Ocean County Artists' Guild

Letter from the President

June/July President's

What happened to Spring it certainly came in like a lion with winds, cool temperatures and rain. I welcome Summer as a perfect time to take a moment to appreciate the natural beauty of living in Ocean County, and to reflect on our own continual transitions and growth as artists. I hope to see you all come out and attend some of our new offerings such as Chef Kelly Event June 11, 2022, if you haven’t attended a cooking demo yet you will not be disappointed. Getting outside to paint in the fresh air with Joe Gyurcsak Plein Air workshop June 24, 25 will fill up fast so reserve your spot. A collaboration with the Thomas Edison Film Screening will take place on July 16th featuring short films curated in part by Trustee John Columbus. Our two summer Concerts will take place on Friday, June 24, and July 15th. We are also hosting an Art Opening at Sweetwaters Coffee and Tea in July and I hope you will come out and support our friends who are painting regularly and showing their art in our community. As always I am deeply grateful for the support from the community, our members and volunteers. 

Creatively Yours,
AnnMarie Dario OCAG President

Why Volunteering Makes the Perfect New Years Resolution

Volunteering makes the perfect New Year Resolution because it creates a trifecta of great outcomes.  Volunteerism has countless benefits to the community and also to the health and happiness of individuals who commit to volunteering.  

Volunteering can easily become one of those back burner activities.  The type of activity that always seems like a nice thing to do, but loses steam when it comes to reaching out and signing up.  We want to make it easy for you to contribute to the success of the guild.  We have opportunities that take as little as 2 hours a month to do, other tasks that can be done from your home.  Please consider supporting our goals and helping the OCAG grow into 2022. Sign Up to  Volunteer at the OCAG today: Many opportunities.

www.ocartistsguild.org

Upcoming Guild Events

Announcements

Awards

2021/2022 Officers and Trustees

OFFICERS 

AnnMarie Dario (President) is a Registered Art Therapist in private practice for over 25 years. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Art and Psychology from Springfield College and a Master’s Degree in Art Therapy and Creative Development from Pratt Institute. 

Her extensive background taps into using the creative process of art making to improve and enhance the physical, mental and emotional well-being of children and adults. AnnMarie enjoys exploring different art media and getting her hands dirty with a ball of clay. She is starting her third year as president. AnnMarie resides in Toms River. AnnMarie Dario MPS, ATR, Registered Art Therapist

Steve Abruzzese (Vice President) has been making films since graduating DeSales University in 2011. He operates camera and works as an engineer on productions for corporate events and programming. He also works on Sports productions and music programming for arena events. He and Jen Suwak have made several documentaries and other projects together that have won awards and have played internationally. Their most recently completed film, ‘Frank Parese, a Jersey Shore Veteran Story’ has
had virtual screenings at several festivals and events during the pandemic.

Sally Cornelison (Recording Secretary) Sara (Sally) was born in Washington DC and grew up in Mill Valley, California.  I graduated from Dominican College of San Rafael with an Art degree and Education minor.  From that point on she began her travels – teaching in Michigan, back to California and on to Hawaii.  After four glorious years teaching 6^th grade in Hawaii, I found out about the Department of Defense Overseas schools and applied.   My Art major came in handy as they needed Art teachers at my first assignment – Subic Bay in the Philippines!  I continued teaching Art and loved it during the 13 years of my DOD career.  After one year in the Philippines I transferred to Germany and taught in four schools – Hof, Karlsruhe, Berlin and Baumholder. 
In 1978 I took a leave of absence and went back to school in Ashland, OR for a Master’s in Outdoor Education!   I enjoy integrating art into all aspects of life. I returned to Germany and met my husband, Bert, and married in Germany.  He was transferred in 1982 to the USA – which was a culture shock!   In 1985 Bert retired from the Army at Fort Riley.   We moved to New Jersey. During these years in New Jersey, I kept busy and volunteered lots of time at the church, teaching Art at the Parks, and being a member of Art organizations.  I was the President of Tole Time at the Jersey Shore, and the Gallery Committee Chair at the Ocean County Artist’s Guild in Island Heights.   New Jersey became the state where I have lived the longest time in one place!

Bill McNamara (Treasurer) Bill is a Certified Public Accountant, licensed in New Jersey and Florida. He is a graduate of Glassboro State College (now Rowan University). He is a partner in the Red Bank based CPA Firm The Curchin Group, LLC. In addition to completing his first year as an Officer for the Artists’ Guild, Bill is a member of the investment committee for Fulfill (formerly the Monmouth/Ocean Food Bank), Tinton Falls, NJ. Bill has been active in serving on a host of not-for-profit boards, such as the Jersey Shore Council of Girl Scouts, Brick Morning Rotary, Monmouth Ocean Development Council plus other various trade and industry organizations. Bill has pursued art through his photography since grade school. He chaired and edited his high school year book and while pursuing his business degree, was the photography editor for Rowan’s college newspaper “The Whit”, which won a series of collegiate recognitions and awards for its news coverage and photography during his tenor. Bill has won numerous “show” awards and his images have been displayed widely here on the Jersey Shore plus venues like The Museum of the City of New York. Bill’s images have also been published by the Philadelphia Inquirer and the New York Times.
Bill studied photography at the International Center of Photography in New York City.

Wendy Kovacs (Membership Secretary) Wendy is a resident of Brick, has an extensive and diverse business background. She was a graphic specialist, held administrative and supervisory positions, and helped manage the corporate website for Lucent Technologies. She was part owner of a residential delivery business. Wendy has extensive experience using Microsoft Access and Excel which she puts to use at Ocean County Artists’ Guild (OCAG). Not only is she on the Board, but she tirelessly handles the OCAG office manager position. Wendy is a talented watercolor artist who has taken many courses with nationally known artists. Her painting was selected as the cover art for Sailfest 2019.

Nancy Lanzel (Corresponding Secretary) I joined the guild in the 1980s. I taught Special Education for 25 years. When I retired, I traveled the USA in an RV, and returned to the Guild in 2011. I have enjoyed and participated ever since. I 'm a potter, painter, and card maker.

TRUSTEES

Jennifer Suwak (Trustee) has worked in the film/video industry since the 90’s. She has worked as a producer, reporter, editor, director and camera operator for TV, news, feature films & shorts. Her sculptures, stop-motion animation, and award-winning narrative & documentary films have won several awards and have been shown internationally in film festivals and galleries. She continues her freelance career while teaching production and theory courses in the Cinema, Television & Media Production department at Kutztown University. Jen wants to shine a light on issues such as mental health, marginalized citizens and ageism in addition to interesting people who deserve a spotlight.

Kimberly Cesaretti (Trustee) Kim has a Bachelor of Art Education and Master of Science in Systems Management who worked as a graphic artist, a Defense Department Contract Specialist and an Adjunct Instructor at Georgian Court University. She is an accomplished artist and art educator who shares her skill and passion with OCAG students attending her acrylic painting, oil painting, and drawing classes. She also works in pastel, watercolor, pencil and charcoal. Kim resides in Forked River.

John Columbus (Trustee) I have been a maker of independent short films since 1969. My interest in film is as a visual art form, not a commercial medium and is influenced by my undergraduate art school experiences in print making, photography, sculpture, and life painting after which I made the transition to filmmaking. One of my films titled "Corona" (made in the year 2000 and having nothing to do with the virus but rather a personal memoir) was exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art, NYC Documentary Fortnight Series. My most recent film (on video) was titled "A Stone's Throw" made for and in collaboration with the John F. Peto Studio Museum, Island Heights, NJ. I am retired and living in Island Heights with my wife Ellen, a retired librarian and volunteer with the Peto Museum. At age 77 (no spring chicken) I am also a member of the Christ Episcopal Church Choir and we have three grandchildren.
Founder/Director Emeritus: Thomas A. Edison/Black Maria Film Festival for 34 years since 1980,
Exhibit Designer 1970 - 1973, The Newark Museum, Newark, NJ;
Charter Member Board of Trustee: Friends of the Thomas A. Edison National Historical Park from 1981–2019; Trustee: The Robert Flaherty Film Seminar, NYC; Associate Professor Part Tim Faculty: University of the Arts, Philadelphia, Film and Photography program; M.F.A. - Columbia University School of the Arts Film Division;
B.F.A. - University of Hartford, Hartford Art School

Robert Henne (Trustee) has a background in publishing, and currently owns a community web & social media company in the Toms River area. He is a Trustee of two local art organizations, while also serving as a long-time volunteer with the Toms River Business Improvement District. As a New Jersey Artist, his work provides a unique look at the world through his colorful paintings. Originally from Ewing, NJ, he has exhibited extensively in central New Jersey and Bucks County Pennsylvania (Princeton, Trenton, Lambertville/New Hope). He has participated in many juried shows, and has several notable one-man shows to his credit. Since moving to the Jersey Shore, his work has been seen at variety of art venues, including the Ocean County Artists' Guild, the Art Alliance of Monmouth County, the Freehold Art Gallery, and others. He also had a prior seven-year stretch teaching painting and drawing for adults in the Trenton area.

Jo Guscott (Trustee) Jo Guscott is a retired special education teacher with 34 years of teaching experience at the high school level. During her career she was events coordinator and managed a team that orchestrated graduations, proms and assemblies for hundreds of participants. In addition, she coached 18 seasons of girls’ cross country, spring track and field and cheerleading. Jo is relatively new to the art field. She has taken oil painting courses at OCAG and Perkins Art Center in Moorestown, NJ and participates in the Gallery Committee, Sweetwaters Gallery, Print Group and the Thursday Do Your Own Thing.

Jo Guscott has been a member of OCAG for five years and is currently on the board plus chairwoman of the Gallery Committee. She participates in the Print Group and has shown her work at the Guild, Sweetwaters Cafe , the Toms River Library and the Toms River Artist Community Gallery. Jo has 34 years of teaching high school special education.

Kathy Landmesser (Trustee) Kathy Landmesser, born and raised Jersey girl, has taught Art for more than 20 years. She is a member and volunteer of the Ocean County Artist Guild for many years. At the time of this writing, she is contemplating the next phase of her work life and looks forward to expanding the percentage of artmaking to work ratio. 

Education: Georgian Court College, Bachelor of Arts degree, Fine art Education; Jersey City State College, Teacher of the Handicapped; PRAXIS Series, Elementary and Teacher of Art certificates.
Kean University, Graduate Studies in School Counseling Certificate, Masters in Educational Counseling

OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

Katie Miskolcy (Office Administrator) I am a former obituary writer, turned office administrator, and I could not be more thrilled to be starting a new chapter of life here at the Guild!
I graduated in 2017 from Kean University with a degree in communications, writing, having always been a passion of mine. After writing obituaries for the Asbury Park Press and USA Today for two years, I felt it was time for a change in career and happened upon an ad for the Ocean County Artists Guild—the rest was history!
When not at the Guild, I like to spend my free time reading, writing, knitting, collecting vinyl, and painting.
I also love to run—having completed my first half marathon (barefoot, and a story for another day) in 2019.

I want to thank everyone for being so welcoming, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for me at the Guild!