WEST ORANGE, NJ — A West Orange High School senior is donating her time and talents to the West Orange Fire Department — though her work has nothing to do with putting out fires.
Siena Stanislaus is nearly finished painting a large WOFD patch on the floor of the recently converted Mount Pleasant Avenue Fire Station. When completed, the patch will cover the logo of the West Orange First Aid Squad, which occupied the building from 1963 until September 2015.
Stanislaus has been hard at work on the project for approximately one month, visiting the station during her free time to draw out and paint the patch design. But it was time well-spent, according to Stanislaus, who recalled that she jumped at the opportunity to help the WOFD when Principal Hayden Moore offered it to her. And now that she is just putting the finishing touches on her work, the high school senior said she is pleased with how it has turned out.
“I think it looks really good,” Stanislaus told the West Orange Chronicle in a Feb. 25 phone interview. “I made sure that I did a good job with the dimensions, like I made sure it was symmetrical when I drew out the letters. I tried to get it to look like it was an actual professional job.”
Those familiar with the patch worn on the sleeves of WOFD firefighters will surely recognize the image Stanislaus has created on the firehouse floor. Yet her design is actually a bit different from the real logo, owing to the fact that the department allowed her to put her own spin on the traditional patch. The WOHS student explained that she added a few details — such as making the letters appear three dimensional — to make the image look more modern.
Although the painted patch is slightly dissimilar from the one emblazoned on their uniforms, the WOFD firefighters seem happy with Stanislaus’ work. Indeed, fireman Joseph Matullo said he thinks the project is coming along well, and has the artist herself to thank for that.
“(I was told) she’s one of the best, and she really is,” Matullo told the Chronicle in a Feb. 19 phone interview. “She’s a sweet girl and she’s really very understanding of our needs. She has no problems when it comes to adapting to our suggestions and adding her own touches.
“So far, the work that she’s done has been outstanding,” he continued. “At first when she started off I was wondering to myself, and I even said this to her, ‘Where’s she going with this?’ And then she made one line and the whole picture just came right to us. I said ‘Oh wow, now I know why she’s in arts.’”
Matullo has reason to be especially proud of Stanislaus’ work, considering he was the one who suggested to Fire Chief Peter Smeraldo that the WOFD find a WOHS student for the project. Matullo said the department could have hired outside professionals, but that would have been expensive. More importantly, he said their work would have lacked the authenticity and meaning that only a local could provide.
Plus, Matullo added that he is glad to have been able to offer an opportunity for a young artist to make a lasting impression.
“I even told Siena, ‘At the end just initial it and it’ll be forever yours. This way, when you come around in the future, it’ll always be there. You can show your kids, your parents, your grandkids, whoever. For however long this building will be here and we’re occupying it, you’ll have your initials imprinted on artwork you did when you were a teenager,’” Matullo said.
The WOHS senior said she is grateful for the chance to share her art with the township, though it is not the first time she has been asked to use her talents to benefit the community. Since discovering her passion for painting as a freshman in art class — she said she loved the freedom it provided to express herself creatively without the fear of being judged right or wrong — Stanislaus has already adorned the WOHS Auto Shop’s garage door with the Mountaineers logo and has painted the school’s mountain-shaped ticket booth to make it appear snow-covered. She has also embarked on several personal projects both in class and on her own time, such as a series she is currently doing in AP Art juxtaposing female bodies with traffic signs as a commentary on how women are treated by society. For instance, one painting shows women’s feet on a highway being forced to yield to men’s, signifying the glass ceiling women often face in reality.
No matter what project she is working on, Stanislaus said she simply enjoys pursuing her art in any way that she can. The senior, who plans to attend college in the fall, said her eventual goal is to find a career in which she can combine her love of painting with her interest in psychology.
Until that happens, Stanislaus said she just wants to continue exploring her passions and opening herself up to whatever opportunities she comes across along the way. And she suggested that much good can come if others do the same.
“I think it’s important that if you have a talent or something you like to do, you should share it,” Stanislaus said. “There’s always going to be somebody who could use a certain kind of talent.”
Photos Courtesy of Joe Matullo
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