TOMS RIVER, NJ (August 29, 2014) – The State of New Jersey is proud to endorse a signature monument unveiled this morning in Ocean County recognizing the resiliency of the residents after the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy, and welcoming everyone back to the revitalized, beautiful Jersey Shore.
Brian Hanlon’s Sculpture of Hurricane Sandy Monument
The monument, located on Route 37 in Toms River was made possible by the generous donation of long-time residents, Jay and Linda Grunin. It represents the single largest piece of handcrafted artwork in Ocean County, featuring nearly 55,000 pounds of bronze, granite, and stainless steel standing 20 feet tall, and serves as a welcoming image to residents and visitors alike as they travel the Route 37 corridor. The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation and Hanlon Sculpture Studio collaborated with people throughout the Ocean County community to find out how they wanted the area to be portrayed.
The final artwork, constructed entirely by Ocean County contractors, features a monumental bronze sculpture of a family on the boardwalk mounted to a granite base that has seemingly risen above the water around it. The waves surrounding the sculpture, and the scallop shell serving as the backdrop is custom-carved from blocks of granite. A stainless steel silhouette of a ferris wheel in the background appropriately displays the message “Welcome to Ocean County”.
“We wanted to give something back to a county that has been our home for the last 45 years,” said Jay Grunin. “Most importantly, we wanted to forge a new image in people’s minds that truly represents what our community stands for: family, great recreational offerings, and people that rise above adversity regardless of the obstacle.”
“I’m grateful to the Grunin family and the Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation for their generosity,” said Toms River Township Mayor Tom Kelaher. “The Grunins’ commitment to the arts and Ocean County will be witnessed by thousands of people daily as they drive past this beautiful statue on Route 37. I want to thank them for siting this welcoming monument in Toms River.”
World-renowned artist and sculptor Brian P. Hanlon, a Toms River resident, was commissioned to design and create the monument. Hanlon is the Official Sculptor for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
“It’s extremely rewarding to be able to do something like this in my own hometown” said Hanlon. “I can sincerely say that there has never been, nor do I think there ever will be, a project that I hold so closely to my heart.”
Jeremy Grunin, Jay and Linda’s son and Executive Director of the Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation, said, “I was born in Ocean County, went to school in Ocean County, and now, along with my wife, Laura, raise my three children here in Ocean County. It is so exciting to have an opportunity to be part of a project like this which will create an iconic image for our community to be proud of for generations to come.”
About Hanlon Sculpture Studio
Brian P. Hanlon is aclassically-trained master sculptor and founder of Hanlon Sculpture Studio; a full-service art studio that designs, creates, and installs awe-inspiring and signature monuments featuring bronze, aluminum, stainless steel and granite sculptures, illustrative and informational graphics, and interactive kiosks.
Hanlon Sculpture Studio provides complete site design services from sculptures to hard and softscapes, and offers total project management from design to installation and unveiling. In collaboration with administrative and athletic staff at colleges and universities, the studio develops the scope of artwork projects that are designed to enhance the spirit, pride and tradition of athletics and the campus community.