12 PHOTOS: Bob Dylan Shrine on Display at County Library

If you’re a fan of Bob Dylan, or would just like to see an impressive array of Dylan memorabilia collected by an obsessive hobbyist, head over to the on Symmes Drive in Manalapan during the entire month of August.

Mel Prussack, a resident of  Old Bridge, has been collecting anything and everything relating to Bob Dylan since 1965 and has crammed it all into a private “museum” on the second floor of his home.  From guitar picks, to postcards, to his very own sculptures made out of found objects that relate to Dylan lyrics, Prussack has taken what he calls “The Dylan Shrine” out of his home for a road tour in celebration of the musician’s 70^th birthday. 

The exhibit, called “Dylan@70,” has made stops in Old Bridge and East Brunswick on the way to its current location at the . Visitors will find an eclectic sampling of items from The Dylan Shrine along with a timeline of Dylan’s life and a collection of his music on all kinds of different media formats.

Accompanied by laminated descriptions and historical background information, the authentic memorabilia include such prized possessions as a keychain that Dylan threw into the crowd after a show in New Jersey, an autographed pickboard from Traveling Wilburys guitarist Jeff Lynne, and a collection of guitar picks from the musicians that have been playing the so-called Never Ending Tour.

Prussack also displays his Zim-Art creations – artistic tributes made by turning everyday objects into depictions of Bob Dylan (born Robert Zimmerman) song titles.  Among the collection is his first masterpiece, “Mr. Tambourine Man”, which also was featured in a film on fans of rock and roll in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.

For more information about The Dylan Shrine, visit www.mel.prussack.com.  The Monmouth County Library Headquarters is located at 125 Symmes Drive in Manalapan.  For more information, visit www.monmouthcountylib.org.