ART

The Home That ART Built

This is no ordinary travel article about Asbury Park this is an Asbury Park ARTicle. Art by definition is “the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power,” however art can not be defined by words. ART to me is Asbury’s Raw Talent. I say this because if you travel into Asbury you will be exposed to so many different styles of art: music, painting, tattoos, graffiti, its what makes Asbury so unique.

During my visit into Asbury I could not help but look around and see all the artwork that has been integrated into the composition of the city. The first major piece that I suggest all travelers go to see is by an artist named Haculla, or “Harif Guzman”.

This piece below is in the Casino in Asbury Park and is remarkable. The detail on the serpent and the siren are just so consistent, but yet contrasting. It is what Asbury brings to New Jersey, an artistic area where you can come to release all of your inner emotions.

Asbury Park is also a venue where large events are held. The convention center is home to a large variety of artistic shows. In the summer of 2018, Leonardo Trinidad, a Morristown, NJ native had gone to Asbury to see the tattoo convention.

“I went to the tattoo convention last year in Asbury and it was really just an awesome place. There were thousands of tattoo artists ready to draw you up a tattoo on the spot. I think it speaks to the city of Asbury to host something like that because it is such an artistic area.”

The convention center is very hard to miss and also posts upcoming events in Asbury.

The last piece of art I notice in Asbury was not visual, but rather you need to hear it to believe it. Asbury has a long history of music, from Bruce Springsteen to local bands they all have one thing in common, The Stone Pony.

I was grateful to catch up with one of my older friends who happened to play at the stone pony numerous times for his band The Catching. Drew Brendli, the drummer of The Catching had this to say about Asbury Park.

“Asbury is what I like to think of as my starting point of my musical career.  It is filled with all types of artistic people I just happened to be the musical art not the fine art graphic art type of person. I started playing at the Stone pony when I was a senior in high school with my band The Catching and now finally we progressed into touring around the United States. I will always thank Asbury for being my starting point in giving me a chance like it has done with so many local artists.”

Brendli is a successful young artist and like so many before him contribute some success to Asbury Park. Whether you are a music fan, tattoo conveysor, or the next Michaelangelo, I suggest you go and see the art history in Asbury Park. Who knows maybe you can even tribute to the long lasting art history that has structured the city for so many years.