Curatorial Statement

In recent years there has been an uprising of unconventional art forms within schools of lesser known and even by highly regarded artists. The idea of repurposing is not only a current trend—as we’re all looking to be a part of something environmentally conscious—but it’s an innovative and fun method of converting everyday and often overlooked items into art; reaffirming the idea that art in fact is all around.

Repurposing artists take that social more literally—using items such as old jeans, telephones, and computer keyboards and quilting, sewing, and molding them together. They have created the “sightly” from materials often considered unsightly.

This biannual show is indicative of just this, and our artists this year are fulfilling these ideas, placing a contemporary spin on the trompe l’oeil… making repurposing the new double-take.

With topics arising and being more ever-present in the last three years regarding the sustainability of Contemporary Art, we’ve chosen to take a few steps forward by dedicating a month to this friendly craft.

Repurposed art boasts the importance of redeveloping what already exists and reconsidering the usefulness of what is readily available in our everyday lives. These found and assembled objects are prime examples of the true immediacy of art in the modern world. “Repurposed, Rethought” as a title and statement is a reiteration of exactly this. We’re providing a way to view a new mode of present-day artistic thought rooted in concerns with a global perspective.

Some words from our Director

"Old Shore Sunset" by Chun-Yan Hilyard. This oil painting won 2nd place in this year's Juried Art Show.

Dear Friends of OCAC,

Our emotions have been forefront, our general routine "back staged" as we--the Art Community of South Jersey--faced a tragic loss last week. One of our most active and enthusiastic visual artists passed away, Chun-Yan "Kim" Hilyard. To say that she has already brought this art community together does not passify our emptiness, nor our saddened hearts. However, in this short time, she has already done that. We would rather have her smile, her charismatic social magic bringing us together, as she had begun to do already.

We proceeded Friday evening with our Juried Art Show Awards Ceremony and Exhibit opening. And, yes, the three judges who did not know her on October 23rd when they chose the 50 pieces accepted into the show, as well as the winners of the awards, chose Chun-Yan as the recipient of the 2nd Place Award. Therefore, with the need for gathering to console, as well as the promise to attending artists to announce our winners, we decided to leave the 2nd Place Winner to be announced last, by President of the Board of Trustees, Jack Devine. He allowed a minute's time of silence, then I spoke briefly and invited others to share if they wished. And they did. The gallery became our gathering place to honor and share our time and our impressions that Kim left with us. One even came prepared with enlarged photos she took of Kim on one of the many excursions painting with the high tide rising.

I would like to share with the blogging community the words I spoke on Friday night (Nov. 6, 2009 8pm):

IT HAS BEEN OUR PRIVILEGE TO HAVE THE WORK OF CHUN-YAN HILYARD ON THESE VERY WALLS, JUST 2 SHORT MONTHS AGO. IT WILL NOT COME AS A SURPRISE TO ANY OF YOU WHO KNEW HER THAT HER SINGLE ARTIST SHOW’S OPENING HOSTED ONE OF THE LARGEST NUMBER OF ATTENDEES IN THE ARTS CENTER’S HISTORY OF SINGLE SHOWS. CLEARLY, THE DEPTH OF HER PASSIONS INCLUDED NOT JUST THE NEED FOR VISUAL CREATIVITY, BUT THE JOY OF SHARING AND INTERACTING WITH OTHERS WHO ARE DRIVEN BY THE ARTS. AND SO, MANY OF HER ARTIST FRIENDS WHO MET HER IN THE OUTDOORS AND ENJOYED PAINTING PLEIN AIR STYLE WERE AT HER EXHIBIT OPENING, AND MANY OF YOU ARE HERE THIS EVENING.



LIKE YOU, WE HAVE NOT HAD AMPLE TIME TO ALLOW THIS LOSS TO SINK IN. BUT BECAUSE WE ARE GATHERED HERE THIS EVENING, PERHAPS IT IS OF SOME CONSOLATION THAT WE CELEBRATE THE ART OF ONE OF US WHO IS GONE. WE WILL NEVER SEE HER WORK THE SAME WAY AGAIN. IN VIEWING HER BRUSH STROKES, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO RELIVE AND TO ENJOY HER UNIQUE PASSION, AND THE BEAUTIFUL QUALITIES OF THIS GRACIOUS, ENTHUSIASTIC, WOMAN WE CALLED OUR FRIEND “KIM”—CHUN-YAN HILYARD.



IN SPECIAL TRIBUTE AND REMEMBRANCE OF CHUN-YAN, THE ARTS CENTER WILL PURCHASE HER PAINTING “LIGHT AND SHADOW” AS THE NEWEST ADDITION TO OUR PERMANENT COLLECTION.



IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE, PLEASE FEEL FREE AT THIS TIME TO SPEAK TO US.

Sincerely,



Lorraine Hansen
Executive Director, Ocean City Arts Center

Recap

The poetry reading this past Friday was a great success. It was an honor to host such wonderful writers and readers, and we hope to maintain the lines of communication with both men. The Arts Center would like to extend many thanks to the women of Sunrose Words and Music for bringing all the lovely books and helping with the book signing, and Paula Angelo and Connie Smedley for providing some of the food we had for the event.

It is happenings much like this that reinforce our mission so much. We are also reminded of the importance of the literary arts, the power of the written word, and the true immediacy of language.

2 days left

until Mark Doty and Paul Lisicky are here!

7pm this Friday, Sept. 25th for $5

Repurposed Art

The Ocean City Arts Center is in the process of organizing a Repurposed Art Show in February of 2010. Are you an artist who works in this new(er) medium? Contact us!

Time to start counting down...

There are only 11 short days until our Fall Class Session begins. Become a part of the Ocean City Arts Center Studio School and enhance the world around you by training an artistic eye and mind.

Classes are available online here.

What are we doing? Follow us here.

Stop in and see the paintings and drawings of local artist Chun-Yan Hilyard. Her colorful and insightful works have filled our gallery with a true sense of the upcoming season; and her landscape and portrait studies truly exemplify her curious and inquisitive nature. A Meet the Artist Reception will be held Friday, September 11, 2009 from 6:30-8:30.

67 Degrees on Monday, August 31, 2009

On any other day the temperature may seem irrelevant but what it means right now is that fall is just around the corner. With a certain crispness in the air today, we are preparing more and more each day for the upcoming class session. The fall schedule of classes, events, and workshops is now available at the Arts Center and in the OC Sentinel in print, as well as online.

As always we've got a few new teachers to introduce to you. John Benigno, professional photographer from the Philadephia area, is joining our faculty for an all-day Saturday workshop where photography enthusiasts will learn about how to go beyond the lens and into the space and subject thus creating an even better photograph. We've also got Robert Baker, graduate of Temple University's music school, teaching guitar and bass here.

Notable highlights are of course the aforementioned reading by Mark Doty and Paul Lisicky on September 25th, the Dia de los Muertos craft party on Saturday October 14th, and November's Annual Juried Art Show which has also been mentioned in previous posts.

We invite you to view the class and event schedule online, call and register by phone or in person at the Arts Center, or send us an e-mail with any questions or comments: jadel@oceancityartscenter.org

Today is also the final day to view Urban Origins. Tomorrow our September exhibitor Chun-Yan Hilyard will be installing her work in our gallery. Join us Friday, September 11th from 6:30-8:30 for a Meet the Artist Reception.