The exhibit, titled “ROCK SEEN”, (taken from his latest book by Abrams, 2011), will be a showcase of Bob Gruen’s photography spanning the past 40 years. This will be the first showing of his work in Asbury Park, but not the first time he has worked here. He has some history of shooting concerts here including The Clash in 1982, and the Pretenders in 1994.

Bob Gruen is one of the most well-known and respected photographers in rock and roll. From John Lennon to Johnny Rotten; Muddy Waters to the Rolling Stones; Elvis to Madonna; Bob Dylan to Bob Marley; Tina Turner to Debbie Harry, he has captured the music scene for over forty years in photographs that have gained worldwide recognition.

© Bob Gruen www.bobgruen.com

Shepard Fairey

Shepard Fairey is an American contemporary graphic designer, and illustrator who emerged from the skateboarding scene. He first became known for his “André the Giant Has a Posse” (…OBEY…) sticker campaign, in which he appropriated images from the comedic supermarket tabloid Weekly World News. His work became more widely known in the 2008 U.S. presidential election, specifically his Barack Obama “Hope” poster. The Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston calls him one of today’s best known and most influential street artists. His work is included in the collections at The Smithsonian, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Museum of Contemporary Art in San Diego, the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

You can visit Shep’s website here.

Patrick Schiavino

In this exhibition Patrick Schiavino will be displaying several works which were created to demonstrate some of the ominous problems facing the world today. Whether it be the threat of nuclear disaster, both portrayed by the artist in a “meltdown” and/or war… or the continued burning of our rain forests… or the tragedy of a world still at war… all of his paintings and sculptures were made to capture the artists thoughts on the problems facing the future existence of life on the planet.

Some of Patrick’s achievements include some 30 exhibitions both here and abroad, including being selected by the Federal Government to have two of his paintings displayed at the American Embassy in Luxembourg, invited by the Center for Emerging Artists, Miami to have 5 of his painting tour the United States, a three month solo exhibition at the State House in Trenton, The Dodge Foundation Grant to participate in the artists in Residency Program at the prestigious Vermont School and invited by music icon Sting, and tennis great John McEnroe to participate in a fund raising art exhibit at The John McEnroe Gallery, Soho, to benefit the Rain Forest Foundation.

You can visit Patrick’s website here.

SICA, The Shore Institute of the Contemporary Arts and art629, are proud to announce the opening of SICA’s 8th ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL JURIED EXHIBITION. This year’s artwork was chosen by juror, KenTyburski, who is a partner of DCKT Contemporary, in New York City, and the Curatorial Director of NEXT Art Fair in Chicago. The exhibition was open to all mediums of works that have been completed in the past 5 years and that have never been displayed at SICA. This year SICA had 495 works submitted from throughout the US & Canada, as well as from as far away as Austria, Azerbaijan, Denmark, Israel, Italy, Poland, Serbia, and Taiwan. From these entries Ken Tyburski selected 75 works to be in the exhibitions.

The exhibition will be split between the two venues with their receptions being held on two separate dates. On Sunday, September 11th, SICA held a reception for the majority of the chosen art between 2-5 pm, and on Saturday, September 24th, you can see the rest of the chosen art at art629 between 7-10pm. Both venues close the exhibition on November 13, 2011. SICA is located at 20 Third Ave in Long Branch. ART629 is located at 629 Cookman Avenue in Asbury Park, NJ.

The artists whose work will be exhibited at ART629 are John Baburek (Lakewood, Ohio), Van Thieu Chu (Salt Lake City, UTAH), Buel Ecker (Long Valley, NJ), Samantha Fricano (Sea Isle City, NJ), Gary Garrido-Schneider (Monctlair, NJ), Joyce Gelick (Rolling Meadows, IL), Laine Godsey (Philadelphia, PA), Jill Kerwick (Fair Haven, NJ), Ji Kim (Ithaca, NY), Michele Kishita (Philadelphia, PA), Kate Minford (Brooklyn, NY), Amy Puccio(Howell, NJ), Joseph Russo (Brooklyn, NY), Bill Santelli (Rochester, NY), Jordana Scheer (Bradley Beach, NJ), Zachary Skinner (Brooklyn, NY), and Levente Sulyok (Wichita, KS).

The artists whose work will be exhibited at SICA are John Baburek (Lakewood, Ohio), Lisa Bagwell (Ocean Grove, NJ), Maxwell Cemeno (Branford, CT), Travis Childers (Fairfax, VA), Van Thieu Chu (Salt Lake City, UTAH), Emily Clare (Winston Salem, NC), Donna Colasurdo (Neptune, NJ), G duMonthier (Spokane, WA), Buel Ecker (Long Valley, NJ), Carrie Elston Tunick (New York, NY), Heather Freeman (Charlotte, NC), Samantha Fricano (Sea Isle City, NJ), Beverly Gardner (Milford, CT), Gary Garrido-Schneider (Monctlair, NJ), Joyce Gelick (Rolling Meadows, IL), Paul Giancola (Princeton, NJ), Laine Godsey (Philadelphia, PA), Jeanne Heifetz (Brooklyn, NY), Harry Hukkinen (Neptune, NJ), Jill Kerwick (Fair Haven, NJ), Ji Kim (Ithaca, NY), Michele Kishita (Philadelphia, PA), Esmeralda Kosmatopoulos (New York, NY), Paho Mann (Dallas, TX), Eric Mantle (Roland, AR), Fiamma Montezemolo (San Francisco, CA), hyunsun park (Unknown Location), Megan Winchel (Atlantic Highlands, NJ), Amy Puccio (Howell, NJ), Joseph Russo (Brooklyn, NY), Nicholas Saint Onge (Rumson, NJ), Bill Santelli (Rochester, NY), Jordana Scheer (Bradley Beach, NJ), Zachary Skinner (Brooklyn, NY), Levente Sulyok (Wichita, KS), and Tracy Walter Ferry (Monmouth Beach, NJ).

This show is made possible in part by funds from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation; the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, our members, and by the contributions of individuals like yourself. SICA is a non-profit corporation whose purpose is to establish a uniquely stimulating and creative environment in which to experience the contemporary arts. The primary goal of the center is to increase the general public’s accessibility, awareness and appreciation of the contemporary arts in central New Jersey. For more information on SICA, visit www.sica.org.

Art629 Gallery will host an opening party featuring the paintings and painted wall sculptures of Jean Johnson. The time of the opening is 7:30 PM to 10 PM, and the exhibit will be open to the public from Saturday, July 9th, through Sunday, August 7th.

About the Artist

Born in Castro Valley, California, Jean Johnson is an active artist exhibiting in over fifty solo, invitational and juried exhibitions at commercial, corporate and art organization galleries. Johnson’s select solo exhibitions include Georgian Court University, GTE Government Systems, Johnson & Johnson World Headquarters, TRW Environmental Safety Systems, EDS Government Services Group and Logistics Management Institute. Ms. Johnson’s art is held in private and corporate collections.

Johnson is a promoter of the arts. She firmly believes that art creation engages the core of human creativity and thought process that can be universally applied to project creation in all fields of endeavor. She continues to work towards building art awareness through her art, education, volunteerism and arts promotion. She conducts visiting artist presentations to University and Community College Art Departments; is a public speaker and panel presenter at arts organization, education and radio venues; volunteers for educational and community arts groups; along with her work as an artist and life endeavors.

Johnson is the Art Teacher at Asbury Park High School in Asbury Park, New Jersey. She is a 2011 Robert Rauschenberg Foundation Power of Art recipient which recognizes excellence in art education and innovative teaching methods. In 2009 she earned the distinction of receiving the Art Educator Award from the Monmouth County Arts Council and The Lynn Dobson Youth Art Month Award from the Art Educators of New Jersey.

Johnson earned her Master of Fine Art degree in Studio Art from James Madison University (JMU) which was punctuated by a graduate teaching assistantship with full tuition waiver and stipend. Ms. Johnson served as a JMU Studio Art Adjunct Faculty member until 1999. Her Bachelor of Art degree in Interior Design is from the University of Kentucky.J ohnson also has a Master of Business Administration degree from Florida Institute of Technology.

Art629 Gallery will host an opening party featuring the photographic work of Steve Forbert.

The exhibit, titled “HIGHWAY OF SIGHT”, will be a Showcase of Mr. Forbert’s photography while touring as a musician on the road. The time of the opening is 8PM to 10PM, and the exhibit will be open to the public from Saturday, March 5th, through Sunday, April 3rd. Mr. Forbert will be attending the opening party.

This will be the first gallery showing in Asbury Park by Forbert, who is much better known as a musician, singer-songwriter. The gallery is showing Mr. Forbert’s work in conjunction with the “New Harmonies Exhibit” being produced by The Smithsonian Institute, which will be a month-long celebration (March 12 – April 17) of concerts, shows, and exhibits of American Roots Music throughout the City. For more information about this event go to: www.asburyparkmusic2011.com.

ABOUT THE ARTIST:

Mississippi-born singer/songwriter Steve Forbert has been a steady, inventive presence on the music scene since his acclaimed 1978 debut, “Alive On Arrival.” Taking the stance of a compassionate everyman, with a keen eye for detail, Steve weaves together strands of folk, rock, country and R&B, as he delivers his take on life’s trials, tribulations, and discoveries with direct, honest energy and enduring optimism. Best known for his 1980 hit single “Romeo’s Tune”, he has released fourteen studio albums and currently
performs over one hundred concerts a year. He was inducted into the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame in 2006.

Forbert on the Photos:

“The photos are taken strictly with a 2005 LG cellphone. I’ve tried some of the newer, higher resolution phones, and to me the results are less interesting. A proper camera is out of the question. I don’t feel there is anything I can add to the standard, accepted field of Fine Art photography. What I’m attracted to are bright colors, repetition, symmetry, a bit of obvious irony and the simply absurd.

I arranged to have a working phone/camera on a recent three week trip to the UK, but took very few pictures—which might mean that there is a strong American element to what I like in the way of photo subjects.
I’d say my influences are William Eggleston, Clarence John Laughlin and Warhol.”

For further information about this show call Patrick Schiavino at art629 Gallery (732) 988-5111, or visit the art629 website at www.art629.com. For more information about Steve Forbert, you can visit his website. To set up a phone interview with Mr. Forbert, please call the gallery.

On Saturday, September 25th, art629 Gallery, www.art629.com, located at 629 Cookman Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ, will host an opening party featuring the works of Patrick Schiavino.

The exhibit, titled “Resurrection”, will be a retrospective featuring paintings and sculpture created by the artist over the past 20 years. The time of the opening is 7PM to 10PM, and the exhibit will run through the end of October.

This exhibit and opening party will run in conjunction with the CityArts tour in Asbury Park, where the Arts Coalition of Asbury Park will bring together international artists, local artists, and multiple art groups working in various mediums, including visual arts, music, spoken word, dance, theatre, film, video and sound. This event will take place from September 24th though the 26th on Cookman Avenue, Bangs Avenue, and along the Asbury Park Boardwalk. The schedule of events for this multi-arts festival, as well as additional information can be found at The Arts Coalition of Asbury Park.

This will be the first gallery show in Asbury Park by Schiavino, who has shown both nationally and internationally. Some of Schiavino’s credits include having his work in the American Embassy in Luxemburg, participating in a Rain Forest Foundation fundraiser at the John McEnroe Gallery, Soho NY, hosted by rock icon Sting, and being honored by receiving The Governor’s Award, from Governor Christie Whitman from the State of NJ, after a 3-month solo exhibit at the State House in Trenton.

The theme of the show, which is on display until it’s August 28 closing event, addresses current affairs through the portrayal of dominant subjects such as tanks, bombs, rockets and robo-soldiers with an underlying playfulness that is expressed through a bright color pallet and refined designer fabrics.

Features will include traditional paintings as well 2-D and 3-D installations, promising a “visual explosion” of wonderful pieces that will cover the gallery from floor to wall.

Bradley Hoffer, 36, is a semi-professional artist that has contributed to the art industry for 10 years through his participation in over 30 shows throughout five states. **BLAST/BLITZ** will be Hoffer’s first solo exhibition in Asbury Park, New Jersey.

There was a time when photography was equated with truth. Something to be believed, more powerful than memory. But with the growth of technology and developing ease of manipulation that notion has changed. Some mourn this loss while others see it as an opportunity to take photography in a different direction. “Based on Real Life” is a show that explores two photographer’s varied interpretations of reality.

The 2 artists approach this phenomenon in different ways. Gary Dates constructs a whole new reality, in some cases by imagining another side of the mainstream icons Barbie and Ken, while in others by simply creating a fantasy world. Andi Monick references the truth, but nudges it aside to create room for something a little less concrete.

About the Artists

Andi Monick first became involved in photography by taking classes at Brookdale Community College. She has since exhibited in several group and solo shows. For money she has worked shooting weddings and events, races, corporate work, and a few things she would like to forget. For fun, probably because most of the money work is documentary in style, her work has been moving in a less strictly representational, more free-flowing direction.

Gary Dates took some film photography classes at Brookdale, without any real idea as to why. Having been a professional musician most of his life he was already intimately familiar with the creative process, but it wasn’t until he was exposed to photography as an art form that he began to focus his creative energy in that direction. Since that initial awakening Gary has won a few juried art competitions, and began to freelance as a photographer, mostly doing portraits and the occasional private event.

Art 629 is pleased to present an exhibition of work by the artists Adam Murray and Corey Antis. The show consists of two distinct but related bodies of work, each addressing the gap between abstraction and appropriation.

The show’s title, Notations, is derived from the work undertaken by John Cage in 1969 in his book of the same name. Within the exhibition, each artist addresses the same themes of notation that Cage explored; each work is a variation on the larger theme of compositions that might point to representation, but do not fully resolve into an image or object.

Murray’s work addresses this challenge of appropriation by layering, joining and re-contextualizing found materials into sculptural forms. Through theme and sequence, Murray examines the found objects in architectural structures, building materials and the walls of the gallery itself. This play between created and discarded forms and their installation addresses the fundamental concerns of sculpture as an expanding discipline. Murray’s sculptures challenge the autonomy of appropriation within an evolving contemporary relationship to the integrity of objects.

Antis’s paintings could be seen as the spaces constructed with the materials Murray has accumulated. Here, the artist creates pictorial spaces that deny correct perspective and spatial rules. These works, a series painted on panel and canvas, defy completion. The images – empty rooms, abbreviated objects, planes of color and line – disconnect and frustrate a simple read.

About the Artists

Adam Murray has exhibited extensively, showing most recently at the CVA Gallery and in Sculptoure ’08. He lives in central New Jersey.

Corey Antis has shown nationally and internationally, participating in exhibitions at ThreeWalls in Chicago, the Greenstone Gallery in the United Kingdom, as well as having solo exhibitions at the Vox Populi Gallery in Philadelphia. He lives in New Jersey and Philadelphia.