"It's an eyesore right now," says artist Tim Daly, in a tone that can best be described as self-deprecating. But leave it to the art community to see the inner beauty in such a beast, as Daly and the rest of the Neumann Leathers Tenants Association have adopted this eyesore--themselves becoming a thorn in the side of developers who have tried to have it razed.

The massive brick edifice occupying the 300 block of Observer Highway has long been a bone of contention in Hoboken. One of the last true remnants of the city's industrial heyday, the current tenants have withstood numerous attempts to convert it into yet another residential development. Citing the need to provide a physical center to support arts and business, The Neumann Leathers Tenants Association has made quite a name for itself as a community activist organization.

"Affordable rent in an active 24-7 industrial building is what originally drew me to Neumann in 1989," says Daly. "This is the key to attracting and keeping working artists who have galleries, commissions and shows, younger artists just getting started and the many small and medium-sized businesses at Neumann."

But while many in Hoboken are familiar with the work of the tenants association, few are familiar with the work of the tenants themselves. "I would estimate there are 60 or more painters, sculptors, printmakers, photographers and videographers at Neumann. Musicians started moving in a few years ago, there are dozens in and out every day," says Daly. "All told, the artists occupy only about 25% of the building space--75% is workspace for artisans and small businesses of all kinds: printers, woodworkers, cabinet makers, high-end antique restoration, instrument makers, architects, a clothing factory, the best architectural model maker in the metro area, a company that designs, builds and installs broadcast and cable television studios for the large TV networks."

Artists
"I was recruited to Neumann by a group of artist friends after graduate school," says artist Tim Heins, who's recent work depicts the NJ Transit train yards and the view from his fifth floor studio window. "I was living and painting in an apartment in Brooklyn; it was good to have a space separate from my living situation," he says, adding "I like the small town feel of Hoboken."

Heins is not alone in appreciating Hoboken's quasi-urban vibe. "When I moved to Hoboken I rented a space in Tribeca where I did my artwork, but even though I was in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple, I felt pretty isolated," says abstract artist Jean Fowley, who is currently working on a variety of intricate mosaics. "Neumann Leathers… was one of the smartest decisions I have ever made. I feel at home in my studio, have the comfort and charm of Hoboken right out my door, and enjoy easy access to New York’s museums and galleries."

Sofia Bachvarova, a 2009 MFA graduate of the New York Academy of Art, concurs, stating, "I am finally at peace with having found the perfect studio at Hoboken's historic Neumann Leathers building. Being at good commuting distance from Manhattan yet on the New Jersey side works well for me, since I reside in the Montclair area yet most of my art contacts are in the city." Bachvarova adds, "I fell in love with this building for the same reason people fall in love with antiques--the history in the nicks and imperfections, the patina that only time can award... the genuine history of being lived-in. For me as a visual artist who creates reality out of illusion, it is vital to have a place where things are real so as to rest my eyes on. It is this sense of grounding I need in order to be able to work and the Neumann building gives me exactly that."

Winifred McNeill, artist and professor in the Art Department of New Jersey City University has a shorter commute. "I now live in downtown Jersey City and walk to my studio," she says. "The building is safe and accessible, with great working spaces for artists and artisans. I love the atmosphere in the building."

An appreciation for that atmosphere within Neumann Leathers seems universal among occupants. "The Neumann Leather Building is a couple of blocks from my home," says Hobokenite Deborah Pohl, who specializes in installation art. "I stay there because of the artist community it provides."

Hoboken's Michelle Doll paints strikingly detailed, intimate works and knows that space is a premium. "I work with rather large paintings," she says, "so I need plenty of room." But she's not too greedy, sharing the space with her 14-year old son. "I'm a single mother, and this is a great place to raise a kid."

Fowley adds, "Besides gaining a lot more space for my dollar, I have the support of my fellow artist tenants--we bounce around ideas, lend a hand, and share the occasional bottle of wine."

"I was born in Hoboken and spent a great deal of my formative years on Jefferson Street between 1st and Observer," says artist/writer Mauro Altamura. "The place has a special, personal meaning for me. Having a studio there has been one of the best things I've ever done for myself. I love being in Hoboken."

The A.V. Squad
Mark Gasper is an Independent Filmmaker and a Digital Video Creator with work that has been seen by audiences all over the world in theaters, festivals and on television. "What brought me to Neumann Leather is that I needed a space locally for my expanding business," he says. "I could no longer work comfortably inside my home." As for Hoboken, Gasper says, "It's so close to New York City, I affectionately tell people that 'I'm on the Lower West Side'. That line always gets a positive reaction from people on both sides of the river, and if you think about it, it's true. Hoboken is much closer to Manhattan than Park Slope or Forest Hills."

Illustrator/artist Santiago Cohen has done animation for HBO, the Cartoon Network, PBS, and has around 20 children's books under his belt. "I've lived in Hoboken around 21 years and have done most of my best work here," he says, "but I am a fresh addition to the Neumann--I started renting a studio in 2007." Cohen relishes the activist nature of the location. "I was attracted to the Neumann building because I wanted to be part of all the artists who work there, and I wanted to fight against the developers who wanted to destroy it."

Chris "Gibby" Gibson, Owner/Operator of Upstart Rehearsal Studios and Vocalist/Guitarist/Songwriter of the band High Speed Chase, shares this passion. "I've been a resident since 1984 and I've always loved the idea of what this town originally offered--affordable rents, very open-minded and supportive residents, a great arts/music scene, and of course, fantastic proximity to New York City. Obviously, some of these things have changed a bit," says Gibson, "but I still feel Hoboken has a great underground scene of hungry, up-and-coming talent that continues to stick it out--even in spite of considerably higher rents, overdevelopment, and a diminished lack of supportive live music venues that cater to original music."

Industry
The heart of any community is typically its commerce and industry, though Eric Chapeau's workshop is not what one might think of as typical industry. He and his staff passionately toil away restoring and creating the caliber of furniture where the term "world-class" is an understatement. Working with one-of-a-kind instruments, nothing is mass produced or rolled off an assembly line. But in the process, Chapeau employs up to 30 workers at any given time.

"It's a community--there are 16 nationalities working here, using 14 different languages," says Chapeau. Working at this level, designing mind-bogglingly exquisite furniture and having contracts with the likes of Steinway pianos, there is a need for everything to be custom made; thus requiring a variety of trade skills. "They come from referrals--if someone I know can't use a particularly worker, they ask if I can use them and so on," says Chapeau.

Utilizing several floors of the building, Eric Chapeau also shares the space with his wife, artist Jennifer Krause Chapeau, and typifies the type of ambitious, forward-thinking commercial enterprise that would be attracted to such a location.

"Custom-made furniture of today will be the antiques of tomorrow," says Chapeau. "What we keep is the good stuff--what else are we going to save? If you spend your life copying someone else's work, it’s not too interesting."

The Future
For now, the developers are leaving Neumann Leathers alone. Current economic conditions have cooled the seemingly insatiable pursuit for budding residential space, though the tenants are always looking over their collective shoulder. "We're on a month-to-month lease," says Daly. "And we're not out to skin the landlord--we anticipate the future and perhaps the introduction of retail space," adding, "frankly, the place could use a facelift." But no matter what the future brings, there's no doubt among tenants that the soul of the building should remain intact. As Daly puts it, "Neumann Leathers means arts and industry in Hoboken today, an asset to the city and a good, if quirky, neighbor."

For more on Neumann Leathers Tenants Association, including a list of tenants and contact information, visit neumanntenants.org.