Sirens in the Night: Drawings from the 1980s by Tim Daly

Jan. 6 - Mar. 9, 2025

From a young age, Tim Daly was drawn to comic books and comic strips in newspapers. He recalls fond memories of reading the comic “Prince Valiant” growing up in his native Jersey City. This was Tim’s first exposure to the power of storytelling in art.

Tim attended Hudson Catholic Regional High School, from which he graduated at the age of 17. Here he was able to enroll in art classes for the first time. Tim had found his calling and received an excellent foundation in the arts.

Determined to continue his creative journey, Tim enrolled in the School of Visual Arts in 1971. While photography and videography were gaining popularity among his peers, Tim drew inspiration from impressionist painters, including Edgar Degas, Eugène Delacroix, and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. These artists left an imprint on Tim’s consciousness, and deeply influenced his point of view as an artist.

A pivotal moment in Tim’s life was moving to uptown Hoboken in 1977. Tim has witnessed firsthand dramatic changes in our city, most especially in housing. He initially moved into a 1000 sq. ft. apartment with a view of the Empire State Building for $100 a month. Meanwhile, his Puerto Rican neighbors were confronted with a different reality. Within 10 short years, 7 tenement buildings occupied by Puerto Rican families were gutted and converted into condominiums.

“Sirens in the Night: Drawings from the 1980s by Tim Daly” references, and is influenced by, the period of Hoboken Fires that led to a drastically different housing landscape and rapid gentrification. Tim recalls the inescapable smell of smoke and how entire families perished. Puerto Rican families, and other tenants of color, were steadily driven out of Hoboken due to arson, intimidation, and the subsequent rising cost of living.

Political changes were also underway and Tim jumped into the scene. He became involved in Thomas Vezzetti’s campaign for mayor, who walked the streets with a bullhorn. Tim along with his wife, Sheilah Scully, rolled up their sleeves and became advocates as founding members of the 1108-1116 Upper Park Avenue Tenants Association. Thanks to their efforts, they won a condominium conversion battle that spanned four years. Through this experience, Tim and Sheilah met the documentary filmmaker Nora Jacobson, tenants’ rights advocate Tom Olivieri, and many of their dearest friends. Tim shares: “Never doubt the great power in finding common cause with your neighbors. My life proves that.”

Tim Daly’s profound exhibit captures cityscapes of a lost era, including carefree children playing on the street, and men sitting outdoors smoking, deep in discussion, with graffiti in the background. Rent was cheap, and the vibrant sense of community ever-present. Tim honors this unique time in Hoboken history, and invites us as the viewers to do the same.

A special thank you to the Hudson County Office of Cultural&Heritage Affairs/ Tourism Development for supporting this exhibit.

Recent Works by Raymond Smith

Nov. 3 - Dec. 22, 2024

Raymond Smith is an accomplished painter, illustrator, and graphic designer, specializing in figurative art. Ray grew up near Lake Michigan in Hammond, Indiana. He credits his Mom and Grandma for encouraging his entry into art. Whenever Ray would sit down to draw, his Grandma would say, “don’t trace.” She believed in Ray’s talent and ability to develop his own artistic point of view. These were prescient words – Ray is a true original.

A precocious and bright child, Ray would often skip school and visit the local library. What made him most happy was art. Ray’s first commission was from his Aunt Margaret who requested a painting of her daughter’s wedding. Ray was only 11-years-old at the time. He also recalls Mr. Jacobsen, an energetic teacher fresh out of college, who exposed his high school students to different artistic mediums. This is where Ray developed his love for the craft of impressionist painting.

After high school, Ray headed to Chicago in search of creative opportunities. He was hired as an apprentice at the MoonInk design studio. The environment was conducive to Ray’s creativity. He eventually became a Junior Art Director and his portfolio expanded to include graphic design work. He also made time to enroll in a night course at the American Academy of Art, which sharpened his graphic design skills. He went on to serve as an Art Director for a quarterly bank magazine, which enabled him to broaden his network to meet illustrators and photographers.

The east coast was calling to Ray, though, and he made his way to Hoboken in the 1980’s. He took up work in advertising and design for school textbooks. He recalls seeing Mayor Vezzetti walking down the street with a bullhorn on one of his first days in town. This was also when he met HHM Director Bob Foster and even shared a darkroom with him.

Ray learned the importance of affordable housing, especially crucial for artists. He waited in line for 36 hours, with a broken arm, at that, in order to get an apartment in Marine View Plaza. This is now his home base and studio. He lives close to the Hudson River, and is continually inspired by it.

Ray serves as an art instructor for the Stevens Cooperative School. He has been teaching art for twenty five years for various non-profits and schools. He imparts his love of art to the next generation this way.

Among his proudest accomplishments, Ray cites his work in designing “Greetings from Hoboken,” which he has been selling for almost 20 years. Ray’s Hoboken Children’s Memorial Flag can be seen on permanent display at Hoboken City Hall. It was the first public 9/11 memorial in Hoboken. Ray is also featured in a recent book, Museum: Behind the Scenes at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, by Danny Danziger.

In his art, Ray always seeks out the most unique aspects of an environment. The “Recent Works by Raymond Smith” exhibit in the Upper Gallery encapsulates the originality of Hoboken through his iconic impressionist paintings. From Church Square Park, to Karma Kafe, viewers will delight in Ray’s work.

“Recent Works” by Raymond Smith will be on display from November 3, 2024-December 22, 2024. All are invited for the Opening Reception on Sunday, November 3rd from 2pm-5pm at the Museum. 

As part of the exhibit, HHM will produce an Online Artist Talk with Raymond Smith and HHM Director Bob Foster on Friday, November 1st at 7pm, which will be livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook.

A special thank you to the Hudson County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs/Tourism Development for supporting this exhibit.