The New Jersey Department of the Treasury has installed a public artwork titled “New Jersey on Parade” at the Division of Taxation headquarters in Trenton. The sculpture, created by George Mossman Greenamyer and originally commissioned by NJ Transit in 2000, was previously displayed at New York Penn Station.
The two-piece steel installation features representations of notable New Jersey landmarks suspended from a track and covers about 1,000 square feet. The relocation and restoration of the artwork took six years and involved several state agencies, including the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, the Department of Treasury’s divisions of Property Management and Construction as well as Taxation, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), and NJ Transit. Nearly $1 million was spent to complete the move.
New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way and State Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio attended the unveiling ceremony. Way said, “It’s fitting that a work of public art like New Jersey on Parade would find a new home in Trenton, our state’s capitol. It’s a great story – and it all happened because of collaboration between the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, the New Jersey Department of Treasury, NJ TRANSIT, and the NJ Economic Development Authority. It’s so rewarding to see how this creative partnership between state agencies led to this iconic artwork finding a new audience in Trenton. I’m excited for New Jerseyans to see this ingenious tribute to the Garden State.“
Muoio commented on the significance of interagency cooperation: “Today’s unveiling is the result of long and continued efforts provided by all agencies involved to preserve, transfer and provide an easily accessible public showcase for this well-loved New Jersey work in our great Capital City. I’m incredibly proud of our Treasury team, and all of our sister agencies who worked so tirelessly and collaboratively to bring this project to the finish line.“
A representative from the State Arts Council highlighted their commitment to public art: “The State Arts Council is passionate about public art, and through New Jersey’s Public Arts Inclusion Program, we’ve assisted in the installation of hundreds of public art projects that can be seen across the state. Being a part of shepherding a beloved artwork like New Jersey on Parade to our capitol city is a perfect example of that. Multiple state agencies worked together to ensure that New Jersey on Parade was transported from NY’s Penn Station, meticulously restored, and given a new life here in Trenton for the public to enjoy.”
The piece now resides in a community space within the Division of Taxation building with aims to inspire employees and offer visitors an inviting environment. It stands as an example of agency collaboration within state government.
