(Asbury Park, NJ.) —‘(Not) A Surrealist Show’ gallery exhibit opened at Over The Moon Art Studio on August 14.
Studio owner Meagan Greenberg, known as Meagg E. Moon Art, and guest curator Jaclyn Perrone brought more than 100 artists together for a celebration of “weird and outside of the box” art.
A packed opening evening of ‘(Not) A Surrealist Show.’ (Photo Credits: Angelica Niedermeyer)
“Culture is kind of homogenizing, and one of the great things about art is that it gives you permission to be weird,” said Moon. “When you think outside the box, you can imagine a future that's outside of the box.”
Surrealism refers to the 20th Century art movement known for its unconscious expression through dreamlike juxtapositions, according to Park West Gallery. Well-known surrealist artists include Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso and Michael Cheval.
Acrylic painter and mixed media artist Nicole Pinal from Tinton Falls has two pieces in this show: an eye for an eye and a praying mantis eating a pomegranate.
“Surrealism is everything,” said Pinal. “When I was a kid, I was always very strange, and I never fit in. Then, I found these artists Frida Kahlo and Salvador Dali and just resonated with the weird, uncomfortable feeling of their art.”
Surrealism interested many of these artists as young children, carrying into adulthood.
“I have always been drawn to surrealism since I was a kid,” said artist Anika Mrazek, from Manasquan. “I think a lot of it is very taboo on what is surrealism and what isn't.”
Pinal shared that she became obsessed with the eeriness of surrealism at a young age and even repainted a previous piece for the show.
“It just kind of became everything to me,” said Pinal. “In high school, I went to a school with a great art program. The eye for an eye was an old piece I did in high school that I redid.”
“Stoked” for the show, Pinal created another piece called, “Psalmagranate.” Photo Credits: Over the Moon Website)
“I had more of a focus on fertility and new beginnings with the pomegranate,” said Pinal. “I love all things weird.”
Next to the pomegranate painting, colorful boots displayed on a table. Asbury Park and Red Bank artist Jordan Grace Robinson showcased her art, “Gardening Boots.”
Robinson wearing one pair of her flower-painted boots. (Photo Credits: Carrie Bernauer)
“I recently shifted to doing boots in the last six months,” said Robinson, the small business owner of Bloom and Begonia for the last two years.
Robinson shared that her bright and whimsical flower designs began during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I was drawing flowers, just something joyful, because I was drawing a lot in lockdown,” said Robinson, influenced by Keith Haring and Heinz Edelmann and Peter Max, known for the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine cover art. “I like a lot of the '60s mod fashion. They bring a lot of positivity.”
Robinson’s slogan is “just like flowers, we’ll bloom again.”
“It’s saying how it's never too late to reinvent yourself and just have that kid at heart,” said Robinson, who sells her boots on Depot. Interested buyers can also commission pieces for her to add flowers to.
Upstairs in the gallery, Mrazek included her piece, “A Boy Named Life.” Photo Credits: Angelica Niedermeyer)
“You notice mine is not that surreal,” said Mrazek. “It's drip paint, more Jackson Pollock. I think it means something different to everybody unless you went to art school. To me, it’s more driven by emotion rather than logic.”
Mrazek’s art is “heavily inspired” by her boyfriend’s Scorpio aura, along with a Modelo can and its cap for a nose. She used a metal and plastic scraper.
“The white is kind of like a tuxedo,” said Mrazek. “It is supposed to be a figment of a person. I wanted to capture his essence without his physical body. I painted it in very dim light, so I couldn't really see.”
Mrazek has a message to fellow artists.
“Keep creating art, no matter what it looks like,” said Mrazek. “It doesn't matter if it's good or bad as long as you feel something and someone else feels something.”
Driving about an hour in from Pennsylvania, surrealist artist George Giunta, submitted three pieces for this show. He started painting when he was 11 years old, now he’s 69.
“I tried to make a living as an artist when I was younger, and it was hard,” said Giunta. “I lived the life of a starving artist.”
Giunta then became a creative director in advertising for 45 years in New York. He returned to art after a tragic event.
“I got hit by a car three years ago,” said Giunta. “I always thought when I would retire, I would get back into painting again.”
Giunta jumped at the chance to showcase his pieces.
“I'm a surrealistic artist, and I saw the ad for this show. I said, ‘Wow, this is perfect for me’.”
One of Giunta’s pieces is called, ‘Cheese as Christ.’
“After my accident, I got tinnitus, and I couldn't hear very well,” said Giunta. “Someone was talking about Jesus Christ. I thought they said, ‘Cheese as Christ.’”
The piece displays rinds of cheese as the body of Jesus Christ on the cross. (Photo Credits: Over the Moon Website)
Above Giunta’s on the gallery wall, is artist Andrew “Andy” Derhay’s display of the classic Wizard of Oz scene.
Derhay spent a year and a half creating ‘Beyond Oz’ - an oil painting with forms and shapes plotted in brown, then taking flight. (Photo Credits: Over the Moon Website)
“Once the vision takes hold you must follow it wherever it goes,” said Derhay. “There are points where I was stuck. I had to just have as much fun as I could.”
Derhay explained some images were planned, but he also chose to change it along the way.
“I love old ancient esoteric things such as Tutankhamun,” said Derhay. “I wanted to take it above and beyond that– to go beyond Oz and go beyond yourself.”
Derhay explained that there is a line between realism and surrealism in today’s world with technology on the rise.
“Reality can provide enough surrealism on a day-to-day basis,” said Derhay. “What you thought was real one day, the lines can be blurred quickly. Nowadays, with AI it’s hard to know what's real.”
The ‘(Not) A Surrealist Show’ emphasized the importance of different perspectives in art and making sure each one is supported and celebrated.
“Every time you buy a work of art from a small artist, it's the only one in the entire world,” said Moon. “You keep the artist making art, you keep the art alive, and keep places like this living on which are community spaces.”
Moon expressed gratitude to the people that showed up for the opening and supported the artists, including curator Perrone.
“We're so grateful for the artists, and we're so grateful to have all the supporters,” said Moon. “You guys are incredible, and the work is all yours. This has been an amazing show and it’s so fun.”
According to the Over The Moon website, the studio is “more than just a place to create—it's a community gathering space where individuals of all ages and skill levels can connect, share ideas, and fuel their creativity.”
Over the Moon also offers workshops, camps, programs for artists, studio memberships, and private events. Art seekers can visit the exhibit until October 27 at 808 Springwood Avenue, across from the Asbury Park train station.
Carrie Bernauer contributed reporting. To add to or correct any information in this report, please get in touch with me at angelica.n@lead4earth.org.
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