By Mary Ann Bourbeau
RED BANK – You’re gonna need a bigger wall. That is, if you purchase a piece of original art celebrating the 50th anniversary of Steven Spielberg’s classic film “Jaws” at an upcoming exhibit in Red Bank.
CODA, in conjunction with PopCore, Universal Studios and Amblin Entertainment, is presenting a fully licensed exhibit at the Art Alliance of Monmouth
County celebrating the iconic film. The exhibit, which opens June 28, will feature original artwork, ceramics, hand-cut paper collages and limited-edition screen prints by artists from around the country and across the globe. All the items will be available for sale.
“There was a time when movie posters were beautiful and hand-painted, designed by amazing artists,” said Ken Hashimoto Harman, curator for New York City-based CODA. “Now they are more advertising than art. We’re trying to reverse that by hiring renowned artists to create film posters.”
“Jaws” is often credited as the first modern summer blockbuster. It left an unmistakable imprint on popular culture and made beachgoers afraid to go in the water. It also reshaped the public’s perception of sharks, prompting widespread fear and misunderstanding of these creatures.
“It was horror, it was drama, it had a huge cultural impact,” said Harman. “The anticipation viewers felt throughout the film was incredibly impactful. In a movie made today, you would see a shark every five minutes. Here, it’s more the threat of seeing a shark, which makes it even scarier.”
When “Jaws” premiered in 1975, it redefined the thriller genre. Along with Spielberg’s masterful direction, John Williams’ iconic score added to the suspense.
The movie is based on a 1974 novel by Peter Benchley and is set in the fictional seaside locale of Amity Island in New York. But this exhibit is being presented in the greater area where infamous Jersey Shore shark attacks occurred in July 1916, in which four people were killed by sharks and a fifth was seriously injured. The incidents took place first in ocean waters off Beach Haven, then Spring Lake and finally in Matawan Creek, where an 11-year-old boy and his rescuer were killed.
The art show features the works of more than two dozen artists from around the globe, and the Art Alliance of Monmouth County is the only gallery in the country where this exhibit will be seen.
“If you want to see the show, you need to come to Red Bank,” said Harman.
“This is a fun and exciting way to mark the 50th anniversary. I hope people come celebrate the movie with us in this really cool place.”
The screen-printed movie posters on display are designed by Roger Kastel, Sam Wolfe Connelly, Grzegorz Domaradzki & Krzysztof Domaradzki, Phantom City Creative, Matty Ryan Tobin and Sachin Teng. Art prints are by Jason Edmiston and Tyler Stout.
Original art is designed by Chris Austin, Greg Aronowitz, Stephanie Brown, James Chapman, Sonny Day, DULK, Jason Edmiston, Bob Eggleton, Abigail Goldman, Josh Keyes, Brian Mashburn, Danielle Murray, Adam Lister, Neil M. Perry, David Rice, Sad Salesman, Greg “Craola” Simkins, Lorien Stern, Meghan Stratman and Geoff Trapp.
Elaine Shor, co-curator of the Art Alliance of Monmouth County, is particularly taken by the piece created by DULK which shows a shark entangled in various pieces of trash in the ocean.
“It’s important to bring attention to what’s happening today with the environment,” she said.
CODA, a contemporary art gallery, publishing house and creative studio, serves as a platform for artists working at the intersection of fine art, pop culture and design. The gallery specializes in limited-edition screen prints, vinyl records and curated exhibitions that celebrate the visual language of cinema, music and storytelling.
The exhibit is free for all ages and runs through July 13 at the Art Alliance of Monmouth County, 33 Monmouth St., Red Bank. Viewing hours are Saturdays and Sundays from 2 to 8 p.m. and Thursday, July 3, from 2 to 8 p.m. An opening night reception will be held June 28, featuring refreshments courtesy of Narragansett beer, a nod to the scene in the movie where grizzled shark hunter Quint famously crushes his beer can after gulping it down.
“It was an iconic moment in an iconic film,” said Harman.
The article originally appeared in the June 26 – July 2, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
