The New Jersey Shore

It’s a daunting feat to open a new museum—especially in these straitened times and in the oversaturated contemporary art world. But that didn’t stop founder Robin Parness Lipson, who on October 23 will inaugurate the New Jersey Museum of Contemporary Art with an exhibition curated by artist Haley Mellin and Interview’s very own Web editor, Alex Gartenfeld, installed in Asbury Park’s historic boardwalk convention hall. After this first show (which will emphasize art that incorporates themes of the Garden State), the museum will operate as a kunsthalle, a non-acquiring institution devoting its resources to exhibitions and programming. Lipson plans for the museum to stand out from the crowd with an unwavering focus on emerging and underrepresented artists—the kind you won’t find at many other MOCAs scattered around the country. More info at njmoca.org