Last Day For Monmouth University Professors and Local Photographer's Unique Exhibit in Asbury Park

For one final day, visitors of Asbury Park will be treated to a unique sight in the old Carousel House.

Monmouth University professors Mike Richison and Marina Vujnovic have teamed up with photographer and local businessman John Viggiano to create an interactive video art installation called The Living Carousel. The exhibit is a tribute to the famous carousel that once occupied the space.

The Living Carousel features photographs and images of carousel horses projected onto a circular video screen. This video art installation is interactive – motion detectors will be used to sense the proximity of audience members and will alter the audio component and the appearance of the video according to touch.  

This installation is free and open to the public and is open for its last day on Sunday, May 29, from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m..  

Richison and Viggiano met with Pasqualina Delucia and Angie Sugrim of Madison Marquette, who have allowed the exhibit to placed in the Carousel House.

According to a press release, "Madison Marquette has made a priority to develop and revitalize the Asbury Park waterfront and is creating a year round, world-class retail and entertainment destination."

"In less than two years, Madison Marquette has redesigned and rebuilt over 75,000 square feet of retail space along with a miniature golf course and water park on the Asbury Park boardwalk," the release said.

Richison has had exhibits in the Carousel House in the past as part of the City Arts Festival and called it an "ideal location for public art."

“The intent of The Living Carousel is to visually depict the memories of the carousel,” said Richison. “I’m very interested in the idea of taking memories and creating a life-size video projection. This will be a celebration of Asbury Park, and it should be very colorful and fun for those who experience it.”

Richison has been working in the media of interactive video installation and sculpture since his arrival at the Monmouth University’s Department of Art and Design in 2007.

Viggiano, principle of Vigg Designs, The Gallery 13 and Collective Art Tank, sees the photographic aspect of the piece as an extension of his studio practice, “My photography attempts to create a perspective that is not only distinct, but creates curiosity."

"The absence of people yet capturing their relationship left behind is my focus," Viggiano said.

Vujnovic, a journalism professor in Monmouth University’s Communication Department, provided an audio component in the form of recorded interviews of several Asbury Park residents. This oral history of the carousel plays on a set of speakers surrounding the video screen.

This exhibit is possible due to the support of Madison Marquette, a creative grant-in-aid from Monmouth University, and the cooperation of The Gallery 13 and the Collective Art Tank.

More information on this project can be found at www.thelivingcarousel.com.