Mechanic Street in Haddonfield was once a hub of transportation with a blacksmith’s shop, a carriage factory, and stables for horses. Now it transports people in a different way. Along the 50 feet of wrought iron fence on the street, residents and visitors have been enjoying a rotating series of artworks since 2023. That’s when the Haddonfield Outdoor Sculpture Trust (HOST) established Artwalk, which provides a space akin to an open-air exhibition for artists to display and sell their pieces and for the public to engage with artistic expression.
“We were inspired by examples in Paris and New Orleans where artists display their work along streets on ornamental iron park fences,” said Joe Sikora, president of HOST’s executive committee and president of Sikora Wells Appel, a Haddonfield landscape architecture firm. “We thought this approach would be a wonderful way to enhance and further activate Mechanic Street, a charming pedestrian-oriented alley in the center of town.” He added that HOST was fortunate to have found eight “quite beautiful” authentic vintage cast-iron fence panels that the committee restored and installed along the existing brick wall adjacent to the public parking lot.
A big phase of transformation for the street happened in 2010, explained Stuart Harting, founder and chair of HOST. “The borough administrator, Sharon McCullough, saw an opportunity to apply for a state transportation grant to redo a street in town,” Harting said. “I worked with her to research the transportation-related aspects of Mechanic Street, being the early transportation center of Haddonfield with a blacksmith, a carriage factory, and stables for horse and carriage sales and rentals. Along with the reconstruction of the street, we were able to install the Haddonfield Outdoor Sculpture Trust’s first installation, “Uno” by sculptor Miguel Horn in 2014, which is still there. We were also able to have the high-school art class create a series of themed tiles which were installed on buildings along the street.” The transportation-themed tiles, depicting horses, blacksmiths, and wheel makers, were created by juniors at Haddonfield Memorial High School under the sponsorship of HOST. Building upon the success of Mechanic Street, Artwalk was a way the town could expand the sculpture and artwork displays.
According to Sikora, Artwalk provides ongoing curated art exhibits that include local and regional artists and designers. “Original works are faithfully reproduced and printed on aluminum panels that can withstand outdoor conditions,” Sikora said.
Lisa Wolschina, the owner and principal broker for Lisa Wolschina & Associates, a leading real estate firm that’s based in Haddonfield, said that Artwalk added value to the area, drawing people down Mechanic Street, a hidden gem in the town.
The current Artwalk installation features the work of local architects Jay Reinert of J Reinert Architecture and Thomas Wagner of Thomas B. Wagner, Architect, and highlights South Jersey architecture projects. The exhibit, which shows how Reinert and Wagner approach space, materiality, and light, will run through Spring 2026, according to a Segel Associates press release.
The previous installation featured the essays and artwork of Haddonfield Memorial High School students. The artists were students in Allie Westerside’s advanced placement art class, and they graduated high school in 2025. There have been five exhibits on Artwalk so far.
“We are excited about the opportunity to continue to expand the rotational art exhibits that are high quality, informative and compelling to enhance community walkability and the quality of life in Haddonfield,” Sikora said.
