belmar arts council

Members Salon 2012

2012-01-12T23:19:00.005-05:00

Tonight the BAC held its latest Salon event. We do these about once a year or so- members are invited to place a work of their choice in a show, and instead of a standard reception, each exhibiting artist is given a few minutes to present the work to the crowd and take questions. We have a very diverse group of visual artists, and so there is much information to share about technique, materials, and approaches to art. The show in the front room gallery has 38 artworks on display, a mix of paintings, drawings, photographs, sculptures, prints, and ceramics. Tonight, 26 of the exhibiting artists were present for the Salon, including a few new members. If you weren't there tonight, you still have a few weeks to check out the show, which will remain on display (along with a bonus 25 artworks in the back room from the same artists) during regular gallery hours through January 27, 2012. Admission is free.

Two Big Shows for Early 2012

2012-01-07T23:38:00.006-05:00

The art just never stops at the Boatworks. The BAC has a full slate of shows scheduled for 2012, many opportunities for artists to exhibit their work. The first one coming up is the annual Members' Salon exhibition. Members were invited to submit a piece or two to be installed in our gallery spaces. One from each artist (about 3 dozen people submitted artwork) will hang in the front room, and any artists who contributed a second piece will have it hang in the back room. The show opens this Thursday, January 12th at 7 pm. After a brief monthly member meeting, we will hold the Salon event, in which artists in the front room may present their works and take questions and comments about them from all those in attendance. Above is a photo from last year's Salon, and more images can be seen here. The Members' Salon exhibition remains on display through January 27th during regular gallery hours.

The next opportunity for BAC members and other community artists of all levels of experience is Gimme Shelter, an art exhibit that will benefit the Affordable Housing Alliance and the BAC Housing Help Project. For their entry fee, participants will receive an 8.5" x 12.5" lauan wood panel in the shape of a house (as on the above card) to use in the creation of their artwork. These wood panels can be picked up at the Boatworks during open gallery hours. Intake of the finished entries for the show will be on February 24 and 25, 2012, so don't wait too long to get your "canvas" and get started. Full details and rules for the show can be found on the BAC main website.

Mud Mural Update 2012

2012-01-07T23:10:00.004-05:00

A whole bunch of BAC members and community volunteers put time in this past summer on the creation of a freestanding mural made mostly of bamboo, straw, and mud. We finished it last July, with the understanding that eventually the elements would break it down. That eventually hasn't come nearly as fast as we expected. About a month after completion, it was hit with a double whammy- the biggest earthquake east of the Rockies in more than a century, and Hurricane Irene. Other than losing a little of the green paint on the surface, no visible damage. Over the 4 months since then, Belmar has seen plenty of rainstorms and coastal winds, and outside temperatures have ranged from highs in the 90's to single digit wind chills. Yet the wall is still in very good shape. These photos were taken today. From a distance (above), it looks pretty much the same as it did last summer.

These details show some of the weather effects so far. Most of the green paint that once covered the large leaf shapes (above) on the right side has worn off, though the incised contour lines are still visible. On the left side of the mural, more of the straw layer is visible than could be seen over the summer, and there is a significant surface crack (below) forming between the B and the A.

Despite these changes, it doesn't look like our mud wall is in any danger of crumbling in the near future. To follow the status of our mural, check the blog for the occasional update, or just stop by the Boatworks during daylight hours and see it for yourself.

Sweets For the Eye

2011-12-10T23:14:00.006-05:00

Today the Boatworks was host to a demonstration of the creation of edible sugar-based flowers. Artist Gerrie Vergona developed an interest in the creation of decorative flowers made from gum paste, a completely malleable mix of sugar and various gums. The beautiful results can be an attractive addition to a cake or worthy of display on their own. A group gathered (above) to watch Gerrie go over some of the process used to create a rose. Shown below are previously made parts for a poinsettia and the tools of the trade.

Gerrie showed everyone the basic procedure. She started by working some premixed gum paste with vegetable shortening and her hands to make it more pliable, then rolled it flat and cut out some small circles with a cutter. She then used a tool to smooth and expand the edges, so that the edges more resembled an actual flower petal.

The newly formed petal was placed in a silicone mold and pressed, so as to add vein textures to the petals.

Completed petals were carefully attached to a wire (the only non-edible part of the flower) using gum glue, and molded to resemble the structure of a rose's interior petals.

She also showed us how to color the flower, using a brush and some powdered dry food coloring. The finished examples that she had on display looked as beautiful as any that you'd see on a cake competition show.

Those in attendance had an interest in creating cake decorations and had varying degrees of experience, so they really appreciated getting some tips on these advanced techniques. Gerrie Vergona is exploring the possibility of teaching a series of hands on workshops at the BAC in the future. Details will appear on the main website when the classes are scheduled.

Sponsor Your Local Arts Council

2011-11-20T18:22:00.002-05:00

As mentioned in the previous post, the BAC is looking ahead to 2012 and is making efforts to secure sponsorship for our planned activities. The above chart (click it to enlarge) gives a breakdown of what has been planned and what it would cost to sponsor each event. Our Patron Members got the ball rolling the other night, as indicated on the chart, but there are many spaces still blank. If you are interested in finding out more about what is involved in sponsoring an event, please contact the Belmar Arts Council.

BAC Patrons Drink Wine, Raise Money

2011-11-19T23:28:00.015-05:00

Last weekend the BAC held an invitational wine tasting for its Patron Members. The event was hosted by Joseph Villa (above), manager of the Melting Pot in Red Bank, who led the wine discussion. The Boatworks had some nice art on the walls for the occasion, and the evening included a buffet (below) for those in attendance.

No excuse is needed to get together for an evening of fine food and wine, but in this case there was an added reason- to raise money for the Belmar Arts Council's plans for 2012. The current Wearable Usable Functional show and sale will remain open through January 6th, and there's a full slate of exhibitions planned for next year, beginning with another Member's Salon show in mid January. We're also planning new editions of the annual statewide juried art show, and Art on the Edge, and exhibitions that will benefit Monmouth County's Alliance for Affordable Housing and SPCA. The whole list of shows can be seen here. There are plans for up to 4 new murals around downtown Belmar for next year, a summer performance series, and the exciting Belmar to Broadway- Coyote project.

The wine tasting event brought in sponsorship toward four of the planned activities for 2012, but we will need a whole lot more. If you are interested in making a difference in the local arts, come by the BAC and learn more about our plans for next year and how you can be a part of them.

WUF Is Open For Business

2011-11-05T20:59:00.010-04:00

Tonight we had the opening reception for this year's BAC Wearable Usable Functional exhibition and sale. The front room of the Boatworks is full of unique, one of a kind, original creations by local artists.

We have a wide variety of ceramics, jewelry, home accessories, clothing, and furniture on display.

About a hundred or so people came through over the course of the two hour opening. They enjoyed the refreshments, and quite a few went home with a purchase of original art.

The Wearable Usable Functional show will remain open to the public during gallery hours through January 6, 2012, so you have plenty of time to pick up a holiday gift, or something for yourself. Participating artists have been invited to replace items as they are sold, so come back often to see what's new at the Boatworks.

Music Performance Series at the Boatworks

2011-10-04T23:44:00.005-04:00

The second part of the festivities on Saturday night was the beginning of the new Performance Series at the Boatworks. We had two bands on the schedule. First up was WetCat, for their first ever public performance. It was quite a debut, as the five musicians played very well together and the full house in our back room really appreciated their music.

The other half of the bill on Saturday was the jazz trio Sons of Daughters, seen in the photo below.

Special Bonus- If you're wondering how some of this music sounds, below we have a short video excerpt from WetCat's performance.

There will be more performance events coming up through the fall at the Boatworks. See the BAC main website for more details.

Three Dimensions in Belmar

2011-10-01T23:21:00.009-04:00

Tonight the Boatworks hosted a two part event- an art reception and a musical performance night. The art show was first. The theme of the current exhibition is Focus on 3D, so our front room gallery was full of three dimensional art objects made from almost any imaginable material. Below are the five pieces chosen by the jurors as the award winners:

Best In Show

Kelcie Mack

Support

Best Sculpture

Burin Gilpin

Ebb & Flow

wood

Best 3D Non-Sculpture

Stephen Harrison

Big Blue Marble

steel and paint

Honorable Mention Sculpture

Pat Hutchinson

DragonFly

paper mache

Honorable Mention Non-Sculpture

Susan Guadagnino

TeaPot

pottery

At 7:00 the gallery was transformed into a musical performance space for a pair of cool bands. Photos and details from the second half of the evening can be found here.

The Focus on 3D exhibition will remain on display through October 28, 2011. Regular gallery hours are Wednesday to Saturday, 1 to 5 pm, and admission is free.

Art and Music at the Boatworks

2011-09-29T23:59:00.004-04:00

We have another busy weekend coming up at the Boatworks. First at 5:00 pm on Saturday, October 1, 2011 is the opening reception for the Focus on 3D Three Dimensional Art and Sculpture Show. The exhibition includes 28 three dimensional artworks in a wide variety of media, and will remain on display through October 29th. The reception is open to the public and admission is free.

Then at 7:00 pm, the Boatworks becomes a performance space. We have a double bill of bands- WetCat, followed by Sons of Daughters. There will be a $5 cover charge for the musical portion of the evening. For more information about the bands and the continuing performance series, see the performance series page on the main website.

Art on the Edge Reception at Last

2011-09-17T23:52:00.014-04:00

The Boatworks was filled with people tonight looking for some edgy fun. Even the food was part of the fun. That cream cheese skull and cupcakes were among the many treats brought in my BAC members, plus we had a few items provided by local businesses Sweet! and Matisse.

A good crowd was on hand tonight to enjoy the reception and to check out the 68 artworks on display.

The back room not only had some cool art on the walls, but also Dr Void and the Death Machines providing some rockin' music on our stage.

Meanwhile, local artist Doug Z (below) was set up outside, doing demonstrations of his spray paint and stencil technique.

The juror awards for this show had been announced a few weeks ago, but for those who haven't been to the gallery yet, here are the winners-

Christopher Walsh

Untitled #1-3

Chromogenic Prints

Best In Show

Sean Bernhardt

What My Life Consists Of

Mixed Media

Honorable Mention

Tim Donovan

Storytime Lamp

Mixed Media

Honorable Mention

Christopher Kortez

Boogie Man Gone

Mixed Media

Honorable Mention

Despina Statelova

Bulls Eye

Mixed Media

Honorable Mention

Alexandra Surdovel

Cougars at the Watering Hole

Acrylic

Honorable Mention

There are just a few more opportunities to see this very enjoyable show. The gallery will be open from Wednesday to Friday next week, closing on September 23rd. Don't miss the chance to see it before it comes down.

Art on the Edge on View

2011-09-04T11:54:00.005-04:00

The power has been fully restored at the Boatworks, so that means that the Art on the Edge show is now open for business. Above and below are photos of work in the front room gallery.

The show continues into the back gallery, with a similar wide variety of mediums, styles, and subjects, while all fitting the "Art on the Edge" theme for this exhibition.

This show is so big that we expanded into our new annex space, shown below.

The gallery is open from Wednesday to Saturday from 1:00 to 5:00 pm, and admission is free. The show remains on display through September 23rd, with a big reception (food, live music, art demonstration) on Saturday September 17th from 5 to 8 pm.

The Return of Art on the Edge

2011-08-31T21:36:00.005-04:00

As area residents know, there's still a lot of work to be done to get the towns around here back to normal following Irene, but work has progressed enough to go ahead an reschedule the Art on the Edge reception. The new date and time is Saturday, September 17, 2011, from 5 to 8 pm. We have confirmed that Dr Void and the Death Machines will be providing musical entertainment, and that we'll have an art demo from Doug Z. Meanwhile, no need to wait for the reception to see the show- it's open to the public right now during our standard gallery hours, Wednesday to Saturday, 1 to 5 pm.

Mud 1, Irene 0

2011-08-28T23:26:00.003-04:00

Pat Hutchinson took this photograph this afternoon of the mud mural completed earlier this summer. We had expected that Irene would have some effect on our structure of sticks, straw, and mud, but other than washing away a little of the green paint, the wall looks pretty much as good as it ever did. Looks like we'll continue to enjoy our mural for quite a while.

Art on the Edge Reception is Postponed

2011-08-25T18:58:00.004-04:00

With Hurricane Irene heading in the direction of the Jersey Shore, and our governor having already declared a statewide state of emergency, the BAC has decided to postpone the planned reception for the Art on the Edge show that had been scheduled for this coming Saturday. Once the new date and time is chosen, it will be announced on the main website and on this blog.

Art on the Edge Inake is Complete

2011-08-20T15:12:00.003-04:00

The Boatworks reopened this morning to continue the intake process for the upcoming Art on the Edge exhibition, as well as to return works from the previous Fragments show. As expected, we had more work arrive today than last night, and a bunch arrived just at the last minute (also expected), and when all was done we had over 150 artworks submitted for the show. Lots of paintings, but also drawing, sculpture, photography, prints, ceramics, and a few things that defy simple description. Our jurors will have quite a task to select from the very diverse and interesting artworks as they choose the works that will be in the exhibition.

For those who submitted, the juror results should be posted on the BAC main website by the afternoon of Wednesday, August 24th. Artists who have work rejected from the show are asked to come pick it up either Wednesday August 24 from 4 to 7 pm or Thursday August 25 from 10 am to 5 pm.

Whether you are in or out of the show, make sure to come by on Saturday, August 27th from 5 to 8 pm for the opening reception. There will be live music, art demonstrations, refreshments, and what looks to be a very interesting art show.

Mud Mural Uncovered

2011-08-20T15:08:00.003-04:00

Nothing new has been done to our BAC mud mural since it was finished almost a month ago, but today there was a big change- the canopy that has protected it was finally taken down, so it will be a the mercy of the elements from now on. There is a plan to photograph the wall on a regular basis to document how it changes in the coming months in response to weather conditions. Information about that documentation will be posted once I learn about it.

Not Too Late To Get Edgy

2011-08-19T21:55:00.004-04:00

Tonight was the first day of intake for our upcoming Art on the Edge exhibition. People arrived bearing artwork during the whole 2 hour period, including many first time visitors to the Boatworks. All in all, about 60 pieces were submitted. But we're not done yet. If you want to be considered by the jurors for this show you can still drop work off on Saturday, August 20th, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Lines tend to get long as we get close to 1 pm, so come early. All the show details are available on the BAC main website.

Art On The Edge coming to BAC

2011-08-07T22:33:00.009-04:00

The next show coming to the Boatworks will be Art On The Edge, an exhibition that seeks images and objects that proudly display their origins outside the mainstream. If you call your art lo-fi, no-fi, indie, goth, punk, pop surrealism, lowbrow, or alternative, and it's influenced by graffiti, tattoos, or street art, then this is the show for you.

This exhibition will be juried by Jenn Hampton and Sarah Potter of Asbury Park's Parlor Gallery. Artists may enter up to 3 works. There is no guarantee of acceptance into the show.

Submitted works must be brought to the Boatworks on either Friday August 19th from 5:00 to 7:00 pm or Saturday August 20th from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Juror decisions will be announced on the main website on Wednesday August 24th.

Full rules and the entry form may be downloaded from the BAC website.

The show itself opens with a reception on Saturday, August 27th from 5:00 to 8:00 pm, which will feature live music from Dr. Void and the Death Machines and live art demos. Scheduled to appear are a graffiti artist courtesy of Rebearth Art Supply in Asbury Park, a demo from Doug Z, and Drive By Press will print their cool woodblock designs on one of their shirts or one of yours. The show will remain up during regular gallery hours through September 23rd.

Reflections of Belmar Mural is Finished

2011-07-30T21:05:00.002-04:00

It looks like the new Reflections of Belmar mural down by the corner of Main St and 16th Ave is now finished. Our BAC volunteers, led by Pat Hutchinson, did another nice job on our latest mural, very visible in one of Belmar's busiest intersections. Scroll back through this blog to see all the steps involved, and then come by sometime and see it for yourself.

Reflections of Belmar Mural part 6

2011-07-28T21:41:00.010-04:00

With the temperatures finally dipping below 90 degrees for a little while, our volunteer crew of muralists was back to work on the painted mural down by 16th Avenue. That meant bringing the whole collection of paints (new cans and containers of premixed colors from previous sessions), brushes, and clean up materials.

Today we had three experienced muralists on the job. Bonnie and Pat (in the foreground at left, finishing the beach sand) have both worked on this project before, but today they were joined by Jim Fitzmaurice, who painted the huge mural of Belmar scenes on the back of Freedman's bakery last fall. Three artists and three ladders, ready to get some paint on the wall.

Today Jim put himself into a precarious position as he painted the town website address on the subject's hat. Belmar's muralists are a dedicated bunch.

Meanwhile, Bonnie finished painting the reflected image in the right lens on the sunglasses.

At the end of today's painting, we see that the project is almost done. Remaining is the reflected image in the left lens and some touch up here and there. Weather permitting, painters will be out there very early tomorrow morning with the goal of finishing the mural.

The Mud Mural is Finished

2011-07-23T21:46:00.007-04:00

Today was the final day of work on the BAC mud mural. Several of the volunteers who have been part of the process from the beginning gathered one more time to bring the project to completion. After a quick cleaning up of the ground in front of our wall, we used large brushes to remove any loose clay dust, then started applying a wash of thinned glue to help seal the clay surface.

While the glue was drying in heat that was approaching triple digits, we washed out the brushes and used clean water to wash accumulated clay residue off the concrete pieces that had formed the base of the wall.

The last step was to apply the color. Project leader Kat had mixed up a kind of paint, combining green pigment with kaolin clay, whiting, wheat starch, and water, a hue that matched the concrete pieces. First it was brushed onto all the relief surfaces- the letters and the sculpted bamboo stalks. For the leaves we decided to paint the outlines of the shapes and then scumble the color within. Below is the final piece.

At some point soon the protective canopy will be removed, fully exposing our creation to the elements. The finished mural was the result of a month's work and the labor of dozens of volunteers, but the effort was worth it. Stop by the Boatworks and see it in person before it gradually disappears.

Noble Prose Meets in July

2011-07-20T23:56:00.005-04:00

Last week the Noble Prose writers and artists group had their latest meeting. Once again the group was presented with something to consider, this time a still life of a mannequin hand and an IV bag.

Above, Irene acts out her story. Below, participants read the resulting stories.

Next month, the writers and photographers will visit local Belmar sites that are homes to endangered species and create stories inspired by what they see. The group is open to any who wish to attend. For more information or to contact Noble Prose (including requesting a copy of last week's best story), see the BAC website.

Reflections of Belmar Mural part 5

2011-07-18T21:59:00.002-04:00

Work continues on the new Reflections of Belmar mural. Pat was down there painting this morning, including working more on the items reflected in the sunglasses. (click on the photo to enlarge it) A few more sessions should bring this to completion. Check here for further updates, of just wander down to Main and 16th and see it for yourself.

Mud Mural part 6

2011-07-17T23:52:00.006-04:00

Over the past week, work has continued on adding relief elements to the BAC mud mural at the Boatworks. Kat and Paul, working individually and together, added some three dimensional images on either side of the large BAC letters.

The decision was made to create some bamboo inspired designs, influenced by the material that made up the supporting structure of the wall.

Vertical lines representing upright bamboo stalks were created on both the right and left edges, along with a couple of stalks bending inward. (see above) The dark brown colors (a mixture of clay mud and sand) show newly created sculpture, which would eventually dry to match the color of the rest of the wall. Below is a view of the whole wall from the middle of the week.

The last element to be added were shapes reminiscent of the leaves on bamboo plants. Rather than building these up in three dimensions, it was decided to just smooth out the wall in those sections and scratch the leaf shapes into the wall. Color will eventually help them stand out.

And speaking of which, the last phase of this project is to add color, in the form of color pigmented clay, which will be applied in different areas of the mural. The current plan calls for that to happen on Saturday, July 23rd, beginning around 10:00 am. Volunteers are welcome to come help us finish this project. After that we remove the canopy and let nature take its course.

Fragments Exhibition Opening

2011-07-16T23:08:00.012-04:00

Today was the opening for the new Fragments exhibition at the Boatworks. The show contains 39 works that explore the concept of fragments, whether it relates to the material, process, or images, in a wide variety of two and three dimensional media.

As usual, we had a pretty big crowd, at least 60 people at one point, and more coming and going early and late in the reception.

People were found both in the front room gallery and in the back, which has more of the show and today's musical guests- Sister Isis and Brother Ty. They are based in the Neptune/Asbury area and teach drumming skills to kids in the community. They brought a whole bunch of musical instruments with them, explaining how they were made and their original purposes, before putting them to good use.

The various drums and other instruments were then distributed to the crowd, so they could participate in making the music.

Prizes were awarded to six of the artworks- a first prize each for 2D and 3D, and two honorable mentions for each category. Below are the winners:

Marilyn Ambler

Glass and Steel

1st prize for 2D

Vicky Culver

Olivia Landscape

Honorable Mention 2D

Sandy Taylor

Ancestors

Honorable Mention 2D

Alexandra Martin

Fragment IV

1st prize for 3D

Deborah Jane Slavitt

Blooming

Honorable Mention 3D

Ali Bowie

Shattered

Honorable Mention 3D

The Fragments exhibition remains on display during regular gallery hours (Wed to Sat, 1 to 5 pm) through August 20, 2011. Admission is free.

Reflections of Belmar Mural part 4

2011-07-16T22:59:00.002-04:00

We had a few of our volunteer muralists (Marilyn, Bonnie, Pat) working at the Main and 16th site on Friday and Saturday and things are getting near the end. We can see that the hat is more complete and one of the sunglass lens reflections has been filled in. The crew is planning to go back very early Monday morning (around 7:30 am). Volunteers are welcome, especially if they bring their own ladder.

Reflections of Belmar Mural part 3

2011-07-12T21:29:00.005-04:00

On what turned out to be a very hot day, our volunteer painters were back out on the corner working on Belmar's latest mural. Above, Bonnie adds some shadow color to the face. Below, Judy paints stripes that are part of the hat's brim.

Tom, shown above in front of the current state of the mural, showed up in time to help clean up after painting. A lot of progress has been made, but there is still a bit of work to do. The next planned painting session is this coming Friday, July 15th, starting around 8:00 am.

Reflections of Belmar Mural part 2

2011-07-10T21:42:00.004-04:00

Work continued today on the new Reflections of Belmar mural near Main and 16th. We had a crew of 4 volunteers working on it, some arriving as early as 8:00 am. Most of the design had been sketched out last week, so it was a matter of filling in the colors from the plan.

Much of the day was spent on ladders, with Pat, Bonnie, Paul, and Nick all taking turns up high adding various colors with brushes and rollers.

The crew had started to clean up by around 12:30 in the afternoon, but quite a bit had been accomplished, as can be seen in the above photo. Weather permitting, the plan is continue work on Tuesday, July 12th, beginning around 8:00 in the morning. Come by if you would like to help out, or see our Belmar artists in action.

Reflections of Belmar Mural

2011-07-08T21:28:00.007-04:00

Making murals out of mud is lots of fun, but at the BAC we also like to do it the old fashioned way, with paint on a wall. Our latest such local mural got started today, on the side of a dentist's office building on Main Street near the corner of 16th Avenue in Belmar. (the parking lot seen in the photos is the gas station) The design was created last year and the wall was cleaned and whitewashed recently in preparation for Belmar's latest mural. The first step (above) was to cut down a large bush that partly blocks the view of the wall.

The next step was to transfer the basic design to the wall. A large grid was laid on the wall, using a ladder to reach the upper parts.

By the end of the day's work, a part of the image has begun to emerge, thanks to the efforts of Pat, Hutch, Marilyn, and Chris. Work will continue as weather permits in the coming weeks, and those efforts will be documented here.

Mud Mural part 5

2011-07-04T22:10:00.009-04:00

The latest phase of the BAC mud mural is the addition of three dimensional relief designs. This was the plan from the beginning. Above is an early conceptual sketch from project leader Kat Heitman, featuring our organization's initials.

The process of preparing for the lettering goes back to June 25th, when we had some of our volunteers working on creating a different kind of mud, not exactly like the cob mix that went into the construction of the wall. It started with the tearing of paper and soaking it in water, as in papier mache.

Clay was added to the paper mixture in the pool. We got some special help (shown above) to mix it up. However, we had to let the wall dry before going any further.

A few days later Kat returned to sketch out the BAC letters on the wall. First she used a wet brush to mark them out on the dried cob wall, then scratched the letters into the wall.

The next day she returned to make the letters. Clean sand was added to the smooth mud/paper mixture that had been started the week before, and mixed until the results looked like wet cement. Working a little at a time, the mud was applied to the wall over the scratched in letters.

At the end of the day on Sunday, the mural reached the point shown below, with the three-dimensional BAC initials completed.

The mural isn't quite complete yet. In the next week there are plans to add some additional three dimensional designs on either side of the letters, and to add some color to those 3-D shapes. The results will be posted here on the blog, or stop by the Boatworks and see it for yourself.

Fragments Exhibition Coming Soon

2011-07-04T21:29:00.003-04:00

The next exhibition at the Boatworks will be Fragments, an Experience in Mixed Media Art. Submissions will be received at the Boatworks on Saturday, July 9, 2011 from 10 am to 1 pm. The exhibition itself will open with a reception on Saturday, July 16th from 5 to 7 pm and remain on display through August 20, 2011.

All the application rules and the entry form for this exhibition can be found on the BAC main website.

Mud Mural part 4

2011-06-30T22:31:00.003-04:00

Work is continuing on our mud mural. Today Kat and Pat (shown above) used some leftover mud to patch some of the thinner sections of our wall from Saturday's event. We also sifted some more clay in preparation for the next step. In the coming days we will put a smoother coat over the whole thing, then add the 3D design and color elements. Either stop by the Boatworks or this blog to keep up with our progress.

Mud Mural part 3

2011-06-25T23:22:00.014-04:00

Today a crowd gathered on the grounds of the Boatworks to continue work on this year's community art project, a cob mural. People came and went all day, with more than 40 volunteers of all ages getting involved in some aspect of the process.

The first step today was to fill in the remaining spaces in the bamboo wall constructed last Saturday. This was done with more straw, woven and tied in place, so that there would be a surface to hold the mud mixture.

While some were continuing to weave the wall, others were helping to prepare the cob mixture. Clay that had been dug from the ground had to be sifted to remove rocks and other debris, a task that our volunteers took turns doing.

The next step for the wall was to make a straw and mud mixture. Straw was piled into a wheelbarrow, and mud added to it. A little bit of clay and water were mixed in to bring it to the right consistency.

As happened last week, some people chose to mix it another way- with their feet. Stirring with hands and stomping and dancing on the mixture is a good way to incorporate the straw into the cob mix.

The straw now thoroughly coated with mud, our crew started adding it to the wall, starting at the bottom and working their way up.

Gradually, the muddy straw mix began to cover the whole wall.

By early afternoon we had other people contributing to the success of the event. Musical entertainment was provided by Black Cat Luck, made up of brothers Matt and Chris Dubrow and friend Matt Curran. They provided a mix of rock, blues, country, and folk music for us to enjoy through the end of the day.

Meanwhile, the BAC provided food for all those in attendance. Hot dogs and hamburgers were cooked on the grills, and distributed to everyone, in addition to plenty of sliced watermelon, chips, and cold water.

After everyone was fed, hard work on the wall resumed. The muddy straw layer finished, project leader Kat Heitman and others started adding a layer of clay to the wall.

By 3:00 in the afternoon, the wall was completely covered with clay, with just an indication of the rough texture of the straw underneath. Our crew would have been ready to continue, but Kat let us know that it would be better to let this stage of the wall dry before continuing on to the last step, a smoother final layer with a multicolored mud relief design. Below is a photo of the state of the wall at the end of the day's work.

Ideally we'd prefer to let this dry in the sun, but with some predictions of area rainstorms we felt it safer to keep it under the protective canopy for a few days. In the near future we'll bring together another group of volunteers and finish our cob wall. We will post photos of the results here and it will remain on public view until the earth reclaims it.

Mud Mural part 2

2011-06-23T22:15:00.004-04:00

Since Saturday there's been a little change to our bamboo wall. Kat came by a few days ago with some help and trimmed the long branches and leaves away from the sides and top, leaving the edges clean as in the original plan.

The big event is this coming Saturday June 25th, when this structure gets covered with the cob mixture and a surface design created. The bulk of the work will be done between 11:00 am and 4:00 pm, though there will likely be some prep work before and clean up after. Any interested volunteers are welcome to drop by any time during those hours to lend a hand. More details can be seen here.

Mud Mural part 1

2011-06-18T22:12:00.015-04:00

Around these parts, this time of year, seeing a bamboo construction might lead a person to think about waterfront tiki bars and other summer delights. On the grounds of the Boatworks in Belmar, it's a sign that we have begun this summer's community art project, a cob wall mud mural. Area artist Kat Heitman is leading the Belmar Arts Council and any interested volunteers and participants in using a very ancient building technique to create a contemporary artwork. It's a pretty big project, to be spread out over two weeks. Today we started the first part, building the basic structure of the wall.

The construction technique (which has been used for thousands of years) is sometimes called wattle and daub, combining upright wooden branches interwoven with flexible twigs, and then covered with a mud mixture. For our project, Kat decided to use locally grown bamboo as the wall's framework, with the slender shoots and leaves as the weaving material, as seen in the photos above and below.

Such walls are often built on foundations made from gathered stones. Here we substituted some cast concrete sculptures, broken remains from a previous community art project from several years ago. Our crew arranged these pieces at the base of the wall, both front and back.

Although the bulk of the surfacing will be done next week, securing this foundation called for us to make our first batch of cob, a mix of clay, sand, straw, and water. Buckets of sand and dirt high in clay were soaked with water, then dumped onto a tarp for mixing.

Using hands and feet, our volunteers worked the clay and sand mixture, bringing it to the proper consistency.

Next, straw was added. The sticky mud and tough straw combine to make a very strong building material.

Above, Kat does the "cob dance" on the mixture, further incorporating the straw and mud components of the cob. Below, the resulting mix is rolled in the tarp to complete the process.

With the cob ready to go, our volunteers lined up and passed balls of cob hand to hand from the mixing area to the bamboo wall.

The mud was packed on and around the concrete pieces, to create a kind of cement to hold the pieces together. When it dries, the result will be a strong foundation that will help support the mud coated wall above it.

By a little past noon, our crew had completed the day's work, and the resulting structure can be seen in the photo below.

A lot of great work was done today, but much more remains. Next Saturday, June 25, 2011, the whole wall will be coated with more of the cob mixture, and a mural created on the surface of the wall. The event will happen, rain or shine (we can put a tent canopy over the wall if we have to), beginning around 11:00 am and going until around 5:00 pm. Hot dogs and watermelon will be available from 1 to 3 pm, and we'll have live music through much of the afternoon. Kids are welcome to participate at any time, but the best time for younger children (ages 3 to 7) would be to drop by between 2 and 4 pm. Expect to get dirty, so wear some clothes suitable for mud. Come early, late, or anywhere in between, and be a part of this exciting project.

Power of Color Reception

2011-06-11T23:48:00.009-04:00

Today was the opening reception for the new Power of Color exhibition at the Boatworks. The cupcakes alone would have fulfilled the promise of the title, but it was backed up with more than 40 color photographs hung in both the front and back rooms of our building.

Despite the many possible attractions in the area this time of year and the wet weather, we had a considerable crowd show up, well over 50 in attendance during the first hour alone.

The show's jurors awarded a total of 7 prizes, a best in show and six honorable mentions. The top prize went to the photo shown below- Sunflower by Michael Callahan.

The six honorable mentions went to the following artists-

Kathy Watson

Joan Myers

Wendy Ritch

Andrew Kazmierski

Jill Saari

Susan Guadagnino

The Power of Color photography exhibition will remain on display during regular gallery hours through July 8, 2011. Admission is free.

Mud Mural Coming Soon

2011-06-05T23:18:00.010-04:00

Are you ready for some messy artistic fun? It's coming to the Belmar Arts Council in just a few weeks. Cob construction artist Kat Heitman has come up with a fun, environmentally friendly community art project, and everyone is invited to be part of the process. A few weeks ago, some volunteers cleared a patch on the edge of our parking area at the Boatworks. Recent visitors may have noticed the white posts (see below) that are placeholders for what is coming.

On this site Kat will lead a group of volunteers in building a freestanding wall using natural materials- heavier bamboo posts with thinner bamboo shoots woven around and through them. Then on the big day, people are invited to come by and help us make a lot of mud, or cob to be exact- a mixture of clay, sand, straw, and water. Cob is an ancient building material that can be molded by hand into all sorts of objects and structures, and when dry is durable and nearly as hard as concrete. We are going to use it to help construct our wall, and then use different colors of mud to create the design of our mud mural. Once it has dried, we will be documenting how the elements gradually help the earth reclaim it.

Volunteers are needed to help with the site preparation (the bamboo wall) on Saturday, June 18th, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Then the mural itself will be created on Saturday, June 25th, from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. We need people to use hands and feet to mix the mud on tarps, and then to help us get it on the wall. Fun for all ages, but bring your messy clothes, and expect to get dirty. Come for a little while or stay all day. We also need volunteers for set up and clean up, and to help us grill hot dogs and serve watermelon and drinks to our participants. Local musician Matt Dubrow will be providing entertainment from 2:00 pm on, and people are invited to bring instruments and jam along. For more information or to learn how you can help, contact the Belmar Arts Council.

June Member Meeting

2011-06-02T23:06:00.006-04:00

Tonight was the monthly member meeting for the Belmar Arts Council. They are currently being held the first Thursday of every month at the Boatworks. Part of each meeting is various BAC business. For example, tonight we talked about two upcoming shows- The Power of Color Photography exhibition (intake on June 3rd and 4th) and Art on the Edge (to feature low brow and other alternative art) coming up in late August. We also learned a bit more about this summer's community art project, a free standing colorful mud mural that will be going up later this month. There were reminders about this month's movie night (Tzameti, on June 21st at 7 pm) and our many ongoing groups.

At many of our meetings we like to have an arts related presentation, things that may be of interest to our members. Over the years these have included such diverse topics as still life painting and drawing, casting with concrete, digital processes, music performances and the reading of an original play. Tonight our demonstration came from Joe Villa, who discussed proper techniques for framing art for exhibitions.

Joe brought a few examples of framed work, some of which he took apart so that the crowd could see the various steps that went into it. He described some of the procedures that he uses, showed tools and specialized equipment, and discussed some of his preferred materials and where they can be purchased.

The monthly member meeting is open to all, including non-members who are interested in finding out what the BAC is all about. Dates and times of the meetings can be found on the calendar of events on our main website.

Art Expressing Heartbreak, Healing, and Hope

2011-05-23T19:43:00.007-04:00

Now on view at the Boatworks is an exhibition featuring artwork from the Children's Art Therapy program at Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, NJ. The works were created by children who are dealing with varied chronic or terminal illnesses or death in their families.

The Art Therapy program provides groups free of charge for children 41/2 to 13 years old, in a safe space for children and their families to receive support, education, and healing. The work in this show ranges from puppet families to expressive self portraits and moving clay sculptures.

The show hopes to raise awareness of the power of creativity to heal as well as to offer insight into the needs of children and families who are dealing with loss. This work will remain on display in our front room gallery during regular hours through June 3, 2011.

La Joie de Couleur

2011-05-21T20:37:00.004-04:00

For the next couple of weeks our new addition has been transformed into a small gallery hosting an exhibition called La Joie de Couleur or Color Joy. The art was all created by the clients of the LADACIN Network, a non-profit agency whose mission is to provide education, therapeutic, social, residential, and support services for people with cerebral palsy and other physical disabilities. LADACIN serves all ages in their various programs. Much of the art shown above was created by younger children (through grade 5) employing finger painting techniques. Most of the art shown in the photos below was created by older children (through grade 12) and adults using a variety of processes. The artists were allowed to choose the size and shape of their canvas, colors, and method of applying paint. Some had specific goals, while others took a more experimental approach to creating their works.

A reception for the exhibition was held this afternoon, which drew a mix of people from LADACIN (including a few of the artists) and Belmar art fans.

The photos don't do justice to the more than 50 brightly colored works in this show. If you feel like your life is lacking a little color, make sure to stop by the show before its closing on June 3rd, and get yourself a little color joy.

The Power of Color Coming Soon

2011-05-20T21:08:00.006-04:00

Coming up in early June will be the next juried exhibition at the Boatworks, this one devoted specifically to photography. Framed photographic works will be received on Friday, June 3rd from 5:00 to 7:00 pm and Saturday, June 4th from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Entry fee is $10/piece for BAC members and $15/piece for non-members, with a maximum of two entries per person. Acceptance is not guaranteed. Work will be juried by Pat Hutchinson and Michael S. Miller. Specific submission guidelines and entry form are available on the BAC main website.

There will be an opening reception for this exhibition on Saturday, June 11, 2011 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. The show will remain on display during regular gallery hours through July 8, 2011.

Noble Prose Meets in May

2011-05-20T20:49:00.009-04:00

Sandy Cook reports that the BAC Noble Prose writers group held their most recent meeting on May 10th. As part of a creative writing exercise, a woman wore a costume and mask that hid her identity. Without dialogue or explanation, she acted out a sequence of events involving simple props, leaving interpretation up to the imaginations of the writers.

The writers created many different original and creative tales in their journals and notepads, and the photographers collaborated to produce story telling images and writing. The preliminary work was shared at the meeting and finished works will be presented at next month's session on June 14th.

For those who are interested in learning more about the Noble Prose group, information can be found on the BAC main website.

BAC Dedicates Our New Addition

2011-05-16T20:00:00.003-04:00

At a gala dedication party on Friday, May 13th, BAC members and donors celebrated the opening of their new "wing", a 480 square foot addition containing a new workspace/gallery and a greatly enlarged storage area, at the Boatworks. Mayor Matt Doherty cut the ribbon, officially christening the new space.

The BAC's programs have continued to grow over the past four years since the group took up residence in the former Connolly boat engine repair garage, a derelict building scheduled for demolition. With assistance from the borough, BAC volunteers restored the building to a habitable state, then went on to create the fun and funky arts center that we call the Boatworks. By 2010, demand for new classes and programs convinced BAC trustees of the need for more space.

Funding for the new addition was raised from donations to the BAC's building campaign and proceeds from a fall fundraiser at Spring Lake Community Theatre. While many members stopped by over the the eight months of construction, a small core of volunteers gave consistently of their time and talents. A plaque noting the contributions of John Hutchinson, Dave Taylor, Tom Volker, Neil Scheck, Joe Villa, Michael Miller, Mike Carroll, and Jim Fitzmaurice was presented during a short ceremony following the ribbon cutting. Tom Volker paid special tribute to John Hutchinson for his design of the addition (assisted by architect Tim McCorry) and management of the project.

Refreshments for the evening were provided by Belmar restaurants Ragin' Cajun, D'Jais, 10th Avenue Burrito, Tulipanos, and Jersey Shore BBQ, as well as the Melting Pot in Red Bank, while BAC member and musician Matt Brown and his friends, folk/Americana band "Thomas Wesley Stern" entertained the enthusiastic crowd. The event, which raised funds for the completion of the building campaign and for new children's programming, also served as a closing reception for our recent 7th Annual Juried Art Show.

JAS7 Opening Reception

2011-04-10T20:26:00.014-04:00

People lining up outside to get into the new Jersey Shore Juried Art Show at the Boatworks? Not quite, but it almost seemed that way. This is always one of our more popular shows, and tonight was no exception. At least 200 people came through the building during the reception, and close to 300 would not be an unreasonable estimate.

Before the people arrived we had the whole building full of art- 90 works in such mediums as painting, ceramics, photography, pastel, printmaking, glass, watercolor, fibers, ink, sculpture, and mixed media. For the first time, we used all 3 rooms at the Boatworks to display the art selected for this juried show.

Three of the walls of the new addition displayed various works art (see above), although almost as popular was the cupcake table (below), refilled frequently with delicious and artistic sweet treats.

The first visitors stared trickling in just a few minutes before 5:00, and then just kept on coming for the next couple of hours.

In addition to art and cupcakes, our many visitors enjoyed live music by Clint Bloodgood.

Jurors Robert Pillsbury and Mame Green not only had the challenge of selecting the 90 works for this show, but the further challenge of choosing individual prize winners. Those winners are shown below:

Best In Show

Ebb Tide

Beverly Golembeski

First Place in Painting

Watching the Sun Collapse

Matthew Donofrio

First Place in Sculpture & Fine Crafts

Mad Allegory

Stephen Harrison

First Place in Photography and Graphic Media

Fight for the Finish

Susan Guadagnino

First Place in Mixed Media

Scream

Donna D'Amico

In addition to the above, the jurors decided that the quality and variety of artwork within each of the award categories called for further recognition, and chose another six works to receive Honorable Mentions.

The Floating World: Boardwalk Food

Hand Colored Woodcut

Paul Bonelli

Mr. Rogers

Pen & Ink

Henry Homza

Ballet

Pastel

Jean Malizia

In the Groove

Photography

Trudy Maran

Bar De La Marine, Cassis

Oil

John Richter

Whoo

Watercolor

Bonnie Smith

The 7th Annual Jersey Shore Juried Art Show will remain on display at the Boatworks through May 13, 2011. The gallery is open Wednesday to Saturday, 1 to 5 pm, and admission is free.

However, the party isn't over yet. Our jurors chose another 25 worthy works to be part of a second exhibition, just down the block at the Central Jersey Bank. The Salon exhibition will have an opening reception on Saturday, April 16, 2011 from 11 am to 1 pm. This exhibition will also remain on display through May 13th, open during regular business hours at the bank, on the corner of 7th Avenue and Main Street in Belmar.

Two Shows Opening Soon in Belmar

2011-04-09T21:50:00.003-04:00

The Belmar Arts Council has two shows opening over the next 7 days, both worth checking out.

On Sunday, April 10th will be the opening reception for the 7th Annual Jersey Shore Juried Art Show. Out of well over 200 submissions, the jurors chose 88 artworks to be part of the exhibition. The reception is from 5 to 7 pm at the Boatworks, home of the BAC.

Then on Saturday, April 16th there will be a public reception from 11 am to 1 pm for the Salon Exhibition, an additional 25 works selected by the JAS7 jurors. The Salon Exhibition is at the Central Jersey Bank, on the corner of Main and 7th Ave in Belmar, just one block from the Boatworks.

Both receptions are free and open to the public.

JAS7 Intake Weekend

2011-03-26T21:47:00.004-04:00

It's been a busy couple of days around the Boatworks. Thanks to the help of many BAC volunteers, hundreds of artworks found their way in, all entries for this year's Jersey Shore Juried Art Show. Exhibition jurors Robert Pillsbury and Mame Green will have the difficult task of choosing the best paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, sculptures, etc, for the upcoming show.

The 7th Annual Jersey Shore Juried Art Show opens with a reception from 5 to 7 pm on Sunday April 10, 2011 and will remain on display during regular gallery hours through May 13, 2011.

Jersey Shore JAS7 Coming Soon

2011-03-25T17:45:00.004-04:00

The Belmar Arts Council will be holding their annual Jersey Shore Juried Art Show in early April, but the intake of art submissions is Friday March 25th (5 to 8 pm) and Saturday March 26th, (10 am to 1 pm). Artists may submit a maximum of 2 artworks in any medium, though acceptance into the exhibition is not guaranteed. Show dates are April 9 to May 13, 2011.

Full details, including rules and entry form to download, are available at the BAC main website.

Noble Prose at the BAC

2011-03-15T22:31:00.011-04:00

Current and potential Belmar Arts Council members with writing backgrounds participated last week in the first meeting of Noble Prose, our new writers group. The interactive presentation covered aspects of the group's direction, including creative coaching, on-line critique, small group workshops, networking, future guest speakers, and more. Led by experienced writer and teacher Rachel Zantarski, group members, including Terri Faugno (shown in the last photo), shared samples of their writing. In the gallery, Sandy Cook discussed visual art collaborations with creative writers, seeking feedback on future workshops. The first meeting revealed the fact that many visual artists may also be poets and writers. Besides those mentioned above, also in attendance that night were Neil Schenk, Irene Maran, Joe Coviello, Harvey Rothman, and Andrew Cohen.

The Noble Prose group meets from 7 to 9 pm on the 2nd Tuesday of the month. There is no fee for BAC members to join, but interested writers must apply and qualify. More information can be found on the BAC main website.

New Faces and Classic Art

2011-03-08T22:48:00.004-05:00

Here are a few photos courtesy of Pat Hutchinson of some of the visitors to this past weekend's Humor show reception lending their faces to some art classics. I'm told that these will remain at the Boatworks for a while, so stop by some time and try it for yourself.

Humor Reception

2011-03-05T23:57:00.008-05:00

Is this a swampy African plain? Or an American safari park? No, it's the Belmar Arts Council, where this large mixed media piece (from Bob Mataranglo) was on hand to greet all visitors to the new Humor & The Lighter Side of Life exhibition. The Hippo is one of 56 artworks in the show, which includes a variety of sculpture, photographs, paintings (oil, acrylic, and watercolor), prints (woodcut, silkscreen), pastels, pencils, and video.

Several dozen people turned up for our opening reception, to check out the art in the front room and fun stuff in the back.

Today was our first time using our new addition to the Boatworks. We set up our food table back there (above) and had a couple of photo cut-outs of famous artworks (below) for people to pose in. We'll try to get some photos of the results up on this blog soon.

Meanwhile, our back room was set up with tables where people could enjoy the refreshments along with a little live music.

As you can see, participants brought in an impressive variety of art that fit within the exhibition theme. Over the length of the opening reception visitors could vote for a people's choice award. The winning piece (shown below) was Opening Day, a pastel from Jean Maliza.

The Humor exhibition remains on display at the Boatworks during gallery hours through March 25, 2011.

Humor Show Opens March 5th

2011-02-28T21:34:00.002-05:00

This past Saturday was the intake for the upcoming Humor themed show. More than 50 works of art, including paintings, prints, photos, drawings, and sculptures will be in the exhibition. The show opens with a reception on Saturday March 5, 2011 from 3 to 5 pm, and remains on display during regular gallery hours through March 25th. Guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

An Addition is Born

2011-02-28T19:42:00.011-05:00

It's been almost a year since the BAC broke ground on a new addition to the Boatworks. As much as we loved the building as it was, there have been days when we had too much going on for the space we had. Money was raised for some of the construction, and volunteers picked up a lot of the rest. It's been a long road, but our new addition is finally finished. Here's a look at some of the construction highlights-

Back in March the foundation was dug, and the concrete poured. It extended out from the north side of the building, from the building's back to our side door. That side door would become the interior entrance to the new room. Meanwhile, we had a cool patio.

Framing began in May. The plan called for the addition to be divided into two spaces- the larger to be a new all purpose room, the smaller to be some much needed storage space. Each space would open to both the inside and the outside.

Our volunteer crew continued work on the frame, including adding ceiling joists.

By the end of July the plywood sheathing was finished and a contractor had put a new roof on the whole structure.

In August and September, the various windows and doors were installed, and siding started to go on.

With the exterior finished, it was time to finish the inside. Our volunteers wired it for electricity and installed insulation, drywall, and lights.

In recent weeks everything got a fresh coat of paint, and new interior doors were added. And now it's officially finished and ready to be used.

Above is our new all purpose room, which can be used to hold small classes and meetings, or be a workspace when the other rooms are otherwise occupied. Below is the new storage space, with plenty of room for our new chairs, extra tables, easels, the model stand, and lots of things we use every week. And we won't need to go outdoors to the shed to get them.

Thanks to all those who donated their time, skills, and money we now have these two great useful spaces at the Boatworks. Next time your there, come see them for yourself.

JAS6 Judges' Choice Reception

2011-02-05T22:02:00.006-05:00

Tonight was the opening reception for the JAS6 Judges' Choice exhibition, a show featuring artwork from the award winners from last year's big 6th Annual Juried Art Show. On display are about 40 artworks from seven artists: Trevor Bryan, Beverly Golembeski, Guido Guazzoni, Pat Hutchinson, Andrew Kazmierski, Dave McGrath, and Christina Sanes.

Unlike previous editions of this exhibition, all the work was hung together, rather than be grouped by individual artist. Paintings, drawings, and photographs all side by side.

The crowd built slowly, perhaps because of yet more winter weather, but by the end of the first hour several dozen people were in attendance to enjoy the artwork and refreshments.

The JAS6 Judges' Choice show will remain on display through February 25, 2011. Gallery hours are Wednesday to Saturday, 1 to 5 pm. Admission is free.

Salon Critique Night

2011-01-13T22:48:00.008-05:00

Tonight we held the latest Salon event at the Boatworks. Participants put work into the show that filled our front room gallery, almost 50 pieces overall. The second Thursday of the month is the regular meeting night for the BAC critique group, so tonight's event also served that function. This evening over 25 artists showed up to present their work and to answer questions and hear opinions about it from the assembled group.

Things got off to a interesting start with a short excerpt of a collaboration between printmaker Molly Johnson and dancer/choreographer Kristin Dexnis of DeXdance. After that we settled in for a series of more traditional gallery artworks, including paintings, drawings, photographs, prints, sculpture, and jewelry.

As usual, everyone who was there enjoyed the experience. Artists always benefit from the critique process. Talking about one's work requires the artist to reconsider everything that went into it, and the assembled group brings fresh eyes to the work, with the resulting questions and comments providing useful feedback for the artist to use in current and future art.

Tonight's participants included some veterans of past critique groups, but there were many new faces as well. We're hoping that many of the first timers decide to become regular participants of the Belmar critique group, and take advantage of this great opportunity. Meanwhile, the Salon exhibition remains on display at the Boatworks during regular gallery hours through January 28, 2011. Admission is free.

Pastels in Belmar

2011-01-06T21:22:00.004-05:00

Tonight was the first member meeting of 2011. We had a great turnout, more than 25 people in attendance- mostly our regulars, but a few new faces joined us tonight. We discussed some of the many groups, workshops, and events coming up in the next several weeks, then turned things over to our guest speaker, Sangita Phadke. She will be teaching a 5 week class in pastel painting beginning in February, but tonight everyone in attendance saw a free demonstration of her skills. She also answered many questions about materials and process.

Below is an example of a finished pastel painting. Additional examples of Sangita Phadke's work can be seen on her website.

The pastel class will meet Mondays, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm, from February 7 through March 7, 2011. For further details, including how to register for the class, see the main website.

New Chairs in Belmar

2011-01-06T21:20:00.001-05:00

Almost as exciting as the pastel demonstration tonight was the debut of our new folding chairs. Strong, and padded for extra comfort. If anything, maybe even too nice for a room that gets used as an art studio, but they are a necessary upgrade from the ugly resin chairs that we've been using up until now. Come by some time and give them a try.

Lots To Do in 2011

2011-01-06T01:16:00.003-05:00

It's a new year, which brings many new opportunities for activities at the Belmar Arts Council

Thursday Jan 6 6:30 - 9:00 pm First member meeting of the year. Learn about what's coming up for the BAC. Featuring guest speaker Sangita Phadke, who will be offering a pastel course next month.

Saturday Jan 8 10 am to 1 pm Intake for the next exhibition at the Boatworks, a new Salon des Artistes. Bring up to 3 artworks ($5 per artwork) to hang in the show.

Thursday Jan 13 6:30 - 8: 30 pm Critique Night. Artists with work in the Salon des Artistes are invited to come present their work and to receive useful feedback from all in attendance.

If you're looking to make some new art and want to improve your skills or try something new, in the coming months the BAC is offering workshops and classes in drawing, painting, pastels, watercolor, photography, digital processes, and graphic design, plus a new writer's group is forming. Details about all of the above (and more, such as music and films) can be found on the main website.

WUF Opening Reception

2010-11-13T20:48:00.006-05:00

Today was the opening reception for the new Wearable, Usable, Functional exhibition, in which all the artworks on display are hand crafted items that combine visual appeal and a practical purpose. As you can see from the photos below, artists are exhibiting a variety of clothing, ceramics, furniture, home decorations, jewelry- all for sale.

A nice crowd turned up for the opening, probably close to 100 visitors stopped by over the course of the two hour reception, with many sticking around to look over the various creations, and enjoy the refreshments.

And as with many of the functions at the Boatworks, our own Jam Band provided live entertainment for everyone.

The Wearable Usable Functional exhibition and sale is on display at the Boatworks during regular gallery hours through January 7, 2011.

Wearable, Usable, Functional coming to BAC

2010-11-10T19:27:00.003-05:00

The next exhibition at the Boatworks is Wearable, Usable, Functional, and the title says it all. This juried show features a variety of hand crafted items that fit one or more of the above categories. The show officially opens with a reception on Saturday, November 13th, from 5 to 7 pm, and remains on display through the end of December.

New Belmar Attraction

2010-11-10T19:14:00.002-05:00

Belmar's latest mural is now complete. (Click on the above photo to enlarge it) Artist Jim Fitzmaurice painted the large 5 panel mural on the back of the upper part of Freedman's Bakery. This beautiful mural can be seen from the east side of the train, or when driving on 8th Avenue from Route 35 toward the beach, but to truly enjoy it, pull into the parking lot behind the bakery, park your car, and spend a few minutes reminding yourself of some of what Belmar has to offer.

Last Chance for The Royal Family

2010-10-12T20:57:00.005-04:00

The BAC benefit performance of The Royal Family at the Spring Lake Community House Theater is coming up this Friday night, October 15th. Thanks to the great efforts of BAC members, the performance (and accompanying dessert reception) is almost sold out. As of last night, only 37 tickets remained. So if you've been interested, don't delay- go to our main website and learn how to buy some tickets, before they're all gone.

The Mural Capital of the Northeast

2010-10-12T20:00:00.007-04:00

Back in 2007, the members of the Belmar Arts Council took a look at the dull gray concrete exterior walls of the Boatworks, our headquarters, and decided that they could use some colorful murals. So that year a group of volunteers put one on the long side of our building, and the following year another group put one on the shorter side. Now it seems like everyone in town wants one, and we're going to try to make that happen. This year the BAC Downtown Mural Project got going, funded by the Belmar Tourism Commission. Four sites were budgeted for this year and we're more than halfway there. The first two are complete, and the third is underway.

Professional muralist Bob Mataranglo produced the above Bruce Springsteen themed mural on the side of the 2nd floor of the Yarnold Building (near Main and 10th), a spot from which Bruce could look out and see his beloved E Street. Bob was an advisor on our first mural, as well as adding the 3D pieces to both of the Boatworks murals.

Beth Gersten, also a professional muralist, was another major participant on our first Boatworks mural, and this year she painted the large one seen above on the side of the Acropolis Diner (Main and 6th), combining a typical local beach scene and a view through a colonnade of Greek style caryatids.

The third Belmar mural is in progress right now. This time around the artist is Jim Fitzmaurice, another experienced muralist and his is going to cover the whole upper half of the back of Freedman's Bakery (Belmar Plaza and 8th Ave). The subject is some of Belmar's annual events, with the surfing competition, St Patrick's Day parade, and typical beach activities showing up so far. Stop by Belmar Plaza in the near future and check on the progress for yourself.

As for the 4th mural, negotiations are in progress right now for a spot further down Main, one that will be painted by BAC volunteers. And the plan is for this series of Belmar murals to be an ongoing project, so look for news about more to come in 2011.

After Sunset Reception

2010-10-09T20:45:00.007-04:00

This afternoon the Boatworks hosted an opening reception for the new After Sunset exhibition. The show includes 35 artworks with the after sunset theme, in such media as painting, prints, drawings, photos, and sculpture. On a day when the beautiful autumn weather could be a distraction we had about 40 people come out to see the show.

The reception included a special seasonal treat, apple cider donuts, as well as live music from Tom and Gypsy Dave of the BAC jam band.

Belmar based professional photographer Steve Lacko was the exhibition juror, and he chose 4 artworks to receive awards:

Best of Show

The Floating World: After Sunset

Paul Bonelli

First Place, Photography

Canyonlands

Jonathan Eng

First Place, Painting

Night Shift

Clair Carlson

First Place, 3D Art

Mystery Woods

Andree Herz

The After Sunset exhibition remains on display during gallery hours through November 5, 2010. Admission is free.

Summer's Over, But Arts Go On

2010-10-06T18:41:00.004-04:00

It's getting a bit chilly to be hanging out on the beach these days, but there are still plenty of arts related reasons to come to the Belmar area.

The latest exhibition in our gallery space at the Boatworks is called After Sunset, featuring art with an evening theme. The opening reception is Saturday October 9th from 3 to 5 pm, and the work remains on display during gallery hours through November 5, 2010. Admission is free.

The BAC is presenting a performance of The Royal Family at the Spring Lake Community House on Friday, October 15, 2010. The play was written by George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber and is directed by Doug Hughes. The evening begins with a dessert bar at 7:00 pm, with the play itself beginning at 8:00 pm. Most of the tickets have been sold, but some seats are left. Prices (which include the dessert bar) are $28 for adults, $26 for students and senior citizens, and $20 for children under 12. Tickets may be purchased at the Boatworks or through the BAC main website, with 100% of the money from the October 15th performance going to benefit the Belmar Arts Council. The Spring Lake Community House Theatre is at 300 Madison Avenue in Spring Lake, NJ.

Plus we have a wide variety of art classes and groups going on at the Boatworks. Just stop by the main website to see what we have to offer.

Cycle Art Opening

2010-09-24T21:49:00.008-04:00

Tonight was the opening for the Cycle Art Exhibition at Second Life Bikes in Asbury Park. The Belmar Arts Council was one of the hosts of this exhibition, and many of our members were present to help out and to enjoy the show. The exhibition featured bicycle themed art, installed in Second Life's huge space. The reception was also the opening for CityArts weekend in Asbury, probably also a factor in the huge crowds and the constant flow of visitors.

The reception included some great refreshments. Above, the Windmill (with a location across the street) brought over some portable grills and was cooking and handing out some of their famous hot dogs to the crowd. Below, a bicycle powered blender was used to make drinks.

The exhibition remains on display through October 22nd during the store's regular business hours. Admission is free, but bicycles are extra.

Cycle Art Exhibition Opens Tomorrow

2010-09-23T12:07:00.005-04:00

Tomorrow is the opening reception for the Cycle Art exhibition at Second Life Bikes in Asbury Park. This show, which includes art about bicycles as well as art made from bicycles, is co-hosted by the Belmar Arts Council , Visions Photographic Workshops, and ArtsCap. The reception is Friday, September 24th from 6 to 8:30 pm, opening not only the exhibition, but also helping kick off CityArts weekend (September 24th - 26th) in Asbury Park. The Cycle Art show will remain on display during business hours through October 22, 2010. Second Life Bikes is located at 21 Main Street in Asbury Park, across from the BP gas station and Windmill, and just half a block from Ocean Grove's Main Avenue gate and from Asbury Park's train station.

Figure Groups at the Boatworks

2010-09-15T22:49:00.004-04:00

Wednesday nights are figure drawing nights at the Belmar Arts Council. Tonight we had the latest session of the original figure drawing group, where artists work with a nude model in a variety of short and longer poses. The group meets on the 1st, 3rd, and (when there is one) 5th Wednesday of the month, from 7 to 9 pm. The BAC also hosts a second group, the clothed figure drawing group, where the model is dressed and takes one single pose from 6:30 to 9:30, great if you want time to develop a more detailed and complex work. The clothed figure group meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month. For both groups easels are provided, but artists will need to bring their own materials. For information about fees or to reserve a spot with either group, visit our main website.

Surf Art Reception at the Boatworks

2010-09-12T19:08:00.006-04:00

The day started as gray and damp, and though the sun never came out, the rain stopped early enough to allow the Surf Art reception at the Boatworks to go on as planned. The art itself, about 130 works representing such diverse media as sculpture, painting, photography, printmaking, drawing, digital art, and mixed media, were indoors safe from whatever weather might come. Most of those were part of the main exhibition, but there were also several works set aside for a silent auction. (see below)

The event kicked off with some live entertainment from Quincy Mumford and the Reason Why, who played for the appreciative crowd for more than an hour.

In addition to the music, the outdoor area included some arts opportunities for visitors.

Bob Mataranglo paints a shark head (above), and some completed shark heads can be seen below.

After a short break, our own Surf Bobs played a set for the crowd.

Exhibition juror Don Tarrant awarded several prizes to works in the show- a Best of Show and four Awesome awards. Prizes were provided by Central Jersey Bank in Belmar and Dick Blick Artist Supplies. Those winning pieces can be seen below:

Ronnie Jackson

Paddle NYC

Surfboard

Best of Show

Sean Bernhardt

Wave & Friends

Mixed Media

Sean Connell

Dawn Patrol

Graphic

Mark Giresi

Girl #6

Ink

Tara

7-11

Pastel

Food and beverages for the event was donated by the A&P in Wall, Jersey Mike's Subs and the Little Red Barn in Belmar, as well as by many friends of the Belmar Arts Council. The Surf Art exhibition remains on display during regular gallery hours (Wednesday to Sunday, 1 to 5) through October 1, 2010.

Surf Show Opens This Weekend

2010-09-09T22:09:00.006-04:00

Sunday, September 12, 2010 is the opening reception for the Belmar Arts Council's new Surf Art show at the Boatworks. The reception is from 4:00 to 8:00 pm, and features live music from Quincy Mumford and from our own Surf Bobs. The reception is a fund-raiser for Surfaid International and the women's purse at the Belmar Pro surfing competition, so a $5 donation is being requested at the door. There will also be an auction, featuring work donated by such artists as Jay Alders, Joe Hodnicki, and Ronnie Jackson. The exhibition itself, featuring over 100 works with themes of surfing and the ocean, will remain on display through October 1st. Juror Don Tarrant of EasternLines will award prizes for Most Rad, Most Off The Wall, and Kowabunga. Last year's Surf Art reception was a great party and a huge success, so make sure you don't miss this one.

Kaleidoscope Collection at the Boatworks

2010-08-28T22:38:00.002-04:00

This past Sunday the Boatworks hosted an exciting event, organized by local resident Charlie Sweeny. He brought together a bunch of creative people representing many different artistic media for a one night art exhibition in our back room. Besides the art covering the walls, the Kaliedoscope Collection also included a temporary half pipe constructed outside (see below) for skateboarders to show off their skills, and a musical performance from local band Brick and Mortar. Most important, he also found a whole lot of people who were interested in being part of this and got them to come to the Boatworks. Estimates are 350 to 400 people, even more than Sweeny had hoped, and further proof of how much local interest there is in the arts. Things kicked off in the early evening and went until about 10 pm, just as the rain arrived.

Our friends at the Coast Star published a few stories about the event, and sent their camera crew over to do a video piece about it. Check it out to learn more about how it came together, and some of the people involved, as well as to see examples of the art that was on display.

Collage Workshop

2010-08-17T22:24:00.005-04:00

Last week saw the conclusion of Paste Paper, Collage, and Painting, a workshop led by Sandy Taylor that explored many mixed media materials and strategies for making art. The four sessions were held through June, July, and August, with about half a dozen participants joining in the fun. The workshop started with artists learning how to make their own decorated papers for collage, using such materials as paste, textural tools, paint, crayons, markers, and collected items. Next, these items were used to create a small collage, and in the last stage (seen above) artists created larger collages, combined with paint. The participants enjoyed learning about the process and materials. Perhaps this workshop will be offered again in the future- check the main website for information about the many art classes held at the Boatworks.

Picnic at the BlueClaws

2010-08-16T23:07:00.004-04:00

Tonight the BAC celebrated the summer with its first ever official picnic. This special occasion did not happen at our home location, but rather in Lakewood at BlueClaws Stadium. We reserved a part of the stadium picnic area, where we feasted on unlimited burgers, hot dogs, sausage and peppers, chicken, salads, and beverages. Not only that, but we had great seats right along the first base line to watch our local representatives from the South Atlantic League take on the Delmarva Shorebirds. Possible rain never arrived, making for a lovely evening, ever so slightly spoiled only by the BlueClaws losing the game.

A Different Kind of Belmar Video

2010-08-11T19:55:00.004-04:00

The current Belmar Urban Myths exhibition on display at the Boatworks is breaking new ground (for us) in that it includes multiple entries in the medium of digital video, in addition to excellent works in the more traditional media that we are more accustomed to seeing there. Those who attended the reception early this past Saturday saw a different kind of video in progress. The BAC has always enjoyed excellent local press coverage, especially from the weekly Coast Star. For the recent reception they sent a whole team, and shot a video that looks at some of the art in the exhibition and includes interviews with a few of the participating artists. If you want to see the digital videos in the exhibition you will have to visit the Boatworks during gallery hours between now and August 27th, but if you want to see the news video from the opening reception, that can be viewed on YouTube from the comfort of your home computer.

Belmar Urban Myths Opening Reception

2010-08-07T22:15:00.005-04:00

Today we held the opening reception for the new Belmar Urban Myths exhibition at the Boatworks. This show invited artists to explore the idea of the urban myth and local legend and folklore, and to work in almost any medium imaginable. Work in the show included paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, mixed media, short story, and digital video. The videos were shown on both a small monitor in the gallery (above) and on the biggish screen (below) in the back room.

A nice crowd turned up to see this unusual show and to learn legends old and new about the Belmar area. In addition, those who attended had the opportunity to vote for their favorite piece. The voting will remain open through the end of the show, so make sure to come by and make your opinion known.

The exhibition remains on display during gallery hours through August 27th. Admission is free.

Belmar Myths Coming Soon

2010-08-05T23:01:00.002-04:00

Today a small crew installed the wall and pedestal portions of the upcoming Belmar Urban Myths exhibition, an interesting combination of paintings, prints, drawings, and sculptures. The show will also be featuring a number of pieces in video format, which will debut at the opening reception, this coming Saturday August 7th, from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. Come be a part of this special event.

A Record Performance

2010-07-28T12:03:00.001-04:00

The Belmar arts scene can now claim a special distinction, a world record. The 27 O'Clock Players performed "The Bald Soprano" by Eugene Ionesco...for more than 25 straight hours. They started at 8:00 am yesterday at the gazebo in Silver Lake Park (these photos were taken around 9:15 that morning) then moved across the street to Taylor Pavilion in the evening.

Things wrapped up this morning around 9:00 am, setting a Guinness World Record. This wasn't a BAC production, but we were involved. The Guinness people require a certain number of witnesses on duty at all times, and the BAC was called on to contribute to the effort.

Art In Motion Opening Reception

2010-07-10T22:32:00.009-04:00

Today the BAC hosted the opening reception for the current exhibition, called Art in Motion. The theme asked artists to submit artwork that involved motion in some way, and about 30 people took up the challenge. Some made work that literally moved, such as Dave Taylor's piece above.

Or this spontaneous kinetic art performance piece.

And Hutch's Dr. Science says "Gimme your money!" entertained as it lured spectators into providing donations to the BAC.

We had a good turnout to come see the art on the walls, and enjoy another kind of art in motion- live music.

Exhibition juror Bob Mataranglo chose five works to receive awards. The pieces are shown below:

Best in Show 3D

Amy Puccio

Fall to Pieces

wood

Best in Show 2D

Tom Lozinski

Untitled (wave)

Photograph

Honorable Mention

Beverly Hertler

Rhapsody of Orbiting Stuff

mixed fiber

Honorable Mention

Mary Del Negro

Falling Colors

photograph

Honorable Mention

Mary Fenton

Splashin' Around

photograph

The Art in Motion exhibition remains on display during regular gallery hours (Wed to Sat, 1 to 5 pm) through July 30th. Admission is free.

Art In Motion Reception this Weekend

2010-07-08T23:32:00.002-04:00

Just a reminder that the opening reception for the latest BAC exhibition, Art in Motion, will be Saturday, July 10, from 5 to 7 pm. Look for photos on this site shortly afterwards.

Mythmaking Video Workshop

2010-07-08T22:46:00.003-04:00

Preparations continue for the upcoming Belmar Urban Myths Exhibition at the Boatworks. Back in May and June the BAC hosted two writers workshops to help potential participants shape their ideas for this all media show. This week exhibition co-coordinator Mark Ganguzza spent a few days at the Boatworks, available to help artists who wished to use video as part of their submissions for the show. Mark's extensive experience in working with video and audio guarantees that some of the work in next month's Myth show will be unlike anything we've seen before in the Boatworks. Artwork intake for the exhibition is July 31 (with an opening reception on August 7th), so there is still plenty of time to come up with an interesting angle on your favorite local urban legend, or to create one of your own. More information, including a cool video, is available on the BAC main website.

A Seafood App?

2010-06-13T23:50:00.005-04:00

This weekend Belmar hosted its annual Seafood Festival. In recent years, crowds have been estimated at around 100,000 people over the course of the weekend, and this year looked like business as usual.

The BAC decided to join the party, with a booth to promote the new iBelmarGuide App. Having the app is its own reward, but for the past few days anyone who has downloaded it enjoyed a bonus- showing it at our booth earned the bearer a free ticket for a raffle conducted earlier this afternoon.

Looking for some good seafood now that the festival is over? The iBelmarGuide can tell you about dining options all over town. Go download it today!

BAC Critique Group

2010-06-10T23:00:00.002-04:00

Tonight was the latest meeting of the Belmar Arts Council's monthly critique group. Participating artists bring in artwork, finished or in progress, and present it to the group for feedback. The questions and comments that result can be very useful for the artist. We had all regular members tonight, but the group is open to any interested artists. The critique group meets the 2nd Thursday of the month, from 7:30 to 9:00 pm.

Green Man Reception

2010-06-06T23:43:00.008-04:00

Today we had the opening reception for our new Green Man exhibition, in which artists addressed environmentally related issues through art. We had an excellent turnout as usual, to see the art, enjoy the refreshments, and experience a performance from some special guests- the Millstone River Morris dancers.

Exhibition juror Rebecca Biskaduros chose five works to receive awards. All are shown below.

Best 2D

Sheilagh Casey

Green Man Springs

Most Powerful Environmental Statement

Sandy Cook

Shrinking Glacier

Most Original

Patricia Griffin

Hermes

Best 3D

Massim Guazzoni

ManMade Machine Made Man

Best Use of Recycled Materials

Michal Sparks

Earth War Green Man

The Green Man exhibition will remain on display during regular gallery hours through June 25, 2010.

Belmar Urban Myths Coming Soon

2010-05-27T23:01:00.005-04:00

It's refreshments. It's a metaphor and exercise for creative writing. No, it's both, and all part of the first workshop related to this summer's Belmar Urban Myths event. This exhibition and competition will be unlike anything else we've done before. We are seeking urban myths about Belmar. Maybe you know a classic legend about Belmar, or perhaps you want to make up one of your own. The story can be told in the form of traditional 2D or 3D art, but we also will welcome audio, video, poetry, music, and a variety of mixed media.

Tonight the Boatworks hosted a workshop related to developing creative ideas and providing information about the procedures. Merry Brennan took care of the first part, while Mark Ganguzza (below) handled the second part. Don't worry if you missed it tonight, as a similar meeting will be held on June 10th. Then on July 7th and 8th there will be a video workshop, where interested participants can receive some technical advice and assistance on their entries. Actual submissions are due July 31, 2010, with the exhibition opening August 7th.

More information, including a cool video about the concept, can be seen over on the BAC main website.

Have We Got an App for You

2010-05-21T22:38:00.006-04:00

The BAC is proud to announce the launching of a new application for the iPhone and other devices that can download Apple applications. It's the iBelmarGuide, a handy guide to much of what Belmar has to offer.

Created through the efforts of our own John Hutchinson, the iBelmarGuide provides information about local businesses (dining, accommodations, shopping, services), events, recreation, entertainment, stuff for the kids, and more. For example, if you need a hotel- choose Lodging, select from a list of options, and get all the information. If you like what you see or want to know more, and if your device is also a phone, you can choose to get directly connected. Dozens of locations are on there already, and more are being added as word is getting out about the app. (once you have the app, updates are free) It's useful for the first time visitor to Belmar, and for the full time resident who just needs a little information about things around town. All that for only $1.99, with most of that going to benefit the BAC. The application is available for download now at the Apple iTunes store.

As a special benefit, stop by the Belmar Arts Council's table at the Belmar Seafood Festival on June 12th and 13th, show us that you have the app, and you'll be entered in a raffle for a variety of cool valuable prizes.

Boatworks Construction Crew

2010-05-20T21:43:00.005-04:00

Work continues on the new addition to the Boatworks. Today we had a whole crew working on the project. Thanks to Dave, Hutch, Mike, Tom, and Edmond we are a little bit closer to having some new rooms. Still a long way to go, so anyone interested in donating money and/or time to the project should stop by the Boatworks or our main website and find out how.

BAC Addition Campaign

2010-05-01T23:58:00.002-04:00

The new addition to the Boatworks is coming along nicely. As you can see, framing has begun, giving us a sense of how the new space will eventually look. Volunteers are doing all the work, but materials cost money and we need a lot of materials: rafters for the ceiling and roof, exterior sheathing, ceiling and wall insulation, windows, and a door, among many other things. Donations of any amount are welcome. For more information and to donate online, visit the BAC Addition website page. Or you can donate in person during regular hours (Wednesday to Saturday, 1 to 5) and see in person the latest state of our construction efforts.

Jersey Shore Juried Art Show VI Redux

2010-04-18T23:51:00.001-04:00

Our current 6th Annual Juried Art show is too enjoyable for just one reception, so today we had a second one. The excuse was that the town of Belmar was hosting its annual ArtWalk, with artist events at many locations around the downtown area. Not quite the crowd we got for the exhibition's main reception, but those who did come today got to enjoy some live music, refreshments, and another viewing of the art itself.

If you haven't come by yet to see it for yourself, the exhibition remains on display through April 30th. Regular gallery hours are Wednesday to Sunday, 1 to 5 pm. Admission is free.

6th Annual Juried Art Show Reception

2010-04-10T21:09:00.013-04:00

Today the Boatworks hosted the opening reception for the 6th Annual Jersey Shore Juried Art Show. As has been the case the past few years, we had hundreds of visitors come to check out the 88 artworks selected for the exhibition. Inside we had refreshments and live music, and beautiful weather for those who gathered outside.

Exhibition jurors Vincent Nardone and Thomas Valenti awarded a Best In Show prize and Honorable Mentions in eight different categories of artistic mediums. Below are the winners:

Best In Show

Trevor Bryan

Natura Morta

Honorable Mention Sculpture

Riccardo Berlingeri

Somewhere, Somehow

Honorable Mention Watercolor

Beverly Golembeski

Nana's Lighthouse

Honorable Mention Oils

Guido Guazzoni

Stillness

Honorable Mention Acrylics

Pat Hutchinson

Holly with Orange Scarf

Honorable Mention Photography

Andrew Kazmierski

The Snow Must Go On

Honorable Mention Graphics

Dave McGrath

Coffee Shop 4oth Street

Honorable Mention Mixed Media

Christina Sanes

Love's Evolution

Honorable Mention Pastels

Allison Smith

Japanese Sunset

To see these nine artworks (and all the rest) in person, stop by the Boatworks between now and April 30th. Gallery hours are Wednesday to Sunday 1 pm to 5 pm, and admission is free.

6th Annual Juried Art Show is Coming Soon

2010-03-26T00:15:00.004-04:00

Just in case anyone needs a reminder, intake for the 6th Annual Jersey Shore Juried Art show is Friday March 26th from 5 to 8 pm, and Saturday March 27th from 10 am to 1 pm. Artists may enter up to 2 artworks in the show. Notification of acceptance (not guaranteed) will be April 2nd. Full details about entry rules, including entry form to download, are available on the BAC main website.

The exhibition itself opens on April 10 and remains on display through April 30, 2010.

A Growing Organization

2010-03-20T23:05:00.002-04:00

The Belmar Arts Council loves the Boatworks, our headquarters for the past few years. But we would love it even more if it was a little bit bigger. That process has begun. With winter over (we hope) the ground has thawed and the foundation has been begun. When the addition is complete we will have a new room, allowing us to use the back of the building for more than one thing at a time, as well as providing some much needed storage space. I'll be posting updates here from time to time, or check out the progress for yourself next time you come to the Boatworks.

Walk The Line Exhibition

2010-02-27T22:40:00.010-05:00

That's right, we have a new show up at the Boatworks, an exhibition of drawing called Walk The Line. About 3 dozen works are on display, including such mediums as charcoal, pencil, pastels, ink, and some creative combinations.

The latest snowstorm was not going to keep people away. By the end of the first hour the place was getting packed, with some hanging out in the front room gallery, and an even bigger crowd enjoying the refreshments and live music from the BAC jam band.

Around 7:00 pm exhibition coordinators Gerrie Vergona and Edy Ottesen announced the three award winners, chosen by our juror.

First Prize: Pat Hutchinson for her charcoal and conte drawing "So You Say"

Second Prize: Pat Knight for her graphite drawing "Bubo"

Third Prize: Tina Adamitis for her pen and ink drawing "All Froze Over"

The exhibition remains on display during regular gallery hours through March 19th. As always, admission is free.

Judge's Choice Opening

2010-02-13T20:43:00.006-05:00

The snow stopped falling long enough for the BAC to host a reception for the Judge's Choice exhibition, featuring artwork from the six award winners from last year's annual Juried Art Show. Five of the artists were in attendance. (above from left to right: Freya Gervasi, Vicky Culver, Barbara Edelhauser, Ralph Katz, and Paul Qian)

A nice crowd turned up to enjoy the reception and see the wide variety of art in the exhibition. Just one more week left to see the show, which remains up during gallery hours through Friday, February 19th.

Judge's Choice Reception Changed

2010-02-05T23:42:00.005-05:00

Due to the large expected snowfall this coming weekend, the reception for the Judge's Choice Exhibition will be moved to Saturday February 13, from 3 to 5 pm. The exhibition will be on display during regular gallery hours through February 19th.

More Exhibitions in 2010

2010-01-30T19:35:00.005-05:00

The Image 2010 photography exhibition is over, but there is a full slate of scheduled shows coming up at the Boatworks all throughout the year. Below is the list. More details will be posted as each gets closer, both here and on our main website.

Feb 6 to 19 Juried Art Show 5 winners- The six award winners from last year's Annual Jersey Shore Juried Art Show. Paul Qian, Melissa Dayton, Freya Gervasi, Vicky Culver, Ralph Katz, and Barbara Edelhauser. Opening reception on Saturday, February 13 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm.

Feb 27 to Mar 17 Walking the Line- Original drawings in any linear medium. Information and entry form available from the BAC website.

March 27 to April 30 Jersey Shore Juried Art Show 6. Annual juried show for artists 17 and older. Work will be juried in six categories: best in show, graphics (drawing and printmaking), sculpture and fine crafts, painting, photography, and mixed media.

May 8 to 28 Youth Art Shows. Featuring students from regional high school art programs.

June 5 to 25 The Green Man- Artists are invited to submit work in any medium exploring the theme of environment, myth, and magic.

July 10 to 30 Art in Motion- 2D, 3D, and performance artists are invited to interpret the idea of motion, from the implied to the truly kinetic.

Aug 7 to 28 Belmar Urban Myths- Explore an existing local legend or create a brand new urban myth for Belmar. Work can be visual arts, music, drama and film.

Sep 11 to Oct 1 L Jetty- Last year's surf art show was so popular, we're having a new one again this year.

Oct 9 to Nov 15- After Sunset- There's a whole other kind of energy after dark. Artists are invited to interpret it in their favorite medium.

BAC Photography Exhibition

2010-01-09T20:57:00.011-05:00

Tonight was the opening reception for the new Image 2010 exhibition, devoted to photography based work. There is a wide variety in the over 80 images on display, everything from traditional photography to digital to photo-based graphic work.

Tonight's reception was very well attended. There were two awards, chosen by professional jurors Richard Gaffney and Steven Yahr. The two winners (seen below) were Keith Mills for Best in Show Advanced, and Dana Cahoon for Best in Show Amateur.

The exhibition will remain on display at the Boatworks during regular gallery hours (Wed to Sun, 1 to 5 pm) through January 29, 2010. Admission is free.

If you are interested in photography and would like to explore the artistic and technical aspects with the guidance and interaction of fellow enthusiasts, consider joining the Belmar Arts Council's Photography Group. The group has regular meetings on the first Monday of every month. Learn more on the BAC Photo Group blog.

New Art Classes in 2010

2010-01-07T21:44:00.003-05:00

As part of tonight's regular member's meeting we had a special presentation from Trevor Bryan. Trevor is an active member artist as well as an experienced art teacher. He talked about his lifetime interest in art and his training, and then did a quick demonstration of painting from a source photograph.

He put out a variety of acrylic colors on his palette and started sketching the basic composition. After that he mixed and added colors to the still life. Twenty minutes later he had brought the painting to the state you see below.

Part of the reason for this demonstration was to promote a new series of children's painting classes that Trevor will be teaching. It will meet Wednesdays from 4:30 to 6:00 pm through the months of January and February. The 8 week session will cost $125, with all materials provided.

Also starting this month is the latest session of Drawing and Beyond, the popular workshop taught by Sven Widen and Lizzie Schippert. The still life is explored in drawings and paintings. Good for the beginner and the experienced artist, and especially helpful for teens putting together portfolios for art school applications. This workshop meets Thursdays at 3 pm, from January 7th through February 11. The 6 week session costs $168 (3:00 to 5:00) or $240 (3:00 to 6:00).

For information about either workshop or to register, contact the Belmar Arts Council at (732) 749-3360.

BAC Holiday Party

2009-12-12T22:39:00.009-05:00

Tonight we held our traditional Holiday Party at the Boatworks. The building was decorated inside and out during the week.

Part of tonight's function was to collect donations of food for the Belmar Food Pantry, so all in attendance brought all kinds of non-perishable foods to help feed those in need. The bin decorated for that purpose was filled and then some.

We were able to feed ourselves as well. Dinner was served pot luck. Above is the ever evolving food table, with new dishes arriving all though the evening. A separate dessert table was also crowded with treats. Below some of the crowd are taking advantage of our cafe tables to enjoy a little dinner.

While we enjoyed food and drink, the jam band, known for tonight as the Hanukkah Bobs, provided a variety of rock, blues, and seasonal music.

Another event of the evening was a round of Yankee Swap, with about 30 people participating. Most people ended up keeping their first picked gifts, so the presents were generally of high quality.

Several dozen members and friends came out for the evening and had a great time.

December Movie Nights

2009-12-08T00:31:00.002-05:00

Movie nights are back at the Boatworks. Films begin at 7:00 pm and admission is free.

Tuesday December 8 (artist movie night) Lust For Life (1956, color) Biographical story of painter Vincent Van Gogh, starring Kirk Douglas and Anthony Quinn.

Tuesday December 15 (classic film night) To Have and Have Not (1947 B&W) A thriller romance wartime adventure starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Becall.