Morristown Mulls Over Town-Wide Public Art Options

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Just weeks after Morristown’s first public mural was officially unveiled, the town council is already looking ahead to the future.

During the June 13 Town Council meeting, Councilman Armington introduced a new business topic, posing the question of whether the town would benefit from an official mural and public art ordinance.

The purpose of the ordinance would potentially provide more clarity and structure for potential murals that would go up around town.

According to the current regulations, if the mural is on private property, the only requirement is to send a photo of the design to confirm that the mural does not qualify as a sign or advertisement, Armington said.

For example, the new mural at Olyphant Place, 140-150 Morris Street, was created as an artistic collaboration between Smith Design, Morristown Partnership, End of Elm and Levitate Creative Services.

Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty said that he plans on visiting the neighboring town of Westfield on June 26 to get a tour of the community and discuss their current mural and public art ordinance.

Dougherty and Morristown Administrator Jillian Barrick have been looking at other towns in New Jersey to model the potential ordinance.

The Westfield ordinance clearly defines what constitutes a mural and what factors are prohibited by the ordinance. For example, any depiction or content of a commercial, trademarked, copyrighted, or other licensed feature, as well as any subjects of a libelous or indecent nature as determined by current community standards, would be prohibited.

"I think it's a very open question on murals and the First Amendment is the key question. What we find to be something that's great, somebody in the community might say, 'Why would you ever put a mural up like that?' So, to have some regulation, because I don't know enough about it. I want to go research," Dougherty said.

Adding color and art to Morristown streets has become a recent talking point in the town after two residents spoke at the council meeting on May 23 and asked for more murals around town.

Residents Miranda Braemer and Sarah Anderson pushed for a town program to encourage locals to paint murals throughout the community, similar to a project they carried out in the town hall for the Shade Tree Commission.

Members of the council concurred, stating that there are a number of walls in Morristown that could benefit from a mural.