Mothersbaugh, who is renowned for his successful music career, is currently displaying his talent and creativity in another art form. His Postcard Diaries & Rugs are currently on view at the Parlor Gallery. Here, you’ll find a colorful collection that reflects another dimension of this musical talent who has been creating visual art for three decades now.

The postcards began during Mothersbaugh’s downtime on early worldwide tours with DEVO. He began creating the cartoon-like postcards as a means of staying in touch with family and friends while on tour. Mothersbaugh, who continues to illustrate these colorful postcards, has been creating them every day for more than 30 years. It’s an obsessive habit/hobby which still yields anywhere from one to a couple dozen new postcard-sized images per day.

The postcards, which were originally created as his personal diaries, were not intended for public viewing. That all changed when Mothersbaugh decided to share his postcard works in his critically acclaimed solo shows during the 1980′s & 1990′s. Since then, he launched his worldwide Homefront Invasion! tour in ’03, and the Visual Art of Mark Mothersbaugh tour starting in ’05.

A vibrant collection of Mothersbaugh’s rugs are also on display at Parlor Gallery. These colorful rugs boast bold graphics that reflect a comic/cartoon-like vibe that is reminiscent of the work of pop artist Roy Lichtenstein. Splashes of color and simple yet bold renderings dominate the works.

The Ocean Park Gallery also offers a wide collection of artwork that captures the nostalgia and retro imagery that is exclusive to the Asbury Park area. A variety of local themes include images of Palace Amusements, the Scooter Ride, and the iconic carousel. Artist Theresa Heidel also taps into the local beauty of Asbury Park by capturing the finely detailed embellishments that adorn some of the town’s buildings.

After a long day at the beach, I suggest strolling into Ocean Park Gallery for a look at its vast collection of photos and paintings. Relaxing music brings ambiance to this local gallery that offers a friendly, casual vibe to both art enthusiasts and passersby.