Familiar Face, Fenced In

 He’s a familiar face you see around town. One of our local street artists uses this floating visage, discombobulated eyes, nose and lips, as a tag to several buildings and unusual exteriors but this is probably the most unusual, not to mention, inspired and clever. Not only does the visage float here, which is on Newark Avenue west of Monmouth, a 3-D effect is simulated: the eyes and brow are on the tarp and the nostrils and lips on the tar sidewalk. This visage doesn’t just float, it seems to undulate.

Whatever was here was torn down months ago and the lot is now a construction site. The Rent-A-Fence fences went up, equipment has been parked behind the fences and workers are here during the week days.

I like the eye. This plastic tarp is on a fence-like temporary barrier which is behind another fence, so not only is the fence fenced in but the entire lot itself is enclosed by a fence. No entry point is visible where the tarp can be easily reached. The street artist had to climb the fence to work on his chosen canvas. Devotion to the street art cause! Sooner or later, construction will progress to the point where both fences are torn down and this face will be gone. We know this art is temporary we just don’t know how temporary so might want to take a look.