Pine Shores Students Shine in Annual Art Show

The Students become the Masters - Jill DeFelice

Springtime is usually associated with blooming flowers but it is talent that's blossoming at Pine Shores Art Association (PSAA). For a number of years now, Pine Shores has celebrated the talents of its many students in their annual show, and this year's exhibition is a treat for local art lovers.

According to Linda Saladino, the Student Show began when she was PSAA President. "I wanted to create an opportunity for our students who never got to show their work and receive recognition for their efforts. We decided to do a special show just for work done in our classes and workshops where the students would be awarded ribbons. Our first show had about forty entries and the work looked like student work. Now we are getting double that many entries and the work is very professional, and rivals the work in our main Spring and Fall shows."

PSAA is fortunate to have a long list of accomplished artists willing to share their technical knowledge and old fashioned know how. Their encouragement and guidance is evident in the many beautiful works produced by their students. Some of the students are beginners; others are accomplished artists themselves but may be brushing up on forgotten skills or attempting a new medium for the first time.

Both the instructors and students benefit from the classes. Students bring an openness and creativity to the classes; instructors their expertise. Everyone approaches art from a different point of view and inspiration can come from anyone whether they are a beginner or seasoned talent. Tom Rutledge, a long time instructor at Pine Shores stated, "The level of the students has come up so much. It's fantastic. You can see they get the point. They're listening and putting it to work. That is very rewarding to me as a teacher, a mentor."

The Student show is one of PSAA's most diverse exhibitions of the year drawing works from more than 56 offered classes and workshops. Most of the classes allow for a wide range of skill levels although some are specifically tailored to Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced students. Pine Shores also offers children and teen programs at various times during the year. All classes are open to the public, or at a reduced rate with PSAA membership, and are made possible partially through a grant administered by Ocean County Cultural and Heritage Commission which receives funding from a grant from the New Jersey Council on the Arts. A schedule of current classes is available on Pine Shore Art Association's website, Pineshoresartassociation.org.

The show is judged by a jury of their PSAA peers. This year's first prize winner is Motivation, by Tom Pickle; 2nd place is Up from the Deep, by Jane D'Orto; 3rd Place is Albert by Margaret Hartwell, and Honorable Mentions for Peggy Mahan's Woodland Path and Elaine Burnett's Cozy Cottage.

The paintings and drawings will be on display through April 26th at Pine Shores Art Association, 94 Stafford Avenue, Manahawkin.