Escape (Maplewood)
Escape is a public art installation in Maplewood, New Jersey, located on Springfield Avenue in Maplewood Village. The sculpture, created by artist Derrick Velasquez and installed in the fall of 2017, depicts a life-sized bronze figure seemingly bursting from the sidewalk, as though breaking free from the concrete beneath. Its placement in the heart of Maplewood Village has drawn visitors to the township and contributed to ongoing public conversation about art, freedom, and community identity.
History
The installation of Escape grew out of a public art initiative undertaken by the Maplewood Arts Council, which sought to integrate original artwork into the commercial and pedestrian spaces of Maplewood Village. The council issued an open call for artists, and Velasquez's proposal was selected from among numerous submissions. According to accounts of the selection process, the committee was drawn to the sculpture's direct visual language and its capacity to connect with a broad audience across age and background.
The project was not without early controversy. Some community members raised questions about whether a depiction of struggle and physical confinement was an appropriate subject for a public thoroughfare. Supporters countered that the work's intent was affirmative rather than bleak — that the figure straining upward through the pavement represented the human drive toward freedom and self-determination, not despair. After a period of public comment and review by the township's planning board, the installation proceeded in the fall of 2017. The sculpture was cast in bronze and positioned flush with the sidewalk to create the visual effect of emergence from the pavement itself. Since its unveiling, Escape has become a well-known stop for visitors and a reference point in local discussions about the role of public art in civic life.[1]
Geography
Escape is located in Maplewood Village, the commercial and civic center of Maplewood Township, Essex County, New Jersey. The sculpture stands on Springfield Avenue, a main commercial corridor running through the village, and is integrated directly into the pedestrian walkway to encourage close interaction. The surrounding block is lined with independent retailers, restaurants, and service businesses, giving the sculpture high foot traffic on both weekdays and weekends.
Maplewood Township sits in northeastern New Jersey, roughly 14 miles southwest of Midtown Manhattan. The township is served by New Jersey Transit's Morris and Essex Lines, with Maplewood station providing direct rail service into New York Penn Station — a commute that typically runs between 45 minutes and an hour depending on the service. This connection to New York City employment centers has made Maplewood an attractive address for commuters, and the steady pedestrian activity it generates contributes directly to the visibility of public installations like Escape.
The township's broader setting is characterized by a mix of residential neighborhoods, suburban commercial corridors, and accessible natural areas. The Watchung Reservation, a 2,060-acre county park managed by Union County, lies a short drive to the west and offers hiking, fishing, and open-air recreation. The Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, one of the largest urban wildlife refuges in the northeastern United States, is also within reasonable distance of the township. Maplewood Village itself is relatively flat and walkable, with the sculpture's location on Springfield Avenue placing it within easy reach of the NJ Transit station, Memorial Park, and the township's concentration of independent businesses.[2]
Culture
Escape has become one of the more recognizable visual markers of Maplewood Village, appearing regularly in local promotional materials and media coverage of the township. The sculpture's open-ended subject — a figure in the act of breaking free — invites interpretation. Viewers have read it as a statement about personal resilience, about the relationship between individuals and the built environment, and about the aspirations of a diverse community. That interpretive flexibility has helped the work maintain relevance beyond its initial installation.
The Maplewood Arts Council has used the sculpture as an anchor for programming, organizing guided tours, artist talks, and community workshops in its vicinity. These events have drawn participants from Maplewood and surrounding Essex County towns, building a small but consistent audience around the work. Local businesses on Springfield Avenue have incorporated the sculpture into their street-level identity, and it has become a standard reference point for visitors navigating the village on foot.
The installation has also had a secondary effect of encouraging broader investment in public art within the township. Since 2017, discussions about additional permanent and temporary installations in Maplewood Village have cited Escape as evidence that public sculpture can generate foot traffic, spark community conversation, and give a commercial corridor a distinctive character it wouldn't otherwise have.
Artist
Derrick Velasquez is a sculptor whose figurative work engages themes of identity, physical struggle, and liberation. His practice centers on the human form as a vehicle for communicating psychological and social experience, and Escape is consistent with that focus. The commission in Maplewood brought Velasquez into direct contact with the township's arts community, and his engagement with the project extended beyond the installation itself to include public talks and interactions with local schools and arts organizations.
Velasquez's work has been shown in galleries and public spaces across the United States. His connection to Maplewood through Escape has made him a periodic presence in the local arts scene, and the commission is among his most publicly visible permanent installations.
Attractions
Maplewood Village, where Escape is situated, supports a compact and walkable commercial district centered on Springfield Avenue and its cross streets. The village is home to independent clothing boutiques, bookshops, jewelry stores, and home goods retailers, alongside a varied selection of restaurants and cafes offering cuisines from across the world. The area's dining and retail mix draws visitors from neighboring South Orange, Millburn, and other Essex County communities.
The South Orange/Maplewood area is served by the Maplewood Theatre, a local venue that hosts film screenings and live performances. Memorial Park, located near the village center, provides open green space with walking paths, playgrounds, and athletic fields. The park is a focal point for community gatherings and seasonal programming throughout the year. Maplewood also hosts recurring public events on Springfield Avenue, including street fairs and farmers markets organized by the Maplewood Village Alliance, which bring additional foot traffic past Escape and the surrounding businesses.
The township's combination of walkable village amenities, proximity to rail transit, and access to nearby natural areas — including the Watchung Reservation and South Mountain Reservation — makes it a reasonably self-contained destination for day visitors arriving by train from New York City or by car from the surrounding region.
Getting There
Maplewood is directly served by New Jersey Transit's Morris and Essex Lines, with trains running from New York Penn Station to Maplewood station throughout the day. The rail journey from Midtown Manhattan typically takes between 45 minutes and one hour. From Maplewood station, the sculpture on Springfield Avenue is reachable on foot in roughly ten to fifteen minutes, or by a short taxi or ride-share trip. Several NJ Transit bus routes also connect Maplewood to neighboring communities in Essex and Union counties.
Visitors arriving by car will find Maplewood conveniently positioned near Interstate 78 and Route 24, with additional access via local roads connecting to the Garden State Parkway corridor. Parking in Maplewood Village is available in municipal lots and on-street spaces along Springfield Avenue, though spaces can be limited on weekend afternoons and during community events. Bicycle parking is available near the sculpture. The township's transit connections and road access make Escape straightforward to reach from most parts of the New York metropolitan area.