The New Jersey School of Architecture and Matthew Gosser proudly present The WESTINGHOUSE PROJECT.

The WESTINGHOUSE PROJECT is the latest Ar+chaeology exhibition to be hosted by the New Jersey School of Architecture Gallery. Ar+chaeology is an art movement concerned with the exploration of culturally significant abandoned buildings and the transformation of found artifacts into artwork that speaks somehow of the places they were found. Over 40 artists have been invited to make artwork inspired by and often created from the ruins of the recently demolished Westinghouse factory in Newark, NJ. For a list of featured artists, please refer to the participating artist page.

The NJSOA Gallery is open to the public Monday thru Friday, 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., and on special weekends by appointment only (contact Gallery Director Matthew Gosser for more information or press inquiries).

SPECIAL EXHIBITION EVENTS

The opening reception for The WESTINGHOUSE PROJECT will be held on Saturday, October 11th, from 5-11 p.m. in the NJSOA Gallery (click here for directions). The reception will feature the artists, live music, and refreshments.

A special film screening will be held on Saturday, October 25th, from 7-10 p.m., as part of Newark's Open Studio Tour. The film documents The WESTINGHOUSE PROJECT in its entirety, from the demolition of the Westinghouse Factory to the opening of the exhibition and the reinterpretation of Westinghouse artifacts into works of art.

HISTORY & ORIGINS of The WESTINGHOUSE PROJECT

The recently demolished Westinghouse factory played a significant role in Newark's industrial history. Spanning two city blocks, the original 4-story brick factory was built in 1890 alongside what is now the Broad Street Station. Over the next nearly 100 years, the Westinghouse complex underwent a number of additions and renovations, bound by the iconic 4-story brick facade seen below.

During its most active periods, the Westinghouse factory produced trolley motors, electrical switchboards, arc lamps, volt meters and watt-hour meters, and protective relays, as well as electric fans and radio speakers. In fact, the first World Series was broadcast from the roof of the building. The Westinghouse factory produced shock-proof relays, gauges and instrumentation for military use during World War II, and over a thousand varieties of relays, electrical instruments, and telemetering/switchboard equipment at the height of its activity in the 1950's and 60's.

The decline of the manufacturing sectors and sociopolitical unrest in Newark spelled the end of Westinghouse's history in Newark. The factory began shutting down its operations, and by 1984, Westinghouse had vacated and sold the property to a consortium of developers who tried unsuccessfully to rehabilitate the complex. Demolition of the Westinghouse complex finally began in 2007. By the end of Summer 2008, the only remnants of the Westinghouse factory were the piles of rubble left on the site.

The WESTINGHOUSE PROJECT is an attempt to breathe new life into the artifacts from the Westinghouse factory and promote greater appreciation for the site and its place in the history of the City of Newark.

Download Exhibition Postcard (PDF, 4 MB)