Wine tasting and art show supports hospitality scholarships

Last Updated on Monday, June 25, 2012 01:09 pm Written by SUZANNE MARINO Tuesday, February 07, 2012 05:26 pm

Friends, from left, Sue Daigle of Egg Harbor Township, Josette Katz of Linwood, Donna Albano of Somers Point, Roseann Gotta of Egg Harbor Township, Alissa Elkis of Northfield and Maria Ciro of Hamilton Township toast Elkis, who purchased four of Linwood artist Ilona Sochynsky’s posters featuring familiar images of the Jersey shore.

NORTHFIELD – Art and wine were the focus of the third annual At the Shore Scholarship Fundraiser to benefit the Greater Atlantic City Concierge Association and the Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority Foundation Hospitality Scholarship Thursday, Feb. 2 at the Atlantic City Country Club.

The foundation raises funds for students in the hospitality and tourism management programs at Atlantic Cape Community College and the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. In its first two years the foundation funded 11 scholarships.

“This event is very important to our students and lets them know the industry is really behind them,” said Donna Albano of Stockton, a member of the foundation. Students from the hospitality and tourism management programs were the servers for the event, and many chatted with the guests while serving hors d’oeuvres.

Vonnie Clark, president of the Greater Atlantic City Concierge Association, said the GACCA board is committed to aggressively seeking avenues to increase the amount of scholarship dollars available to deserving hospitality management students.

She said that last year the fundraiser saw an increase not only in the amount of the scholarships they could give, but also the number of recipients.

Eleven artists were invited to show and sell their work, with a portion of the proceeds going to the scholarship fund.

Susan Van Duyne of Ventnor, who operates Spindrift Pottery in her hometown, demonstrated her craft by creating a pot over the course of the event.

Tyrone Hart, whose art is featured on the cover of the book “The Northside: African Americans and the Creation of Atlantic City” by Nelson Johnson, was showing his work.

“His work tells such a wonderful story of Atlantic City, and it is filled with emotions,” commented radio talk show host Barbara Altman.

Model Jessica Soifer stood still as artist Chris Ford painted a beach scene on her midsection. She called Ford’s art style a blend of art and fashion. Ford also exhibited a number of oil paintings, several of which sold.

Susan Gordesky of Linwood is an artist who works with clay and other materials. Many of her works feature hands, which she said have a healing quality.

Artist Jon Baker’s colorful work incorporated local icons such as Lucy the Elephant and melded the region into his art in bold manners that make you look at things you may have seen before in a brand new light.

Artist Ilona Sochynshky of Linwood, who has been an adjunct professor at both Atlantic Cape and Stockton, exhibited graphic color prints highlighting popular South Jersey landmarks and boardwalk icons.

Albano said the scholarship committee was thrilled with the turnout for the event, although she said she would not know exactly how much the event raised for a few days. She said the Atlantic City Country Club was a great venue for the fundraiser, and the event was a great opportunity for the artists and the students.

Gail Marandino of Absecon, a member of the Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority, admires the work of artist and potter Susan Van Duyne of Spindrift Pottery in Ventnor.   Jean Muchanic, executive director of the Absecon Lighthouse, chats with artist Steve Kuzma of Ventnor at the third annual wine tasting and art show fundraiser Thursday, Feb. 2 at the Atlantic City Country Club to benefit the Atlantic City Concierge Association and the Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority hospitality scholarship.   Cathleen Engelsen of Surf City stands behind her paintings of beach and ocean scenes.   Radio talk show host Barbara Altman chats with Tyrone Hart of Atlantic City, a recent guest on her show, “Barbara Altman’s Front Porch.”   Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority members Ellen Cohen and Lee Karlock of Longport help with the art show.   Artist Jon Baker of Margate shows off a work commissioned by the accounting firm Capaldi and Reynolds of Northfield.   Model Jessica Soifer of Somers Point is the canvas for Atlantic City artist Chris Ford.   Diana Morgencroft of Pleasantville is the canvas for artist Chris Ford.   Diana Morgencroft of Pleasantville is the canvas for artist Chris Ford.   Gallo Wines representative Brian Maher of Bloomfield pours a cabaret sample for Nick Valinoti of Absecon.   Artist Susan Gordesky of Linwood, left and Ana Blanco of Ventnor, secretary of the Greater Atlantic City Concierge Association, converse at the art show.