Giant Avenel firefighter statue is part of Woodbridge arts campaign

by Sergio Bichao on Aug 25th | Email

Sculptors Glenn Murgacz, left, and Dawn Arena with Smoke Eater at the Avenel firehouse. Glenn and the township's arts committee want to place a large sculpture in each of the township's 10 sections. Staff photo: Keith Muccilli

WOODBRIDGE, NJ -- Glenn Murgacz wants to display 10 large public works of art in each of the township's 10 sections.

That may sound like a tall order until you realize the idea is coming from a guy who built the 12-foot, half-ton stainless steel firefighter standing guard outside the Avenel fire house on Route 1.

Murgacz, 60, is a sculptor and a member of the Mayor John E. McCormac's Woodbridge Committee for the Arts, dedicated to promoting an arts community in the township.

“Any revitalization of any town is generally arts driven. If you bring in the arts people will come,” Murgacz said. That's where the massive sculptures come in.

“Sculptures have a pretty big impact on the community,” he said. “People drive down the highway and see it and it draws your attention.”

“The main thrust of the committee is to help revitalize the downtown areas, especially the Woodbridge downtown area,” which already features weekly pop music concerts and the nonprofit Woodbridge Artisan Guild's gallery, which Murgacz helped open a year ago. “If you bring in the arts, the merchants start to come,” he said.

The metal firefighter, christened the “Smoke Eater,” was built by Murgacz and artist Dawn Arena of South Brunswick at his home studio. It took them nearly five months, donating their time while Avenel businessman Richard Olson funded the cost of the materials. In July, A&A Tree Service of Avenel transported the work to the firehouse in July.

Officials will officially dedicate the “Smoke Eater” today at 6 p.m. Spotlights will illuminate the statue at night.

The firefighter is the second sculpture in what Murgascz calls the “10 town sculpture project.” The first, an 11-foot abstract piece called “Pablo's Girl,” was installed this winter at the park on Route 35 in Woodbridge proper.

The committee is seeking a sponsor for a sculpture approved for the lawn of the Evergreen Senior Citizens Center in Colonia. This project is described as three 15-foot painted steel arcs.

Murgacz is in talks with another business owner interested in sponsoring a sculpture for the Sewaren waterfront, probably an enormous sculpture of a striped bass.

That just leaves Fords, Hopelawn, Iselin, Keasbey, Menlo Park Terrace and Port Reading -- for which the committee is now accepting ideas, sponsorships and artists willing to create the works for just the cost of materials. Murgacz admits many artists may not be as generous as him.

“But I'm interested in raising the awareness of the arts in Woodbridge Township so that's my contribution that I am willing to pay,” he said.