Jersey Shore Magazine

j e r s e y s h o r e • S p r i n g 2 0 1 6 53 O continued on page 54 ne might easily miss the charming gingerbread Victorian home with the wide wrap-around porch on the corner of Chestnut and Ocean Avenues in Island Heights. After all, the community is blessed with a plethora of gorgeous historic homes, many—like this one— with stunning views of the scenic Toms River. Yet this is no ordinary residence in the middle of a leafy suburban neighborhood. Inside these walls, every square foot is dedicated to the arts, be it a unique gallery show, a class on mixed media collage, or a small gift shop of original work. And though it is initially quiet in the morning hours, in a short amount of time, it is bustling with activity. Despite the fact that the Guild has nearly 370 members (seventy of which are described as "really active") and holds a variety of well attended programs, its existence still comes as a bit of a happy surprise to some. "I lived here all my life and didn't know about this place until ten years ago," comments Richard Kushinsky of Toms River. A lawyer and former Judge, Kushinsky had "always loved art," but at age 82, he now has the time to fully embrace it. He teaches printmaking at the Guild, was a former Guild President, is passionate about encaustic (hot wax) painting, and has been running a once-a-month Friday night acoustic concert for the last three years. "Art is in the human genome. We want to create," he says. "Without art, music, and literature, life would be dull." On a recent visit to the Guild with current President Francine Van Ostrand, Kushinsky was there setting up for a class. "Did you tour the par- lor? Did you talk about the gallery show?" Kushinsky asks Van Ostrand about our interview. His enthusiasm for the Guild is apparent—and luckily shared by many. With just two part time paid positions, the Guild is able to thrive only with the support of a large base of dedicated volunteers and participants. Indeed, Van Ostrand is emphatic about mentioning the hard working staff and members dedicated to the Guild. "Diane Yesunas, our office manager and bookkeeper wears many hats and goes above and beyond. She keeps us on the straight and narrow and is really someone we can't live without," she says. She also mentions Ellen Scharfenberg, chairperson of the house and grounds. "Ellen takes care of all problems with our aging Victorian house. Anything that is broken, she gets fixed; anything that needs painting, she gets painted. She also makes the grounds look beautiful." The Guild was first established in 1957 when a group of seven artists, led by Edna Thompson Feerick, gath- ered to paint and promote visual arts in the community. They met Tuesday afternoons in the First Aid Squad building, organized a dinner and art show at the Edgewater Hotel, and arranged an outdoor show in 1958 at the corner of Route 37 and Central Avenue. By 1960, the group had grown to thirty members, dues were $3., and fundraising began. Over the next fifteen years, meetings were held at the United Methodist Church and exhibits took place in hotels, banks, Courtesy Ocean County Artists' Guild "The artist's world is limitless. It can be found anywhere, far from where he lives or a few feet away. It is always on his doorstep." — Paul Strand, modernist photographer, 1890 - 1976 The lovely front porch, with its views of the Toms River, becomes a perfect spot for informal get togethers.

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