Competition seeks update to Shore’s signature card

The postcard that has personified the Jersey Shore for almost a century will be updated in a design competition sponsored by a local design firm.

"Greetings from Asbury Park N.J.," the iconic postcard that graced the cover of a 1971 Bruce Springsteen album, needs a new look, according to Jenna Zilincar, a designer for Knockout Design, Asbury Park.

"The ‘Greetings’ postcard is dated; it represents Asbury Park as it was," said Zilincar, Fair Haven, who is overseeing the redesign competition along with Karisa Senavitis, Spring Lake Heights.

"There’s a lot of redevelopment, and Asbury Park is changing," noted Zilincar. "We want the design to be fresh. We want something forward looking that represents Asbury Park now and what it is going to be."

Knockout has issued a call to artists, art students and others for submissions. Designs may be in any medium and any size, and must be submitted by Sept. 13.

Designs will be exhibited at Asbury Art Center, Cookman Avenue, Sept. 20-29. An opening reception will be held Sept. 20.

"The timing is right to come up with a new postcard look for Asbury Park," said Helen Chantal Pike, a postcard historian and author of "Greetings from New Jersey, a Postcard Tour of the Garden State."

"I’m excited by the prospect of a 21st-century design for a 19th-century travel slogan," added Pike, who said the phrase, "Greetings from ... " has been around since 1898.

"The original was a ‘Greetings from New York’ postcard, and that spawned a whole trend of ‘Greetings From ... ’ postcards," said Pike. "The Asbury Park version dates to the early 20th century."

Founded by Meg Brunette and Kyle LePree, Knockout has been located in Asbury Park for six of its 12 years, Zilincar explained. The firm does print and production work, Web design and event planning. Recent projects include the new logo for Branches, successor to Squires Pub in West Long Branch, and the street banners for the Asbury Jazz Fest.

Open to all, entries will be judged in several categories by Knockout staff.

"We’d like to produce a series of postcards comprised of the new entries," said Senavitis, adding prizes will be awarded for winning entries.

Submissions are already rolling in, she said, and can be dropped off or mailed to Knockout at 601 Bangs Ave., eighth floor, Asbury Park, NJ 07712. Entries should include name, address, telephone; e-mail is optional. Entries in pdf format can be e-mailed to jenna@knockout.com. For more information, call (732) 774-3331.

— Gloria Stravelli