Artist Spotlight: Lawrence Ciarallo, Art In Motion

In continuing the Maplewood Division of Arts & Culture mission of ensuring inclusive and accessible art for all, this week’s featured artist is Lawrence Ciarallo with Art In Motion and the Maplewood Arts Council. Residents can safely enjoy public art while outdoors, maintaining physical distance.

Sovereign, Zig-Zag
Art In Motion, 2019
Location: Maplewood Transtation Tunnel Underpass, Maplewood, NJ

“'Sovereign, Zig-Zag' is a tribute to Grammy-nominated recording artist and Maplewood native Sza. My paintings and murals are inspired by the endless beauty that exists amidst the chaos. To exemplify this spectrum, I incorporate a mixture of collage, abstraction and portraiture. Aside from these juxtapositions the population density and corresponding sensory overload of the NY/NJ metropolitan area provides plenty to ingest and process. Therefore, introspection is a factor. I approach every project as a boundless opportunity to learn and grow. ” — Lawrence Ciarallo

The World is Yours at Mary Benson Park
Jersey City Mural Arts Program, 2015
Location: Mary Benson Park, Jersey City, NJ

Lawrence Ciarallo is an artist, designer and muralist from the city of Hoboken, New Jersey. His work is an eclectic mix of portraits, pop art and mixed media pieces that address a myriad of topics and honor a diverse group of individuals. As part of his art practice he serves on the board of the Hoboken Art Committee and works with Young New Yorkers, an organization based in New York City that provides diversion programs for court-involved young people, as an ambassador.

In ‘The World is Yours’ at Mary Benson Park, a biography of Mary Hudspeth Benson (1824-1904), for whom the park is named, adorns the side. Mary Benson was a benefactor and activist in Jersey City. The intent is for all who use this park to learn about Mrs. Benson and help continue her legacy of philanthropy. On her death in 1904 The Evening Journal headline read, “No case of need neglected and never a deaf ear or cold word to a plea for help”.

Lauryn Hill
Model Neighborhood Initiative, 2017
A tribute to singer/songwriter/mc Lauryn Hill
Location: 133 Clinton Avenue, Newark NJ

Portraiture allows for the duality of addressing current events and or celebrating a group or individual. These pieces offer insight to Lawrence’s beliefs and interests as his subjects are an array of musicians, authors, scholars, artists and athletes whose accomplishments provide endless motivation and creatively.

“ My objective is to create pieces that stimulate, entertain, inform, and engage.”— Lawrence Ciarallo

Radical Faith, Bold Hope
Old West Church Mural Project, 2017
Location: Old West Church, Boston, MA

‘Radical Faith, Bold Hope’ is a tribute to four prominent figures in the history of Boston. John F. Kennedy, W.E.B Du Bois, Melnea Cass and Mary Oliver.

JFK cast his 1960 Presidential vote in the Old West Church at 131 Cambridge Street. W.E.B Du Bois was the first African-American to earn a doctorate from Harvard. Melnea Cass was a community and civil rights activist in Roxbury and the South End. Mary Oliver was a Pulitzer Prize winning poet whose many works were published in the city.

The JFK quote is from his inaugural address, “The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it and the glow from that fire can truly light the world. And so, my fellow Americans ask not what your country can do for your ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for freedom…”; The Mary Oliver quote is from Invitation, “it is a serious thing, just to be alive, on this fresh morning in this broken world.”

I Know I Can
Jersey City Mural Arts Program, 2015
Location: Mary Benson Park, Jersey City, NJ

Local & Legendary
South Orange Performing Arts Center, 2014
Location: 9 West South Orange Avenue, South Orange, NJ

The ‘I Know I Can’ mural is a message for the students of nearby P.S. 5. A biography of local physician Michael Conti (1895-1973), for whom the elementary school is named, adorns the side. Michael Conti was a man of the people, offering free medical services to local residents. The intent is for the students of P.S. 5 to learn from his example and have confidence in their abilities.

The ‘Local & Legendary’ mural highlights SOPAC (South Orange Performing Arts Center) with four world class musicians who had performed there and were also born in New Jersey and/or were residents. (Left to Right: Paquito D’Rivera, Nancy Wilson, Richie Havens, Dionne Warwick.)

Interstellar Sound System
40″ x 30″mixed media on canvas, 2020

Slam Dance Metropolis
30″ x 40″ mixed media on canvas, 2019.

New Day Come (time in a new reality)
48″ x 36″ mixed media on canvas, 2020

Native Son (James Baldwin)
40″ x 30″ acrylic on canvas, 2020

John Lennon
30″ x 40″ acrylic and collage on canvas, 2012

Nas
30″x 40″ acrylic and collage on canvas, 2017

No Human is Illegal
40″ x 30″ mixed media on canvas, 2018

Thelonious Monk

“I painted Thelonious Monk, amongst others, because their artistic expressions inspired and informed me in numerous ways. In a kind gesture my uncle gave me some of his old jazz records because we shared an appreciation for the music. Of those was Mulligan Meets Monk. Thelonious Monk, and perhaps most of jazz, taught me the importance of timing, tone, message and emphasis. The comedian Dave Chappelle has talked about how Monk’s music informs his delivery. Taking elements of another art form and applying it to your own is very important, in my opinion. At Montclair State there was a fine art instructor named Peter Barnet. One day, I overheard him saying to another student ‘It’s just pigment next to pigment’ Even though I wasn’t painting yet I always kept that with me. So you substitute the requisites for jazz for highlights, mid tones, base colors, hues, and your palette and subject matter are your message and emphasis.” — Lawrence Ciarallo

Ray Charles
Variable, acrylic on baby grand piano, 2014.

South Orange Village
Created for Playin’ Around South Orange.
It highlights local institutions (SOPAC, Seton Hall University) and landmarks (Village Hall), acrylic, 2017.

Sovereign, Zig-Zag' is a tribute to Grammy-nominated recording artist and Maplewood native Sza.
Location: Maplewood Transtation Tunnel Underpass, Maplewood, NJ

Lawrence Ciarallo

Lawrence says, “My experience with Maplewood Art In Motion left me humble and grateful. I always appreciate public art opportunities and was left truly humbled when Marcy sent me the photo of Sza and her mother visiting the mural. It was an additional moment of joy on my wedding day! Marcy made the entire process a breeze and she was a pleasure to work with. I'd like to thank everyone who made this project possible and the Township of Maplewood for continued support of the arts.”

www.lawrenceciarallo.com
lawrence.ciarallo@gmail.com
IG: @lawrenceciarallo 

Art In Motion, presented by the Maplewood Arts Council (MAC), is a collection of eight paintings that hang on the tunnel walls of the Maplewood Train Station underpass. MAC received 100 applications solicited from artists living along the Morris and Essex train line. 100% of donations for Art In Motion went to paying the artists for their work, and for the installation and maintenance of the paintings. Major sponsors for Art In Motion: The Able Baker, [words] Bookstore, Pollock Properties Group, and Michael Choy & Shannon Moffet. Big thanks to NJ Transit, and Maplewood’s Department of Public Works.