state-owned or leased facilities; overseeing construction of public works building projects; and managing the investments for one of the largest pension funds in the country.