Night in Venice Weekend Adds Arts and Crafts Show

OCEAN CITY – A huge summer Arts and Craft Show is now an additional feature to this community’s gala Night in Venice Weekend. Initiated four years ago by Ocean City residents, JoAnne and Norman Schaut, the exhibition includes over250 juried crafters, artists, photographers and food specialist.
The July 16th spectacular will be held on the grounds of Carey Stadium and inside the Sports and Civic Center, 6th St. off Boardwalk. Admission to the one day event s $3, children are free. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. All profits from tickets and booth rentals support the local charities including the Ocean City Food Cupboard which has already received over $100,000 from the event.
Featured artist will be Connie Steiner of Margate a popular artist, illustrator and writer. She has written and illustrated four children’s book for major publishers. Mrs. Steiner contributed art and paintings to Sesame St. for 15 years and she listed on the show’s TV credits as both and writer and artist. Her work has also been published in Spider and Cricket Magazine.
Her popular and whimsical lithographs will be exhibited and for sale.
Among the many talented crafters will be Collete Bove with functional pottery, Stacy Bradley offering belt buckles with “bling,” Harvey Carr with handmade New England bird feeders and houses, Daryl Cohen, a fuse glass art and jewelry artist, Lori Curtis, who fashions matching dresses for girls and dolls, Jim and Diane Davis with hand poured, highly scented soy candles, Melissa Bates, hand made soaps and scrubs and Martha Becker with knitted children’s hats-mittens, scarves and hooked rugs.
Kerri Oldfield will show and sell her gourds and hand painted artwork. Jackie Dougherty creates aged Balsamic Vinegars with hand made wooden serving bowls. Peg Fulton features architectural salvage from antique items. Joyce Fulton paints award winning watercolors of shore birds. Alan Holcombe produces maps created from license plates and puzzles from artwork. Clare Marshal crafts 14K and sterling silver jewelry and bracelets. Leslie Master fashions wired gem service ware and Delores McAnulty offers cut out paintings of your house.
The huge summer festival will feature and array of other specialties plus the finest practical gifts and home décor. For information, contact the South Jersey Artisans Guild, 800-822-4112 or 609-399-99989.
Ocean City’s Night in Venice Weekend also includes the downtown Merchants in Venice Sea Food Festival, Fri., July 15 from 6th to 9th Sts. at Downtown Asbury Ave. On Sat., July 16 the decorated boat parade a bay front home celebration begins 7:30 p.m. on the Bay by the Longport Bridge. Call 609-525-9300 for information.