Elaine Wisler of Margate shows her oils and pastels of people she finds interesting.
VENTNOR – Whether it’s fine art or crafts, there was something for everyone at the Ocean Breeze Art Show, held in and around the Ventnor City Cultural Arts Center Saturday, July 3.
Vendors lined the expansive hallway inside the building at 6500 Atlantic Ave., which houses the Cutural Arts Center and Ventnor City Historical Society Museum on one side of the building and the Atlantic County LIbrary/Ventnor Branch on the other. Hundreds of shoppers milled about oogling the offerings, which includes pieces of fine art, pottery and mosacis, and hand-crated wood, leather and fabric items.
All were popular finds for those seeking to decorate their homes, find a new beach or winter hat, or spruce up a casual summer outfit with some elaborate silver jewelry.
One vendor was selling silver hand-crafted jewelry that had a higher silve metal content that he promised would not tarnish like lower-grade silver pieces.
Ventnor artist and musician Steve Kuzam discusses the meaning behind some of his artwork.
Ventnor artist Steve Kuzma was at the back of the building selling his etherial paintings, some of which were produced to honor his cultural heritage in Ukraine. All of them reflected the peaceful nature of the country where Russia’s war is still raging.
Elaine Wisler’s fine art pieces are a little more light-hearted. The Margate resident and artist displayed numerous works in oils or framed pastels.
“I like to take pictures of people I find interesting and use them as inspiration for my work,” Wisler said. “I love real people and like to show their cellulite and wrinkles.”
Wisler said art should “make you smile and make people feel good.”
Chase Metzger sets up a lemonade stand to raise money for childhood cancer in memory of his brother Shane who died of the disease in 2015.
Nestled amid the leather crafts tent, where insense reminisent of the 1970s burned, and a tent filled with children’s dresses made from colorful fabrics, was Chase Metzger, who was selling lemonade and cookies to raise money for children’s cancer research.
He was raising money for a non-profit, Shane’s Future Days, which his little brother formed as he was battling cancer. Shane was diagnosed with terminal cancer at age 8 months.
“Shane set up his first lemonade stand here in Ventnor at the arts festival,” Chase said.
Shane passed away on March 30, 2015 after his year-long battle, but his memory is kept alive by his brother and family members. The organization’s mission is to raise awareness about childhood cancer, raise funds for research and help families battleing alveolar rhabdomyoscacoma, and other high-risk childhood cancers.
“He always like to spend time at the beach, and we would bust him out of CHOP to bring him to the beach,” Shane’s mother said.
Chase Metzger said the fundraising team surpassed its $500 goal for the event.
“A neighbor already wrote a big check and we raised a couple of hundred dollars here at the Ocean Breeze Art Show,” Chase said.
