'Noah's Ark: Last Exit, East of Eden'
The Biblical story of Noah's Ark, revisited post-Katrina, is the subject of a new show at the Shore Institute of Contemporary Arts.

"Green Eggs and Ham" by Kevin Sampson & Jerry Gant

"Noah's Ark: Last Exit, East of Eden" opens today and runs through Oct. 5 at SICA, 20 Third Ave., Long Branch.

The story of Noah's Ark is featured in the Tanakh

Hebrew Bible), the Christian Old Testament's Book of Genesis and the Koran.

In his curator's statement, Brendan Carroll explains that the Ark was a vessel built at God's command to save Noah, his family, and two of each creature from "The Flood."

God sent this flood to eradicate mankind and every living creature as a punishment for man's violent deeds and evil thoughts, Carroll says. Noah and his family were spared destruction because he alone was righteous. He asks, what makes their story relevant today?

Is the story of Noah's Ark biblical truth, historical document, morality tale, or myth?

Carroll notes that recent events add special relevance to the story today - two years after Hurricane Katrina, the Gulf Coast remains in ruin, with those who were the most vulnerable remaining the most affected. Where is their Ark?

Untitled by Amy S. Kauffman

For this show some artists explore

themes of good vs. evil, chosen vs. damned, and sin vs. redemption.

Other artists view this story through a more contemporary eye or use Noah's story as a metaphor for creation, cleansing, production and destruction.

The artists participating are Adam Brent, Dahlia Elsayed, Alessandra Exposito, Jeff Feld, Asha Ganpat, Kevin Sampson & Jerry Gant, Curt Ikens, Amy S. Kauffman, Hiroshi Kumagai, Simone Leigh, Michelle Loughlin, Christina Mancuso, Billy Miller, Margaret Murphy, Katie Niewodoski, Deborah Pohl, Roger Sayre and Jason Seder.

Their work ranges from interactive sculpture

to origami to video.

Hours at the Long Branch gallery are Wednesday and Thursday 1 -5 p.m., Friday 11 a.m. - 8 p.m., Saturday 11a.m. - 6 p.m., and Sunday 1 - 5 p.m.

There will be a reception: Sunday, Sept. 9, 3-6 p.m. and all are welcome. SICA is located at 20 Third Ave., Long Branch. For more information, visit www.sica.org or call (732) 263-1121.