Win a Framed Poster of Your Choice!

November 15, 2010

Beach Town Posters is participating in the 'How I shot my summer vacation' photo contest for the Charlotte Observer. The three winners of the contest will each receive a framed poster of their choice. Contestants must submit their photos by September 10, 2010.

Aurelio grisanty challenges mtv's jersey shore: "the 'real jersey shore' is lovely, historic, fun, and classy."

November 15, 2010

OCEAN CITY, Md. Ñ Many people think they know coastal New Jersey from the outrageous stereotypes portrayed in the MTV reality show Jersey Shore. Internationally acclaimed artist Aurelio Grisanty, who has spent months traveling around the beaches of New Jersey gathering inspiration for his Beach Town Posters, wants the world to know the Òreal Jersey Shore.Ó

ÒWhen I visit the Jersey shore, I see majestic lighthouses, historical homes, stunning beaches and wildlife sanctuaries, great live music and food, and towns where generations of families share wonderful memories,Ó says the noted painter and graphic artist. ÒItÕs truly unfortunate that MTV chose to portray the New Jersey shore in a negative light, because thatÕs not the ÔrealÕ Jersey shore.Ó

Grisanty has completed 7 New Jersey-themed images for his ongoing series of Beach Town Posters, and plans to add more Jersey Shore towns to the collection. So far, the series includes Cape May, Long Beach Island, Avalon, Ocean City, Stone Harbor and Atlantic City.

Beach Town Posters is a series of retro Art Deco prints that evoke the feel of vintage postcards and travel ads from American resort towns in the 1920s and Õ30s. There are now 67 images completed in the collection, with many more on the horizon.

Grisanty, a Delaware resident originally from the Dominican Republic, says the Jersey shore gives him a wealth of artistic inspiration. His posters for New Jersey include depictions of a white heron in Stone Harbor (a nod to the Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary) and the iconic wooden lifeguard boat in Avalon, known to generations of Garden State beachgoers.

ÒI understand that MTV wants ratings and that trashiness sells,Ó Grisanty says. ÒAs someone who is not from New Jersey but has spent a great deal of time on the coast, I can tell you firsthand that Jersey Shore is not Ôreality.Õ Of course there is a party element in some towns, but thatÕs a small part of what the Jersey Shore has to offer.

ÒIt is my hope that the beauty, history, and uniqueness of the Jersey Shore will rise above the stereotypes portrayed on the show.Ó