Vandalism of Casino mural
Investigation launched; community rallies via social media
In the early morning Thursday social media buzzed with outrage over the vandalism of a public art installation along Asbury Park’s boardwalk.
The pop art mural [shown above] was splattered sometime during the overnight with hues of green paint and tagged with white spray painted letters.
But shortly thereafter someone left an anonymous, three-page, handwritten note [shown at right below] voicing their strong disdain.
“This person got it right,” singer/songwriter Teeter Sperber wrote next to her posting of the photo above. Sperber, was referring to the person who wrote the profanity-dotted note. “…At least someone spoke up and MAYBE it will give the criminal just a moment of shame. There was a huge horseshoe of people standing around reading it. Everyone there was super sad about the damage and the level of preparation [the art installation] must have taken.”
Located outside the entrance to the Casino building, the mural was commissioned as part of boardwalk redeveloper Madison Marquette’s public art mural projects.
“We’re very disappointed this happened, said Madison’s General Manager Carrie Turner. “We filed a police report and are working with the authorities right now.”
The mural’s artist – Indie 184, is a New York native who studied at CUNY’s Baruch College. The 35-year-old, who has been active in the graffiti culture for over 15 years, is a part of Parlor Gallery’s featured artists in its ‘Summer Lovin’ group show.
“Art is supposed to engage – either in a positive or a negative way,” Parlor Director and Curator Jenn Hampton said. “Public art changes our experience and when it’s gone it shows how it really affects you. The big picture here is that it teaches us something about being human.”
Hampton said they will work to restore the mural. She said members of the Asbury Park community immediately rallied by offering their help and intention to donate funds for restoration of the public art installation that took almost a week to construct.
Asbury Park Police Department spokesman Michael Casey could not comment on the ongoing investigation.
[Photos above provided by Teeter Sperber]
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