The Planning Board has formed a subcommittee to vet Madison Marquette’s proposed art wall project at the First Avenue Pavilion that houses Stella Marina, Cubacan, Blue Nami, Watermark, and Just Another Day’s Ice Cream Shop.
The project received conceptual plan approval in May 2013 and artists Mel Stultz and Larry Potter of Landmark Studios are charged with transforming the Ocean Avenue facing wall.
This week final plan approvals were pushed back to allow the subcommittee to meet with the boardwalk redeveloper’s principals, the artists, and members of the city’s Public Arts Committee, headed by Mike Sodano.
Currently the art wall design includes a painted depiction of the area inspired by a circa 1890 map, Madison Marquette Senior Vice President Anselm Fusco said. Sculptural backlit designs include a one-inch metal plate that will depict the shoreline along the wall, a compass rose, a demarcation of Asbury Park on the painted map, and a sea creature – currently shown as a sea horse.
The seahorse replaced the previously proposed fish to allow a tie in to those found in the historic Convention Hall at the boardwalks north end, Fusco said.
“The concept here is to maintain this idea of a fish but to put it into context,” Fusco said.
The art wall plans are scheduled for a vote during the April 27 Planning Board meeting so subcommittee reports will need to be filed by April 17, officials said.
Madison Marquette officials said they have a targeted July completion date for the project.
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