New York City Modern Pop-Artist Comes to Red Bank

New York City Modern-Pop-Artist Michael Albert is coming to Red Bank on Saturday to talk about his book, An Artist's America, and to teach a workshop to kids on collage art at the Red Bank Public Library from 1 to 3pm. 

Just like Andy Warhol had his soup can, Michael Albert had his cereal box as inspiration and as the first step of his very intricate, very interesting signature art work. Cerealism, as he calls it, began in 1996 when he took recycling to a next, new level and took a scissor to a box of Kelloggs Frosted Flakes. Albert dissected the box into small bits and reassembled the pieces into a mad mosaic work of art, that although reimagined and disjointed from its original form is still remarkably recognizable. It speaks to how brands and logos penetrate our consciousness and despite being altered or reimagined are still instantly obvious to us. 

Cerealism was born and Albert went on to recreate other iconic product packages using the same cubist process. His favorite subjects included some of America's favorite products, Ritz Crackers, Coca Cola, Stove Top Stuffing and many others. This eventually led to an enormous body of work created from typically discarded materials. He entitled the first work, the Frosted Flakes piece, Portrait of an American Classic and so began the most highly developed phase of his art. He estimates the collection of Cerealism works at close to 600.

In the title of this first important piece for Albert, he connected the dots immediately to the significance of his work and the American consciousness. It's an age old gripe, but indeed, more and more, it  seems like you can't look anywhere without seeing an advertisement, a commercial, a pitch for this or that. Everything is brought to you by something else.  Brand logos are everywhere. It's part of the American fabric. Tony the Tiger is likely more recognizble to the average 8 year old than Ronald Reagan. And so, instead of lamenting that, Albert began to incorporate that into his vision of American history.   

His book An Artist's America features his more recent, "epic works," as he has referred to them as. These, visually explosive pieces, prove that Albert has taken the idea, the passion, perhaps the madness to the next level. Using bits and pieces of anything and everything including photographs and packaging of all sorts, Albert created large scale collage pieces representing famous text and various scenes throughout history, including the Gettysburg Address.

Albert currently travels with his work, teaching, demonstrating and signing and discussing his book and collection, including many stops at various branches of the New York Public Library system through out the summer.

The Saturday event is brought to you by the Red Bank Library, but Albert is brought to Red Bank on the notion of Children's Librarian Samantha Quintas. Relatively new to the Red Bank book scene, she has only been with the library a little over a year, Quintas' interest in Albert's work goes back to her frequnet travels to New Hope, PA, where she saw and purchased prints of his. For many months Quintas endeavored to bring Albert to Red Bank through a local gallery, but eventually decided to work to bring him simply to the library, as part of the books and art programs she's been developing there. She explained, that once the news of Albert's event at the library was announced, Frameworks on Monmouth Street, inquired and eventually arranged for an evening showing of the artist's work there as well. Albert will be at Frameworks from 5 to 7pm. He will speak and then sign copies of his book and prints. "This kind of works out perfectly," Quintas said, "the afternoon is more for the kid's appreciation of the art and technique and the night at Frameworks is for the adults."

The program at the Red Bank Library is free. Children must be 5 years old and up to attend. Children under the age of 7 must have a parent or sibling with them. Space is limited, so Quintas (Miss Sam) suggests signing up in the Children's Room as soon as possible.