EATONTOWN – Six World War II era buildings on the Fort Monmouth property in Eatontown will begin their transformation next spring into an arts hub the purchaser of the property has described as “Woodstock without the pot.”
That was the notion offered by Kenneth Schwartz, who purchased four acres at the former U.S. military installation and said the development of an artistic community could act as an “incubator” for ideas and collaboration to thrive.
In 2017, the Fort Monmouth Revitalization Authority (FMERA) approved a purchase and sale agreement and a redevelopment agreement with Schwartz.
In an interview on Dec. 12, Schwartz, who owns the Detour Gallery in Red Bank, said his vision for the property at Fort Monmouth could come to fruition in the late spring of 2019 when maintenance and construction could begin. He said renovations to the buildings could take six months to complete.
“I want to create an artistic community,” Schwartz said. “My intent is to fix the buildings and have people take them over.”
Part of his vision is the conversion of five vacant buildings to studio, performance and gallery spaces, he said. The upper level of the sixth building would be reserved for four artists who are visiting from other states and countries and want to take part in a 90-day artist’s residency.
The free residency, Schwartz said, will allow artists to live, work and collaborate with other artists visiting and living at that location. He said the visiting artists will have gallery space on the first floor where they can display and curate their work.
Schwartz said he has received inquiries from individuals in Norway and Italy who have shown interest in participating in the international residency.
Asked how he thinks incorporating international influences and ideas would contribute to the vision he has for the space, Schwartz said, “I believe we could use other perspectives from around the world. It’s a big world, but maybe not as big as we think.
“From outer space we are pretty small and if people around the world could get that concept, maybe different wouldn’t seem so different. I would like to encourage other perspectives so we can see that we are maybe not so different than the “others” and maybe through art more of us could learn to live and let live,” he said.
Regarding his vision to transform the parcel to a “Woodstock style” live, work and play environment, Schwartz said, “I think young people sometimes think people from that era, the late 1960’s, like me, are ancient, but we are not. A lot of very progressive and cool thinkers evolved from that era.
“The younger creative folk will make a synergy with the older hip folks and everyone in between and the entire group will feel energized, vibrant and cumulatively younger at heart.
“The artistic flair will be a product of the synergistic creativity of the community. That’s the big idea that the sum of the parts will be bigger than the individual entities that contribute to it,” he said.
On his wish list for inclusion at the location is a “1960s themed coffee house,” which Schwartz said could further aid in the exchange of ideas and information as artists relax in a retro space.
