Name: May Gallery Reception
Start: 2026-05-03T13:00:00-04:00
End: 2026-05-03T16:00:00-04:00
Location: Ocean County Artists Guild

MAY GALLERY RECEPTION

May 3, 2026

1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Members Studio: “Familiar Faces”

Gallery 1: Keith Alan Spaar Sr.

Artists Statement/Bio:

Keith Alan Spaar Sr. is a New Jersey-based fine artist whose work explores light, atmosphere, and storytelling through painting. With a background in illustration and creative development, he brings a strong sense of design, craftsmanship, and observation to each piece. His work often draws from the natural world, especially marine subjects, wildlife and scenes shaped by shifting light. He is particularly drawn to creating larger paintings, often enhanced with metallic leaf to add luminosity and depth. Through his work, he aims to create paintings that feel both stricking and contemplative. Spaar is a member of the Ocean County Artists Guild, the American Society of Marine Artists, the Guild of Creative Arts in Shrewsbury and T.R.A.C. in Toms River.

Gallery 2: Debra Kurtz

Artists Statement/Bio:

I am very pleased to announce my oil painting exhibition opening for the month of May at the Ocean County Artist’s Guild on May 3’rd between the hours of 1 and 4 pm.

I’ve received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at New York’s Parson School of Design and built a career in graphic design at AT&T and Equitable Life Insurance.

I’ve pursued my passion for painting and drawing throughout the years and was fortunate to study with master artists at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, The Center for Contemporary Art in Bedminster NJ, the Princeton Academy of Art and The Florence Academy of Art in Jersey City NJ.

I was a onetime board member of the Ocean County Artist Guild and presently enjoy painting at the guild with fellow artists.

My passion for the arts is lifelong, and I feel each new painting I undertake leads me to new discoveries. I am particularly interested in interpreting the captivating beauty of nature whether the subject is a floral, landscape, or species.

Vincent Van Gogh once said, “In all nature I see an expression and a soul.”

I hope my paintings remind us to take a minute to absorb the natural wonders that so often surround us.

Pop-up Gallery: Atlantic Shore Woodturners

The Atlantic Shore Woodturners is a New Jersey based turning club with a diverse group of people of all ages, genders, and skill sets who enjoy creating distinctive projects on the lathe. We focus on themes to help develop our skills, support charity projects, and just have fun! Our meetings are held the second Tuesday of every month, 7PM at The Howell Community Church, 1554 Maxim-Southard Road, Howell, NJ.

We are a local charter of the national American Association of Woodturners (AAW). We draw our membership from the central area of the state, as well as remote members from a number of states around the country.

Our club was founded in the mid-1980’s by a relatively few amateur turners and has grown steadily to its current membership level of approximately 90 people. Our meetings have been held at a number of different host locations in the past, with our current facilities generously hosted by the Howell Community Church .

In 2023, we opened our new turning center which is a classroom environment for classes and socializing. Our turning center has 6 lathes set up for member use as well as a clean bright environment for holding classes. Our members teach a rotating schedule of different techniques, projects, or embellishments for classes in the turning center allowing us to grow our own knowledge of turning through sharing. All members can attend these classes which are typically no cost to the members.

May Gallery Reception