While gazing out the window at Starbucks on Hudson and Newark streets, I noticed a peculiar structure that somehow I missed before. In the midst of all the hustle and bustle was a random totem pole. I felt like I had been placed in a secluded reservation. My mind began to wander so I had to take a closer look.

The “totem pole” is actually an old telephone pole adorned with cartoon- like wooden sculptures once brightly colored but now faded. It dates back more than 25 years when artists flocked to Hoboken including Paul Divone who used the city as a canvas for these “bohemian” like structures. They were used by musicians to post flyers on until they rotted away or were removed. This lone folk art sculpture, however, still stands tall today.

While everything has a meaning, the best part about art is that it can be whatever you make of it. So next time you notice something that intrigues you, let your imagination run wild…