Tracking Public Art at the Morris Plains Station Through Time

TRANSITional Art Program (TAP) Call for Artists

Downtown Morris Plains has partnered with NJ TRANSIT to bring the 2026 TRANSITional Art Project to Morris Plains as a way to help celebrate the town's centennial. This year's project will include two different artistic installations at the Morris Plains Station. Submissions are due June 4, 2026: see call for artists.

A partnership of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and NJ TRANSIT, TAP is a temporary public art program designed specifically for transportation hubs in New Jersey. The goals of TAP are to connect NJ TRANSIT customers with the surrounding community by bringing new and inspiring experiences to the spaces they pass through every day, as well as providing New Jersey artists both exhibition opportunities and a supportive environment in which to create public art.

A Look Back at Public Art at the Morris Plains Station

As locals know, since 2014 the Morris Plains Station underpass has been home to a beautiful mural depicting the Morris Plains Borough official crest. This art was created by Boy Scout Tyler Urrutia as a part of his Eagle Scout project for Boy Scout Troop 39 to replace another, older mural. As a part of his project, Tyler presented his plan to refresh the previous artwork by recreating the town's crest (originally designed by resident Shirley Davis Campbell, a 1936 graduate of Morristown High School). He gained approval from the Morris Plains Mayor and Town Council, and led a team of volunteers to clean, scrape, prime, outline and finally paint his mural, representing a total of 118 volunteer hours!

The lifespan of a mural varies depending on a range of factors, including the type of paint being used, the wall preparation, and the location of the wall. Murals are generally considered to be temporary (with a lifetime ~10-15 years), but some murals can last even longer. Tyler was happy to share about the background of his project with Downtown Morris Plains and excited that the TAP will continue the cycle of refreshing public spaces with art in the Community of Caring.

Morris Plains Station art project will explore movement, history, and human connection

The 2026 TAP in Morris Plains will include two overhead painted murals in the Morris Plains Station Exit Pedestrian Tunnel and one for the Morris Plains Station Bridge. Applicants are asked to explore the theme "Tracks Through Time: Movement, History, and Human Connection," by reflecting on 250 years of American identity and transformation, the historical and cultural significance of railroads, and the lived experiences of people in transit both past and present. From the spirit of 1776 to the rhythms of modern commuting, this project aims to highlight how movement, specifically rail across land, time, and communities, has shaped the nation. The TRANSITional Art Selection Committee, including representatives from organizers as well as town and local stakeholders, will review each application and select up to three artists.

We can't wait to see how artists interpret these spaces in their submissions to the TAP, so stay tuned to the blog and our social media for updates!