Artist Spotlight: Brian McGowan

In continuing the Maplewood Division of Arts & Culture mission of ensuring inclusive and accessible art for all, this week’s featured artist is Brian McGowan with the Springfield Avenue Maplewood Public Art Initiative. Residents can safely enjoy public art while outdoors, maintaining physical distance.

‘Won’t You Be My Neighbor’ with Brian McGowan in the picture for scale
Location: HLS, 1859 Springfield Avenue, Maplewood NJ
Springfield Avenue Public Art Initiative

“My mural, Won’t You Be My Neighbor, was an incredible experience. Spanning over the course of many months, in both cold and warm weather, I spent many hours at the wall on the side of HLS bringing my characters to life. This was the first mural I’d ever attempted at this size, so I learned a lot as I went along. The entire mural was painted with one paintbrush, a time-devouring mistake I will never make again. The most amazing takeaways from my experience painting this mural was the warmth with which the community embraced me. At times this was presented as an offering from a passerby of a warm cup of hot chocolate. Other times it was simply a visit by a neighborhood family—I would ask the kids to help me paint and they would proudly add a little something to the mural. One time it was when I was invited, covered in paint and filthy, into Shakti Yoga & Living Arts for a once in a lifetime meditation session with a traveling Buddhist monk. All in all, it was a wonderful experience, and has changed my path in art.” — Brian McGowan 

Brian McGowan Close-Up Painting ‘Won’t You Be My Neightbor’ on Springfield Avenue, Maplewood

Brian McGowan, born and raised in Staten Island, is an active member of the local arts and music community in both Staten Island and New Jersey, especially the thriving artist town of Maplewood, where he resides. As the musical saw playing member of the famed jug band ensemble, The Wahoo Skiffle Crazies, who were voted Best Jug Band in America in a nationwide competition in Chicago in 2011, Brian has made his mark as a performer through song and sound. Brian's saw playing allows him to engage the playful and quirky instrumental qualities that are closely tied to his own personality. His band performed as the Wu-Tang Clams in Coney Island’s renowned Mermaid Parade in 2018 and 2019, helping to ensure first place victory two years in a row. Brian is also one-half of the clown duo called Down and Up, which performs vaudevillian-like skits and musical ukulele covers.

As a visual artist, Brian recently completed a successful solo show, and has worked on several large scale murals in the tri-state area.  His whimsical, bold, colorful, and dimensional style has lent itself to his work on not just a solo level, but on a collaborative one as well. Brian's art has extended into working with groups of children to enable them to participate in public art as seen in his most recent public piece in Maplewood, NJ. During the height of the pandemic, Brian and his partner, artist Magie Serpica, co-founded a company called Rascal Square [RascalSquare.com], an emporium of hand-crafted products such as bandanas, t-shirts, and candles, that features both their original artwork. Rascal Square candles will make it’s debut at the South Orange Holiday market. 

Brian Gowan working on ‘In The Flowers’

“‘In The Flowers’ was done as part of a project with the Springfield Avenue Partnership (SAP). The colors were all done by the children of Maplewood at an event at Yale Street Corner. It’s currently in my possession awaiting further instruction. I would love to see this community-created piece grace the walls of Maplewood one day.” — Brian McGowan

‘In The Flowers’, 2019
8’x4’
Acrylic on Plywood

The Great Bear Pillar Candle (unscented) with hand dipped charcoal incense sticks from rascalsquare.com

The Traveler, 2020
Digital

Psychonaut Tee from rascalsquare.com

Anthropomorphicize, 2019
Digitally-colored hand drawing

Breathe, 2019
8"x8"
Marker on paper

Collidescope, 2019
24"x36"
Acrylic on Canvas

The Trickster
4"x 4" Hand Painted Black Slate Coaster

Dragon, 2020
Digital, Bandana

Viral Tessellations, 2020
Digital, Bandana

Psychonaut, 2020
Digital , Bandana

Created with the same level of care and originality only found in art galleries, each Rascal Square bandana is designed and printed in Staten Island, NYC, and Maplewood, NJ, and is individually obsessed over until the artists themselves are satisfied with the end product, ensuring the highest quality possible.

Rascal: scoundrel; rogue; scamp: now usually used jokingly or affectionately, as of a mischievous child

Rascal Square Logo Art for Rascal Square Bandanas
Functional, wearable, original art

Brian McGowan with ‘Chalice’ Bandana

Brian also does Live Painting at fairs and events.
Click on link for live work: https://youtu.be/AZb6F0E1H90

For a taste of Brian in the ‘Wahoo Skiffle Crazies’ Jug Band click here: https://youtu.be/8Hgx9FZHIXs

Website: rascalsquare.com
FB and IG: @rascalsquare

The Springfield Avenue Partnership Public Art Initiative is working to bring art and visual interest to Springfield Avenue in Maplewood, NJ. Initially, we are working to bring murals to buildings and decorate the utility boxes along the avenue in the Spring of 2018. Over time we plan to bring additional art projects to the avenue in order to attract area residents to enjoy all that Springfield Avenue has to offer: food, retail shops, service businesses, cultural events, and more! Special thanks to our first Public Art sponsors: Wine Barrel and Maplewood Crossing | Elite Properties. To keep up to date with the Springfield Avenue Public Art Initiative please like our Facebook page: Springfield Avenue Public Art and our Instagram Page @publicart_sam.