“Three’s a Crowd” oil on canvas, 2012 The New Jersey Emerging Artists Series at the Monmouth Museum continues this summer with an exhibition by artist Karissa Harvey, a resident of Farmingdale. This exhibition features large colorful paintings of sunbathers based on black and white photographs taken by the artist’s greatgrandfather.
The exhibit opened Aug. 24 and will run through Sept. 23 at the museum and cultural center is on the campus of Brookdale Community College, Route 520, Lincroft.
Harvey states, “My recent work is a collaboration between my great-grandfather and me. Although we never met, we share a fascination with the everyday person. My great-grandfather was a skilled photographer with a few tricks up his sleeve. Using a hidden camera, he stole shots of unsuspecting sunbathers along the Jersey Shore and Coney Island.
“Over the years, the photographic evidence of these ventures was misplaced and I only knew of them through stories. I envisioned the pictures as candids taken by a dirty old man. When they recently resurfaced, I was amazed by their keen, aesthetic feel. The people he chose to photograph were big, bold and beautifully unaware.”
“Harry” oil on canvas, 2012 The New Jersey Emerging Artists Series at the Monmouth Museum features six exhibitions held each year and provides a unique opportunity for New Jersey artists to showcase their work. The artists selected for this series represent the diversity of talent in the state and demonstrate their creativity in a wide variety of media.
The Monmouth Museum is at 765 Newman Springs Road in Lincroft. For hours, call the museum at 732-747-2266, or visit www.monmouthmuseum.org.