Local artists design this season’s beach badges
Artwork of Sara Norstrom, Vivian Taormina will adorn daily, seasonal passes
Images of waves and the boardwalk will adorn this year’s beach badges thanks to designs made by Vivian Taormina and Sara Norstrom, respectively.
The city joined the Arts Coalition of Asbury Park [ArtsCAP] to hold a design contest for the 2012 seasonal and daily beach badges. ArtsCAP member Dennis Carroll presented the city council with the winning designs at the May 2 council meeting.
“This is an opportunity for us to emphasize the destination of Asbury Park not only for the beach, but as a mecca of the arts,” Carroll said. “It provides an opportunity for artists to shine and for us to stand apart from our neighbors.”
ArtsCAP met with city manager Terry Reidy in January, and Reidy arranged for ArtsCAP to receive specifications for the badges from beach personnel.
“We developed a set of specifications and announced the contest on the website and through an e-blast,” Carroll said.
ArtsCAP received 21 entries and a panel of local art and design experts selected designs for the seasonal badges and the daily badges. The seasonal badges feature a linear design inspired by panels of the Asbury Park boardwalk. There will be orange, pink and yellow versions corresponding to teen, adult and senior badges. Sara Norstrom designed this badge.
The daily badge features a white background with a stylized representation of an ocean wave in blue, and a large number which will change every day as the summer goes on. This was designed by Vivian Tormina.
“I think this really could turn into something very special,” Reidy said of the inaugural design contest, which will be held annually from now on.
Beach badges for the 2012 season are on sale now, Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at city hall. Seasonal adult badges for those aged 18 to 61 years are $70. For senior citizens ages 62 and up and for teenagers ages 13 through 17, seasonal badges are $20. For children 12 and under, beach access is free. The daily fee is $5, except on weekends and holidays, when it is $6. Disabled veterans and active military personnel and their families are free.
