Halloween Week at OCAG: Pumpkin Parties, Prizes & Spooky Fun!

OCAG is getting into the Halloween spirit with a week of festive creativity, family fun, and community connection! Join us for two special events filled with pumpkins, art, and plenty of treats.

Pumpkin Décor Party October 28 | 5:30 PM

Looking for a new “Canvas” for your art? Come experiment on our PUMPKINS! October 28th, 5:30pm, we’ll be providing pumpkins for you to decorate with paint or by carving (paint and carving implements provided). $20 per pumpkin gets you a pumpkin, implements, snacks, music, beverages and a few XTRA activities for fun! $10 gets you into the party with your own pumpkin, or just to have a good time with fun people. Then you can take your pumpkin home with you, or leave it to be included in our PUMPKIN CONTEST on October 30th!

$20 per pumpkin / $10 entry donation
Sign up at https://www.ocartistsguild.org/event/pumpkin-decorating-party/

Pumpkin Carving Contest & Trick-or-Treat October 30

Join us for our festive Pumpkin Carving Contest and Trick-or-Treat Party! Drop off your Jack-o’-lantern on Wednesday, October 29 from 1–5 PM at the Guild (22 Chestnut Avenue, Island Heights). Winners will be announced at the party on October 30, where families can enjoy treats, games, and the magical glow of our carved pumpkin display!

Ways You Can Help

We’re calling on our amazing members to help make these events a success:

Volunteer at the Party – Welcome families, collect entries, and help the evening run smoothly
Candy Donations – We’ll be handing out treats to Island Heights trick-or-treaters; candy donations are greatly appreciated
Hand Out Candy – Join us in spreading smiles and Halloween cheer to all the little ghosts and goblins

If you’d like to volunteer or donate candy, please email info@ocartistsguild.org.

Live Music at the Guild! Grateful Dead Tribute – November 1

Get ready for a rockin’ night at OCAG as JDLIVE presents Mark Diomede’s Be5D, featuring Sandy Mack, a Grateful Dead Tribute you won’t want to miss! With special guest Blackwolf from Vermont, this show brings together incredible musicianship, high-energy jams, and that classic Deadhead vibe right here in Island Heights.

🗓 Saturday, November 1, 2025
⏰ Doors open at 2:00 PM
💵 Tickets: $15

🎟️ Space is limited — sign up now to reserve your spot!
👉https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jdl-presents-mark-diomedes-be5d-sandy-mack-gdtribute-sat-nov-1-2025-tickets-1783219610859

November Member Show Opening Reception

Celebrate the opening of our November Member Show this Sunday, November 2, from 1:00–4:00 PM!

Enjoy an afternoon of creativity, music, and community as we unveil three captivating exhibitions.

In the Pop-Up Gallery, Tamara Woronczuk invites viewers to journey through “Tamara’s Travels: Adventures in Gouache.” Her luminous paintings capture the architecture, color, and spirit of places both near and far. In Gallery 2, Robert D’Imperio presents a striking new collection of impressionistic mixed-media works, blending painting and assemblage to create textured, thought-provoking compositions. Meanwhile, our Printmaking Group takes over Gallery 1 with their exhibit “Prints Charming,” featuring handmade linocuts and hand-pulled prints by Leslie Ovechka, Jo Guscott, Clara Sue Beym, and Michelle Dillon.

While you explore, enjoy live Irish-inspired music by the Kilkenny Cats from 2–4 PM, a perfect soundtrack for an afternoon of art and connection. Come meet the artists, discover new favorites, and experience the creative spirit that makes the Guild a true community treasure!

Call for Art: Annual OCAG Library Show

Exhibit at the Toms River Branch of the Ocean County Library
Submission Deadline: October 30

This November, OCAG will showcase a special exhibition at the Toms River Branch of the Ocean County Library on Washington Street, offering members the opportunity to share their work with the broader community.

Members are invited to submit up to two pieces of 2D artwork for display. Works should be no larger than 24 inches in height or width, and 3D pieces are not accepted. Submission is free for OCAG members.

To participate, members must complete an information form for insurance purposes no later than Thursday, October 30. Forms will be available at the Guild in the red folder marked “Library Show 2025” located in the kitchen area. Once filled out, please return your completed form to the same folder, behind the others.

Alternatively, artists may email the following details to Robert Henne at rhenne4@comcast.net by October 30:

Your name
Title of each work
Medium
Insurance value (maximum $500 per piece)
Phone number for contact

📅 Important Dates:

Drop-off: Monday, November 3 at the Library (101 Washington St., 2nd Floor)
- 11:00 AM–1:00 PM or 5:00–6:00 PM
Pick-up: Tuesday, November 25 at the Library
- 11:00 AM–1:00 PM or 5:00–6:00 PM

This exhibition is a wonderful opportunity to reach new audiences and represent the OCAG within the wider community. We encourage all members to participate and share their creative vision!

Jingle & Mingle Holiday Market at OCAG!

The halls of OCAG will be decked with art, cheer, and holiday spirit on Saturday, December 6, 2025, from 10 AM to 4 PM! Join us for a day of festive fun at our Jingle & Mingle Holiday Market, featuring free pictures with Santa, arts and crafts vendors, homemade baked goods, and children’s crafts with Santa’s elves. Bring your family and friends for a merry day of shopping, creativity, and community in our beautifully decorated Victorian home!

Calling All Member Vendors!

OCAG members are invited to be part of this beloved holiday tradition. Share your handmade art, crafts, jewelry, or seasonal goods at our cheerful market. Tables are just $40 for one / $70 for two, and registration is open now through November 7 at info@ocartistsguild.org. After that, space opens to the public—so reserve your spot today!

Help Us Deck the Halls!

We’re also asking for donations of Christmas decorations to help transform our Victorian Lady into a winter wonderland. Your garlands, ornaments, and festive trimmings will bring holiday magic to every corner of the Guild. If you’d like to donate, please reach out to Danielle at info@ocartistsguild.org. Come shop, sip, and celebrate creativity this holiday season at OCAG, where art and joy shine brightest together!

Call for Art: “Autumn Tones” at Garden State Distillery

OCAG is thrilled to partner with the Toms River Artist Community (TRAC) for a special fall exhibition, “Autumn Tones,” at Garden State Distillery this November!

This collaborative show invites OCAG members to celebrate the warmth, beauty, and color of the season through their art.

All mediums are welcome. Selected works will be on view for the entire month of November at Garden State Distillery in downtown Toms River.

Receiving Dates: October 28 & 29, 12:00–5:00 PM at OCAG
Entry Fee: $5 per piece
Theme: Autumn Tones

Don’t miss this opportunity to share your work in a lively local venue and connect with our creative community! For details, email info@ocartistsguild.org or call 732-270-3111.

Calling All Artists & Instructors!

Are you passionate about sharing your creative skills? OCAG is looking for artists, makers, and instructors to lead classes and workshops in the upcoming season! Whether you specialize in painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, fiber arts, or something totally unique, we’d love to hear from you.

We’re currently scheduling for January, February, and March, and we’re always open to fresh ideas that inspire our creative community. If you or someone you know would be a great fit to teach at OCAG, please reach out to Danielle at info@ocartistsguild.org to discuss your proposal. Let’s make 2026 a year filled with creativity, learning, and artistic connection!

We Need OCAG “Sitters” for December

Love art and want to be part of the Guild’s welcoming spirit? We’re looking for member volunteers to serve as “Sitters” on weekends in December! Sitters help greet visitors, share information about our exhibits, and assist with art sales while keeping our beautiful Victorian home open to the public. It’s a fun, easy way to get involved, meet fellow art lovers, and support our mission to keep art alive in the community.

🖋️ Sign up today on SignUpGenius!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F44A8AE2CA4FBC07-59630914-december

We Need Your Art!

We are creating a 2026 OCAG Calendar and we want to showcase our members’ incredible talent!

We invite you to submit your artwork digitally to info@ocartistsguild.org by November 3rd, 2025, for consideration. Selected works will be featured in our 2026 calendar, highlighting the creativity and diversity of our artistic community.

This is a wonderful opportunity to have your art celebrated and shared throughout the year while supporting our mission to keep the arts alive in Ocean County.

🖌️ Submission Deadline: November 3, 2025
📧 Email submissions to: info@ocartistsguild.org

Let’s make the 2026 OCAG Calendar a true celebration of our talent! We can’t wait to see your submissions!

Donate Gently Used Digital Cameras to Our Teen Photography Club!

OCAG is building the next generation of photographers and we need your help! Our Pre-Teen/Teen Photography Group is growing, and we are seeking donations of gently used digital cameras to give our young photographers the tools they need to explore their creativity.

If you have a camera that’s collecting dust at home, consider passing it along to inspire the next wave of photographers in our community! Every camera donated helps a teen discover new ways to see the world through the lens of art.

📍 Drop-off Location: 22 Chestnut Ave, Island Heights
📧 Email: info@ocartistsguild.org
📞 Phone: 732-270-3111

Your contribution makes a lasting difference in the lives of young artists. Thank you for helping us keep the arts thriving in Ocean County!

Art Furniture Sale from OCAG Member Francine Van Ostrand

Looking to upgrade your studio space or add high-quality, functional art furniture to your creative setup? OCAG member Francine Van Ostrand is selling several gently used, art-related items at excellent prices.

These pieces are perfect for artists, educators, or anyone in need of sturdy, functional furniture designed with creativity in mind. Available items include:

Large Folding Table – $50
Wooden Table Easel – $30
Wooden Outdoor Easel – $50
Unfinished Pine Art Table (Approx. 36” x 42”) – $150
Oak Flat File Cabinet (5 drawers, 42” x 46”) – $1,800

The highlight of this sale is the Oak Flat File Cabinet, a rare and valuable piece ideal for safely storing prints, drawings, and oversized works. Serious artists and collectors alike will appreciate the opportunity to acquire this specialized cabinet, which is often difficult to find.

By purchasing one of these items, you not only equip your space with useful tools but also support a fellow Guild member.

If interested, please call 732-270-3111 or email info@ocartistsguild.org for more details.

Don’t miss this chance to give your art practice a boost with professional-grade furniture that’s ready for a new creative home!