Jersey Shore Magazine

J e r s e y s h o r e • S p r i n g 2 0 1 6 54 JERSEY SHORE PEOPLE A HOME FOR ART, continued from page 53 Pat Austin and even on clotheslines! Then, in 1973, Edith Grace, a member of the Guild who owned a large 1880 Victorian house built by the Reverend Given, decided to live with her sister in Ohio, and very generously donated her house to the Guild as a permanent headquarters. Reportedly, Grace was so enthusiastic about the group's plans for galleries and classroom space that she helped out with extra money for rugs and other necessities. Today, as homage to the home's Victorian aesthetic, the front parlor showcases the original wallpaper, an ornate carved oak fireplace, and antiques such as an icebox and umbrella rack. And the home's exte- rior has been painted and restored to reflect the original colors and cedar shake porch roof. Yet elsewhere inside the house, space is dedicated to three modern gallery spaces, a gift shop, an upstairs area for children's classes, and another large classroom on the first floor annex, added in 2006, that is spacious and handicap accessible. Of course, even the love- ly front porch, with its views of the Toms River, becomes a perfect spot for informal get togethers. "On a beautiful day, we can come out here," says Kushinsky. Van Ostrand adds, "The sunsets on the water here are amazing." In case one doesn't find enough inspiration in the scenery, it's clear that Guild members often find inspi- ration with each other, learning new methods and ideas. As Van Ostrand talks about the variety of instruction offered—from watercolors and acryl- ics to painting Ukrainian eggs and Zentangle ® , it's clear she's familiar with the programs not just because she's Guild President, but because she's taken many of the classes her- self. Zentangle, for instance, she explains as a "sophisticated doodle" made with black markers on white paper that offers a calming experi- ence; while the precious metal clay jewelry class would be "fun" to take. Further cross-pollination of ideas and styles can be seen in finished works. Besides taking classes, Van Ostrand also teaches mixed media collage. The artist on exhibit during my visit, Michele Dillon, paints dreamy, luminous scenes. In one of her paintings, she incorporated real sea stars, ferns, gingko leaves, and a Luna moth, a result of participa- tion in Van Ostrand's class. When asked about the amount of influence members have on one another, Van Ostrand and Guild staff member, Vic Lido, mention Ellen Scharfenberg once again. She "was a very active watercolor painter. Then she took a pastel class with Linda Coulter. Now, she does mostly pastel," observes Van Ostrand. Children's and teen's art classes are also a big part of the Guild's offer- ings. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, you can hear the sounds of children running and teens whispering in the hallways. The Guild has two chil- dren's art classes, for ages 5 through 12, taught by Alison Amelchenko, whom the kids refer to as "Miss Alison." And in the summer months, there is a "Summer Camp-style" class that always attracts many kids to the A girl scout troop takes a drawing class taught by Nick Calavas. The local girl and boy scouts come to the Guild during the year to do art projects and earn badges. Member Mary Jo Austin's exhibit. Courtesy Ocean County Artists' Guild

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