Arts Center to host exhibition in honor of 100 years of fishing

Written by Staff Reports Thursday, October 04, 2012 01:00 am

From the beach at 14th Street, plein air artist Rae Jaffe of Ocean City works on her painting of the Ocean City Fishing Club's pier.

In recognition of the Ocean City Fishing Club’s 100th year in 2013, the Ocean City Arts Center in the Community Center, 1735 Simpson Ave., will host an exhibition of new paintings depicting the iconic fishing pier and clubhouse at 14th Street and the beach.  

The paintings are being created by the South Jersey Plein Air Group, which consists of local artists who paint outdoors at a designated location within the region. The exhibit will run through the month of January, with a meet the artists reception 7-8:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11, 2013, at the arts center.

Roz Lifshin, the Arts Center’s executive director, said that board President Dr. Jack Devine initiated the exhibit after discussing the centennial with Fishing Club trustee Don Smedley of Ocean City.

Ocean City artist Rae Jaffe said that although both plein air and studio artists in the Ocean City Fine Arts League will participate in the exhibition, “it is especially exciting for the plein air artists, who take their easels and canvases outdoors to paint. It will be both inspiring and challenging for the artists to capture the pier as the waves swirl around the pilings and wash up on the sand. We anticipate a diverse show that highlights the many talents of the Ocean City Fine Arts League’s wonderful painters.”

Founded in the summer of 1913, the Ocean City Fishing Club is the oldest, continuously operating fishing club in the nation. As part of their year-long Centennial celebration, the club’s 215 members will participate in a series of activities, including a three-day fishing tournament, a special exhibit at the Ocean City Historical Museum, an open house on the pier, and a banquet at The Flanders Hotel.

The club’s current president is Bruce Balderson, of Ocean City and Warwick, Pa. The incoming president on Oct. 19 of this year will be Paul Keuerleber, of Ocean City and Hatboro, Pa.

For more information about the Ocean City Fishing Club’s Centennial celebration, call 398-0534.

Diane Brown of Somers Point uses a view from the boardwalk to paint her rendering of the fishing club.