HOW A BEACHFRONT COMMUNITY IS USING ART TO CREATE A VIRAL BRAND [VIA THEBPLOT]
The artist known as Pork Chop’s new “Jelly Lady” installation is one of the first in a summer-long public art project – the largest ever for the Jersey Shore – currently being rolled-out by boardwalk redeveloper Madison Marquette.
Locations from the Sunset Pavilion to the Power Plant have been identified for temporary installations by local, national and international up-and-coming and established artists. Throughout the season, visitors will be able to watch the creative process unfold. Then, in September, the project will culminate in a colorful celebration of all the waterfront art.
“The artists we are partnering with bring their own perspective and interpretation of the Asbury Park experience,” said Anselm Fusco of Madison Marquette. “Pork Chop has a vision and sensibility that captures a lot that’s compelling about being on the water in Asbury Park.”
Madison Marquette has partnered with Jenn Hampton of Parlor Gallery to curate the artists for the area’s history-making temporary public art program. More than a hundred artists were originally considered over a year ago when this project was incubating.
“We wanted amazing artists that had a connection to our city and understood its history and pulse,” said Hampton. “With this project Madison Marquette is giving an art gallery to people who may not come to a gallery, as well as giving art lovers another reason to visit. This is an exciting and unique collaboration.”
The program kicked-off in April with New York City street artist Harif Guzman’s installation of a custom large-scale illuminated mural lining the east wall of the Carousel building.
Following the debut of Pork Chop’s “Jelly Lady” will be a two-phase celebration of photography. Beginning this weekend (May 23) and continuing through July 6, a rare exhibit from legendary rock and roll photographer Danny Clinch will be open in the Grand Arcade, next to the Asbury Park Roastery. Then, the Sunset Avenue Photo Gallery installation will feature a specially-curated group of photographer’s images temporarily pasted as over-sized prints around the north, east and south exterior sides of the Sunset Avenue Pavilion.
Upcoming temporary installations will include work curated by arbiter of style and owner of Max Fish Bar in New York City, Ocean Grove resident, Ulli Rimkus. Local artist and musician Michael Burke’s custom-designed Stone Pony Summer Stage concert banners will hit artistic high notes in the Grand Arcade all season.
Madison Marquette has just received approval for a spectacular permanent multi-media mural inspired by a vintage map, interpreted and installed soon by Mel Stultz on the Ocean Avenue side of the First Avenue Pavilion.
“Visual arts have an important part to play in the future of Asbury Park,” said Fusco. “Our goal is to create a collection of art that people will be excited to come see and in the process champion Asbury Park as a progressive, forward-thinking environment where artists and creativity are embraced and given the opportunity to thrive.”
