Local Artist Makes Sea Bright Bus Stop a Little Brighter

When driving down Route 36 in Sea Bright, things seem a bit brighter.

The bus stop in front of the parking lot got an extreme make-over. The formerly drab grey hut is now painted to look like a beach home as colorful and bright as the people who live in the borough.

Local Artist Megan Heath Gilhool always dreamed of painting the Sea Bright bus stop into a cheery home setting. “It used to look like a prison,” said Gilhool. “Every time I looked at the bus stop, I could imagine it finished.”

Gilhool was raised in Monmouth Beach but lived in Sea Bright for many years. She even lived in two apartments that overlooked the stop, which gave her plenty of time to visualize what she would like it should look like. She drew up a design (see photos) over a decade ago and brought the idea to the local business alliance. "They weren't quite ready for it at that time, but they were open to the idea," said Gilhool.

But Gilhool did not give up. 15 years later, the Sea Bright Business Alliance gave her the okay and she started on her project. "This was just something I had to get out of me," said the volunteer artist. "It was on my bucket list!"

Gilhool started the project the second week in October and after almost a month of hard work, she is finishing up with final touches. "It has been a challenging project because there are so many elements to it. There are no flat surfaces so that makes painting a difficult task. Painting every corner and inch of the stop including under the seat is back breaking," said Gilhool.

Gilhool said she used a variety of bright paints and metallics to bring the bus stop to life. All of the paint used for the stop was donated by  located across the street for the stop.

She said although it is challenging, it is a lot of fun to create this piece of art. The self-taught artists said she does all kinds of art, but she loves this working project because of all the unique details. The living rooms is full of little additions that make the room feel like you are in someone's beach home including a cat named "Bus-ter", local magazines, a small photo of Ralph Kramden from the Honey Mooners, a bookshelf full of titles that represent the Sea Bright community and a timeless quote that said "May your joys be as deep as the ocean, and your sorrows as light as the foam."

Want to check it out? There will be a Sea Bright Bus Stop Mural Opening Party on Friday, Nov. 18 from 7-10pm upstairs at DIVE Coastal Bar in Sea Bright open to all. There will be people bus-ting a move on the dance floor, music, cake, drinks and guided tours with Gilhool to her masterpiece where she will describe all of the details put into the stop. Gilhool will also give away a hand painted portrait similar to the one featured on the bus stop wall.