“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.

Drawings of Hoboken: Changing and Enduring Places by Darren Kall

Sept. 8 - Oct. 27, 2024

Darren Kall was born in Paterson, New Jersey, and grew up in East Paterson/Elmwood Park. From a young age, Darren was incessantly drawing. His artistic vision was so strong that he was inspired to draw on the walls of his childhood home and on the bottom of furniture. To redirect his prodigious creativity, Darren’s family encouraged him to adopt some more palatable mediums. He remembers one of his first art projects being a decorated cork coaster that he made at the age of 7, and a handmade clay pot, which his mother used to display flowers for the rest of her life.

Darren was clearly passionate about art. He found a supportive community at Rutgers College in New Brunswick, where he studied studio art in their interdisciplinary program. His training consisted of painting, drawing, art history, printmaking, photography, and sculpture. He fondly recalls his summer jobs of working on a variety of special commissions while a student there. His diverse coursework provided the foundation for the artist he is today.

After completing school, Darren was searching for a community that he could call home. He was drawn to the cultural vibrance of Hoboken. The city was teeming with artists, musicians, and creatives. His goal was to become part of this special community, and he moved here in 1985.

In 1986, Darren wanted to have something to show and sell at the River City Fair, an early version of our Hoboken Arts Festival. His idea was to capture not just the building storefronts of Washington Street, but the active life of the city as well. Darren was doing artwork for individuals and companies in Hoboken, some of which were detailed drawings. This approach would be difficult to do if he wanted to finish his project before the arts festival! 

Like a court reporter, Darren started to quickly sketch the west side of Washington Street, moving up and down the street to capture the first floors, the people, and the events that occurred in those moments. Pad and pen in hand, he would use a folding chair for his moving art station.

People were very curious about Darren and his project. They would stop to chat and observe him sketching. One elderly Italian man became a regular companion! The first day he saw Darren, he asked what he was doing. After Darren explained his project, the gentleman said, “you crazy,” and walked away shaking his head. But, he came back the next day, and the days after that, to observe Darren’s progress and show him off to his friends.

The final product was the Hoboken Poster, which was composed of 19 strips. It took him 2 weeks to complete. Darren sold his poster at the festival, and later at a gallery in town. The poster was prominently displayed in several stores on Washington Street. Because of the popularity of the poster, Darren was commissioned to do more detailed house and business drawings around Hoboken. Darren shared, “At the time, I had no idea that the poster would have a lasting impact on the people who viewed it.” Darren has donated all of the remaining posters to the Hoboken Historical Museum. It is now the only place where people can purchase an original 1986 printed Hoboken Poster. A framed poster greets visitors in the museum walkway.

Darren’s exhibit “Drawings of Hoboken: Changing and Enduring Places” is a joyful continuation of his work in the Hoboken poster and pays homage to the unique urban landscape of our city. It consists of 15 black and white ink drawings that depict not just storefronts on Washington Street, but also ornate residential buildings that showcase our city’s exquisite architecture, along with beloved community hubs. Some places remain, such as the Brass Rail and Stan’s Sports Center. Others are long gone, such as Cafe Louis and Hoboken Farmboy.

Darren’s work reminds us about the ephemeral nature of life. Change is constant, but love for community always remains.

“Drawings of Hoboken: Changing and Enduring Places by Darren Kall” will be on display from September 8-October 27, 2024. All are invited for the Opening Reception on Sunday, September 8 from 2pm-5pm at HHM. 

As part of the exhibit, HHM will produce an online Artist Talk with Darren Kall and HHM Director Bob Foster on Thursday, September 5 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. 

On the Steps of Saint Ann’s: A Collection of Photos from The Feast 2001-2022 by Bob Delevante

July 21, Aug. 25, 2024

Bob Delevante will astound you with his artistic versatility. He is a renowned photographer, illustrator, designer, guitarist, songwriter, and record producer. In all of his art forms, Bob is a storyteller who captures glimpses of everyday life with sensitivity and lyricism.

Growing up in Rutherford, NJ, Bob was first exposed to the arts through his family. His Great Uncle Sidney Delevante was an abstract painter and illustrator who taught at Cooper Union. Bob felt a special connection with him from an early age. Bob enjoyed drawing as a child, and was encouraged by his Great Uncle Sidney to nurture his own creative practice.

The Delevante creative lineage continued when Bob later went on to study Communication Design at Parson School of Design, where he also minored in photography. At the same time, Bob pursued a music career by teaming up with his brother Mike to form a bluegrass band called Wreckless Abandon.

When Bob first drove through Hoboken, he knew he wanted to live there. Delevante settled in Hoboken in 1981, living in an apartment near Church Square Park. He was drawn to our city’s thriving arts and music scene, especially the iconic club Maxwell’s. Here he found a supportive network of creatives who buoyed and inspired him.

Delevante lived in Hoboken until 1993, when he moved with his family to Nashville, Tennessee. There he runs a creative studio, producing exemplary work that includes portraits, illustrations, and package design for clientele, including Tyler Childers, John Prine, and most recently, Hoboken Farms. Delevante has earned over 30 ADDY awards, an AIGA award, been published in the pre-eminent Communication Arts, Print magazine, Create Magazine and Black and White Photography magazine. He’s also been featured in numerous books about graphic design and photography.

Bob’s music career is equally illustrious. The Delevantes, which he started with his brother Mike, was the first band not on a major label to achieve a #1 album on the Americana charts. Bob and his brother Mike have performed with the likes of Alison Krauss, Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, and John Prine, among other amazing musicians. Bob has released three music albums entitled Porchlight (1999), Columbus and the Colossal Mistake (2006), and Valley of Days (2016).

The Hoboken Historical Museum is proud to feature “On The Steps of St. Ann’s: A Collection of Photographs from The Feast 2001-2022 by Bob Delevante” in the Upper Gallery. This exhibit is a retrospective of 16 black and white and color photographs documenting the extraordinary traditions associated with the Saint Ann Feast, from the zeppole stands, festive decorations, and throngs of visitors overtaking 7th and Jefferson Street. Bob Delevante captures Hoboken’s continued connection to Monte San Giacomo, and the way the stars shine right here in this little town of ours, especially during The Feast.

Delevante shares: “The beer garden in the courtyard behind the church and streets surrounding St. Ann’s never seem to change. There are always some new faces but many of the old regulars as well. The sausage and pepper sandwiches, cold beer, and zeppoles never seem to change! Some of my photographs were taken in 2001, and then periodically right up through this last Feast. You’d be hard-pressed to tell one year from another. And that’s why I love going back there-Hoboken will always be the little town I left many years ago, at least for that week in July.”

“On The Steps of St. Ann’s: A Collection of Photographs from The Feast 2001-2022 by Bob Delevante” will be on display from July 21-August 25, 2024. All are invited for the Opening Reception on Sunday, July 21 from 2pm-5pm at HHM. As part of the exhibit, HHM will produce an online Artist Talk with Bob Delevante and HHM Director Bob Foster on Monday, July 22 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.

Hoboken Trash: The Works of Jeremy Roche

June 16 - July 14, 2024

The Hoboken Historical Museum is proud to present “Hoboken Trash: The Works of Jeremy Roche” in the Upper Gallery. 

Born and raised in Commack, Long Island, Jeremy Roche is an abstract artist who repurposes trash into art. While trained as a mechanical engineer at Stevens Institute of Technology, Jeremy looked beyond the sciences to carve out his creative journey. 

A key moment in his development was when Jeremy joined the Poetry Club on campus at Stevens. In the midst of his engineering coursework, he delved into creative writing and performing with other like-minded creatives. At the same time, he enrolled in the Drawing II course as a free elective in his final year as a student. The class, which focused on figure drawing, engaged Jeremy in such a meaningful way that he spent 30 hours on a single assignment. He had found his muse. 

Upon graduating from Stevens, Jeremy entered the professional world of mechanical engineering. However, he remained dedicated to his artistic practice. Even after a long day’s work, he experimented with his art. His style became more abstract, evolving from figure drawing to a combination of sketching and journaling.

At the start of the COVID pandemic, Jeremy was unexpectedly laid off from his engineering job. With newfound time on his hands, Jeremy began to collage. He found this art form freeing and accessible. For his materials, he started to grab books, cardboard boxes, old frames, and any random materials off the streets of Hoboken – items discarded as trash. He also began incorporating poetry into his pieces as another layer to his work.

Jeremy’s work encourages the viewers to reflect candidly about our consumerist habits and impact on the environment. We take lessons from his resourcefulness and how we assign value and potential to objects. 

Jeremy also finds therapeutic value from his creative process and embodies the tenet that one does not need to attend art school in order to be an artist. According to Jeremy, art is for everybody. His vision is to inspire all of us to develop our own creative process, just as he has forged his own.

“Hoboken Trash: The Works of Jeremy Roche” includes 30+ pieces. The majority of the materials are derived from Hoboken’s trash that Jeremy transformed into brilliant pieces of art. 

The Hoboken Historical Museum looks forward to sharing Jeremy’s work with the community. We are inspired by his call for all of us to find the inner artist within and his focus on environmental activism.

Please join us for an online Artist Talk with Jeremy Roche on Thursday, June 13 at 7pm. This interview will be livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook @hobokenmuseum.

All are invited to join the opening reception for “Hoboken Trash: The Works of Jeremy Roche” on Sunday, June 16, 2024 from 2pm-5pm at the Hoboken Historical Museum, located at 1301 Hudson Street.

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

“Bill Bayer In Black & White” Photography Exhibit

Apr. 28 - June 9, 2024

Bill Bayer grew up in Wood-Ridge, NJ. It wasn’t until after high school that Bill was first exposed to the field of photography. He gravitated to pictures in the 1970’s, which he considers a golden era of photojournalism. He would spend hours in the library pouring over Life Magazine and Time. Bill recalls how the work of Associated Press photographer Eddie Adams left a significant impression on him. Eddie’s work in documenting the turmoil of the era, especially about the Vietnam War, inspired Bill to develop his own point of view as a socially conscious photographer.

According to Bill, photographs speak without having a word in them. They stir the conscience by fostering a sense of empathy with the subject. Bill contends that when we see what’s going wrong in society, and people suffering, photographs can elevate these very causes. At its best, photography can affect change by spurring us all into action.

One of the most significant events Bill covered as a photojournalist for the Hudson Dispatch was the Hoboken Fires between 1978-1982. Working alongside reporter Chuck Sutton, Bill used his photography to document the terror of this tragic period in Hoboken history. Bill’s work was absolutely instrumental in the exhibit that Chris Lopez curated at the Hoboken Historical Museum in 2023 on this topic.

“Bill Bayer In Black & White” is a set of 18 black and white photographs that elevate characters from Hudson County. The photographs span from 1978 to the current day.

The Hoboken Historical Museum is elated to share Bill Bayer’s work with our community, and heeds his call to use photography as a tool for social justice.

Please join us virtually on Friday, April 26 at 7pm when Bill Bayer sits down for an Artist Talk to discuss his new photography exhibit, “Bill Bayer In Black & White,” which will be livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook. All are invited to the Opening Reception for Bill on Sunday, April 28 from 2pm-5pm at HHM.

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

“Lugares de Mi Pueblito, Hoboken: Ayer Y Hoy/Places in My Little Town, Hoboken: Then and Now” Paintings by Julio C. Santiago

Mar. 30 - Apr. 21, 2024

Julio Cesar Santiago was born on August 17th, 1950 in the coffee town of Yauco, Puerto Rico. Raised on a farm, Julio had ambitions of a big city life and developed a love for all things New York City. He vowed to move to the Big Apple one day.

While attending the University of Puerto Rico in the late 60’s on a track & field and volleyball scholarship, Julio passed the time by drawing and painting city landscapes, devising a plan to eventually live in Manhattan. Eventually, after many trips back and forth to the New York City art scene, he made his big move to the Lower East Side in the early 70’s. There he became enamored with the hustle and bustle of the city and took an interest in murals and graffiti.

In 1978, he met and married a woman from Hoboken who introduced him to the mile square town. With his love of urban landscapes, he quickly got a job working for the City of Hoboken as a painter. He spent nearly 40 years as the city’s painter, not only for public spaces but as a painter for private homeowners as well. For those four decades, when he wasn’t painting for the city, he would paint newly sold or rented apartments for Uptown Realty (now known as Liberty Realty) during Hoboken’s housing boom.

Julio raised his three children in town, where they all still reside. He has a profound love for Hoboken, its rich history and unique architecture. Now a retired city worker, Julio spends his days painting his favorite buildings and neighborhoods in town, with his dog Olive by his side. When he’s not painting, he is jogging along the waterfront or recounting historical facts about our great city. He can often be found tinkering with his ’72 Chevy pickup, an uptown staple. To his friends, he is known as the unofficial mayor of Hoboken. But to his family, he is a unique and humble artist with a heart of gold, who is eternally loyal to his home.

“Hoboken Sweeps 3D.0” by Jean-Paul Picard

Jan, 28 - Mar. 3, 2024

Jean-Paul Picard is a Canadian American artist who grew up in Morristown, NJ. He received early exposure to the arts thanks to his beloved aunt. As a student at Morristown High School, Jean-Paul participated in the “Arthouse Group,” a small cohort of students who concentrated in the arts. His classwork consisted of etching, woodblock, silkscreen, and print-making. He would spend 3 hours a day, 5 days a week in Denville for advanced art courses. He also received an arts grant in etching from the Morris County Art Association under Jonathan Talbot. These opportunities left an indelible mark on Jean-Paul.

Jean-Paul continued his studies at Parsons School of Design. There, he found great mentors in George Tice and Louis Fauer. He completed a BA in Fine Arts in Communication Design and minored in photography and print-making. However, his greatest passion was photography. He developed a reputation on campus for his dedication to this medium.

Jean-Paul moved to Hoboken in 1981, where he engaged in street photography, but also worked for the Thomson Registry, a boutique advertising agency. In Hoboken, Jean-Paul discovered a vibrant arts community, where he felt supported and most at home.

Jean-Paul’s work is part of the permanent collection in the Museum of Modern Art, the New York Historical Society, Slater Memorial Museum, Drawing Rooms, and the Hoboken Historical Museum.

Hoboken Sweeps 3D.0 is Jean-Paul’s third exhibit at HHM. This show title has multiple meanings. Jean-Paul’s photography is 3-D and sculptural in nature. He uses his iPhone in a sweeping motion to capture his images. He has also evolved in his use of materials from phase paper, to gatorboard, to now shaped aluminum, for his photographs. Kiko Aebi, the Curatorial Assistant of the Museum of Modern Art, expressed, “I never knew photography could look like this.”

We look forward to welcoming visitors to see Jean-Paul’s innovative photography exhibit.

Artist Statement: I call my work “Sweeps,” which is the result of experimenting with moving the camera (iPhone), like a brush during exposures, recording time, movement and memory. After exposure, using my extensive skill set of both traditional and digital photography and printmaking, the file is prepared with little manipulation. In post-production, the chromaluxe aluminum dye sublimation photograph is hand-cut and shaped guided by the image. When finished, it is hung so that the wall becomes the negative space of the photograph, incorporating the entire environment. Centuries old aesthetic rules of exhibiting photographs in same size mats and frames are shattered. Since 2023, I have been producing free-standing sculptures.

Hoboken Sweeps 3D.0 has multiple meanings. The title refers to the following: the location of the photographs; my third show at HHM; all the photographs are 3 dimensional and were created in the 3rd Millennium.

In 2017, the photograph “Artist Need Not Apply” was displayed in my previous museum show “Hoboken Sweeps.” My fellow colleagues would come up to me, point to it and state: “YES!!!!” This photograph and this gallery inspired the work you see here today. Thank you, fellow colleagues, thank you, Hoboken Historical Museum, and thank you, Hoboken.

Special thanks to: Lee Beck, Lou Carbone, Bill Curran, Tim Daly, Gerri Fallo, Robert Foster, Ray Guzman, Roy Kinzer, Liz Cohen Ndoye, James Pustorino, Mary Nicholas Picard, Roslyn Rose, Anne Trauben, David White, and Steven Zane.

“Hoboken Walkabout” by Maggie Hinders

Nov. 11 - Dec. 22, 2023

The Hoboken Historical Museum is pleased to host “Hoboken Walkabout” by Maggie Hinders. Maggie’s Artist Talk will take place on Friday, November 10, 2023 at 7pm. Her opening reception will take place on Sunday, November 12, 2023 from 2pm-5pm at HHM.

Maggie Hinders grew up in Celina, Ohio, which is known as a farm town. As a child, she spent a lot of time outdoors and with her large family. At the age of 7, she visited an art museum in Dayton with her mother. This visit and exposure to art left an indelible mark on young Maggie. She knew she had found her calling. Maggie carried around the museum catalog with her and considered it one of her most prized possessions. With her mother’s encouragement, Maggie decided to study art in college in Cincinnati.

In the 1980’s, Maggie migrated to the East Coast at a time of an artistic renaissance. She settled first in the East Village, but made her way over to Hoboken in 1984. Here she found an amazing community of artists and creatives. She has been in Hoboken ever since and made her life here. She works as a senior designer for a book publishing company and is about to retire.

“Hoboken Walkabout” is Maggie’s first show at the Hoboken Historical Museum. For this collection, she began to do plein air painting (painting in the outdoors) in 2020. This was during the time of the pandemic, and being outdoors was a way to connect with beauty and continuity in a world that was crumbling. Since then she has found delight in being able to capture details of the city of Hoboken–small moments of beauty that gladden and inspire her and that she wants to share with others in her paintings.

Also part of the exhibition is a series of paintings from the Hoboken Train Terminal. Maggie went to great lengths to paint her environment, even when the weather turned cold. She persisted by moving to the terminal. She recalls painting in the balcony area of the waiting room. A young security guard told her how talented she is, but that she would need permission to continue painting there. Maggie’s meditative and realistic scenes had found a new enthusiast.

As part of her artistic philosophy, Maggie firmly believes, “there is always something to see, something to relate to, no matter the environment.” It is our honor to have Maggie share her perspectives on Hoboken as part of this show.

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