BoehmHouse

Designated a New York City landmark in 1969, the Boehm House is typical of Staten Island farmhouses of the 18th and 19th centuries. Believed to be constructed around 1750, it shows Dutch influence in the older portion of the house. One of the owners, Henry Martin Boehm (1819-1862) was a teacher and a Staten Island school commissioner. (Courtesy of Historic Richmond Town/Niles French)

Designated a New York City landmark in 1969, the Boehm House is typical of Staten Island farmhouses of the 18th and 19th centuries. Believed to be constructed around 1750, it shows Dutch influence in the older portion of the house. (Courtesy of Historic Richmond Town/Niles French)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Have you ever indulged your inner creativity or mischievous side by painting something, serious or fun, a bit of a time capsule, on a wall in your house before you wallpapered, paneled or painted?

Historic Richmond Town is turning that impulse inside out while getting a paint job done on the Boehm House, one of the 30 buildings it preserves in its 100-acre village. First, it is inviting local artists to use the outside of the house as a temporary canvas to illustrate, in tinted primer, their vision of "My America."

"For two or three months, we will let the house speak to the community," said Ed Wiseman, executive director of Historic Richmond Town.

The innovative project, called "Art This House," is a result of a collaboration between Historic Richmond Town and Historic House Trust of New York City.

"We are asking people to reconsider the function and uses of these historic houses, not just as artifacts to be preserved but catalysts for contemporary conversation," said Franklin Vagnone, executive director of the Historic House Trust.

Designated a New York City landmark in 1969, the Boehm House is typical of Staten Island farmhouses of the 18th and 19th centuries. Believed to be constructed around 1750, it shows Dutch influence in the older portion of the house. One of the owners, Henry Martin Boehm (1819-1862) was a teacher and a Staten Island school commissioner.

A UNIQUE SOLUTION

"The bottom line is our houses need to be painted over and over. They are close to the road where soot and debris makes them much more difficult to maintain. In a year, they can look dingy again," said Ed Wiseman, executive director of Historic Richmond Town. "This is a fresh and unique way for us to get them protected and tell more stories about American life."



With its location at the side of Arthur Kill Road, Wiseman anticipates the project at the Boehm House will be passed by over a hundred thousand vehicles and visited by over 25,000 guests.



"The murals will be for people of all ages, from 8 to 98, so the imagery should share the American experience and resonate in a positive way," he said. "It should celebrate the challenges and the best of the country's history."

How many artists and murals will be determined as the project takes shape.

"We are still going to preserve the building, but it's about engaging people while you do it on far more deeper levels than them noticing, "Oh, they did a nice paint job," said Vagnone. Social media component of the project is also being worked out.



The murals will be visible for a few months before they will be repainted with a top coat that returns the house to its original color.

TO APPLY

Artists in the New York area, especially those who live and work in the borough, are urged to apply to this project. Artists should be experienced in large or mural-sized projects and must be prepared to show their past work.



If selected, they will submit sketches for approval. A stipend will be available for the participating artists. The deadline for submission is Feb. 15. The project begins April 1.

For an official application, artists should contact Niles French at 718-351-1611 x 266 or niles@historicrichmondtown.org.

The project is funded through the National Endowment for the Arts and Benjamin Moore is donating the paint.