ASBURY PARK, NJ – The ever-evolving landscape of contemporary art takes a vibrant turn this summer as Transformer proudly presents its 8th annual Siren Arts summer artist residency program and performance art series. This year, the celebratory season kicks off with the grand opening of a much-anticipated new exhibition space on June 13.
Located at Asbury Ocean Club’s corner space at 4th Ave & Kingsley St, the brand new art haven is set to become the pulsating heart of transformative art culture in Asbury Park, NJ. Fueled by the magnanimity of Starfield Companies, Transformer seeks to amplify its mission of championing emerging artists and fostering an inclusive and engaging community through its innovative Siren Arts program.
The grand opening, slated for June 13, 6-8pm, will treat audiences to a summer-long exhibition featuring Siren Arts performance photography by local talent Sara Stadtmiller, new paintings from Zach Storm, and an array of evolving artwork from Transformer’s FlatFile program. The new space will also be utilized by this summer’s Siren Arts deepwater artists-in-residence, as they create new works to be presented in public performance art events Thursday evenings July 11 through August 15 on Asbury Park’s 2nd Avenue Beach.
Initiated in 2017, Siren Arts has established itself as a vital summer artist residency program & performance art series that primarily supports underserved BIPOC and LGBTQIA2S+ artists within mid-Atlantic urban spaces. This year’s lineup of Siren Arts: deepwater artists-in-residence boasts thought-provoking names like Tai Tai, tasha dougé, and Jordan Deal among others, set to tantalize aesthetic interpretations and interactions.
Through endeavors that bridge the gap between the environment and art, this year’s artists will explore oceanic themed creations while sparking dialogues on intersectional implications of climate change. With the thriving artistic community of Asbury Park as their canvas, a new wave of contemporary art is set to make a splash this summer.
This year’s Siren Arts: deepwater artists-in-residence include:
July 8 – 12 / Tai Tai (New York, Chicago, Los Angeles)
July 15 – 19 / tasha dougé (Bronx, NY)
July 22 – 26 /Jordan Deal (Philadelphia, PA)
July 29 – Aug 2 / Erin Ellen Kelly (New York, NY)
August 5 – 9 / Laura Bernstein, with Patty Gone, and Perrin Ireland (New York, NY)
Aug 12 – 16 / Kelindah Schuster (Brooklyn, NY)