Photo Review: Danny Clinch Opens New Exhibit at Asbury Hotel

Pop-Break Live: The Opening of Danny Clinch’s “Transparent” Exhibit at The Asbury Hotel

One of the most iconic photographers of the modern era, Danny Clinch, opened his latest exhibit “Transparent” at The Asbury Hotel in Asbury Park, New Jersey in mid-January.

The event took place during the annual Light of Day Winterfest celebration, a city-wide weekend celebration of music to help benefit The Light of Day Foundation (which is a Parkinson’s Disease charity).

The Toms River native tapped local rockers The Battery Electric (an awesome, must-listen outfit), classic rocker Joe Grushecky, and his own band, The Tangiers Blues Band to headline the event.

The exhibit will last five months till roughly mid-May in the hotel.

Pop Break’s Keeyahtay Lewis documented the entire event.

For more on the exhibit please see the following press material:

“From Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi to The Clash and Johnny Cash, Asbury Park, NJ has served as a launch pad for some of history’s greatest artists. Now, one of the most significant documentarians of music who hails from the area pays tribute to the town’s reputation as a musical epicenter. Danny Clinch, who has shot and directed some of the biggest names in the industry, including “The Boss” himself, returns home to offer a behind-the-lens snapshot into the lives of the world’s most legendary artists.

Clinch’s “Transparent” exhibit will be a five-month-long pop up at The Asbury Hotel in Asbury Park, NJ and will feature iconic photos spanning his three-decade career. Best-known for capturing private moments of musicians when they are not performing, the name “Transparent” is a nod to Clinch’s style of work. His most famous photographs include: Johnny Cash in a moment of contemplation before a concert; BB King holding his signature guitar; and Tupac shirtless during a wardrobe change—an image that became one of the most iconic covers for Rolling Stone.

Clinch, who was born in nearby Toms River, became a fan of Asbury Park back when he began shooting Bruce Springsteen and other acts in town like The Stray Cats, Warren Zevon, and Johnny Cash. Not only the photographer, Clinch was once part of the show as he backed up Springsteen and Joe Grushecky on stage while playing his harmonica.

“Asbury Park has always been about music to me – the culture and spirit – is contagious,” said Danny Clinch. “The boardwalk, ocean, sand, culture, surf, art, and music. What’s not to love?”

Part of The Asbury Hotel will be transformed into Clinch’s own artistic studio, furnished with vintage finds by local designer, Tina Kerekes. The space will also double as a venue for Clinch and his band to perform. Combining his passion for music and photography into an intimate space, visitors will experience a setting of living, breathing art.

iStar (NYSE: STAR), the visionary real-estate investment company behind The Asbury Hotel, conceptualized and is funding the exhibit, in an effort to continue to bring world-class talent and programming to the area. The Asbury Hotel in Asbury Park is the first major project in the Developer’s multi-billion-dollar redevelopment plan to transform the seasonal beachfront into a year-round destination.

“With its rich history and eclectic character, Asbury Park has a great story that we want to share with the world,” said Brian Cheripka, Senior Vice President of Land & Development of iStar. “With his incredible collection of photographs and the incredible stories behind them, Danny is a storyteller himself and we are thrilled to have him back in town to pay homage to this city’s rock n’ roll history through this exhibit.””