Jersey Shore JAS8 Opening Reception

We had a beautiful spring afternoon for today's opening reception for the 8th Annual Jersey Shore Juried Art Show. Every year this is the Belmar Arts Council's biggest and most competitive show, which always results in a high quality and very diverse exhibition. Today was no exception.

As the crowd started to fill the building, our own Tim McCorry was on hand to provide live entertainment. Before long the building was packed, with perhaps close to 200 visitors coming through over the course of the reception.

This year's annual exhibition includes 71 works, representing such media as painting (oils, acrylics), watercolors, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture (wood, stone), photography, digital graphics, drawing, fabric, mixed media, and even sugar. The show spreads out over all three rooms in the Boatworks.

This year's juror, the distinguished New Jersey painter Gary Erbe, chose winners in five categories, and an additional nine honorable mentions. The winners are shown below.

Best In Show

Paul Bonelli

The Floating World: Wheel Game

hand colored woodcut

First Prize, Painting

Guido Guazzoni

Upper Hudson Valley

oil painting

First Prize, Sculpture & Fine Crafts

Carol Gleason

Fish Sculpture

clay

First Prize, Photography & Graphic Media

Rick Alvarado

Checkmate

graphic arts

First Prize, Mixed Media

Beverly Hertler

Composition

composition batik on silk

Honorable Mention

Donna Arvelo

Be Careful Deer

oil painting

Honorable Mention

Buren Gilpin

Attraction of Opposites

wood

Honorable Mention

Carol Guteri

Untitled II

poster paint

Honorable Mention

Olympia Hostler

Spring

mixed media

Honorable Mention

Pat Hutchinson

A Good Nose

oil painting

Honorable Mention

Bill Ross

Religiosity

charcoal

Honorable Mention

Lizzie Schippert

Bread and Cherries

oil painting

Honorable Mention

Gerrie Vergona

Sweet Peace

Sugar

Honorable Mention

Joan Wallace

Shy Hannah

watercolor

The 8th Annual Jersey Shore Juried Art Show will remain on display at the Boatworks through May 4, 2012. Regular gallery hours are Wednesday to Saturday, 1 to 5 pm. Admission is free.