For immediate release:

Belmar, NJ, September 3, 2008 -Residents and community groups are invited to join the Belmar Arts Council at a pot luck picnic on Sunday, September 28 at 3 pm to celebrate the BAC's new mural at its headquarters, the Boatworks, 608 River Road.

The event will feature the dedication of the 12-foot-high mural along with a music jam of local performers. Attendees should bring a covered dish and chairs. The BAC will provide beverages, plates and utensils.

There will also be a hands-on block-printing project, for those who want to create some art of their own. Just bring a plain t-shirt to decorate or purchase a white bandana for $1 from the BAC to use as your canvas.

"We're really pleased with the new mural and hope many residents of all ages will join us on September 28 in celebrating the community's latest art addition," said BAC Trustee Pat Hutchinson.

Begun last spring, the mural depicts a giant reproduction of a historic "Greetings from Belmar, NJ" postcard, as well as a group of eager tourists who coincidentally resemble some familiar characters from art history.

Painted on the north side of the BAC's headquarters at the former Connolly boat engine repair garage, the design was among those submitted last year when the group considered proposals for its first mural on the south side of the building. Once again, Siperstein's Paint and Decorating Centers and Pratt and Lambert generously donated paint, brushes and rollers, with scaffolding supplied by Belmar's Department of Public Works. In addition, the BAC received a grant from Monmouth County Arts Council to carry out the project.

Conceived as an activity to interest teens in public art, the mural was painted by four local teenagers, Callie Dobrynski, Kelly McConnell, and Sarah and Susannah Price, along with BAC members John and Pat Hutchinson, Sandy Taylor, Merilee Allen, Paul Bonelli, Marilyn Baldi and Merry Brennan. Sculptor and muralist Bob Mataranglo provided the focal element of the mural, a huge crab that appears to have crawled over the roof from the nautical south mural. The process of creating the mural can be seen at the BAC's blog: http://belmararts.blogspot.com/.

"Our events this year have brought many more residents to the Boatworks. We hope they will join us again on Sept. 28 and we welcome new friends, as well, to celebrate this great new mural," said BAC Chair Joe Villa, who offered thanks to everyone who contributed, especially Bob Mataranglo, Todd Katz and the staff at Siperstein's, Robbin Kirk and Andy Meuerle, Mayor Pringle and Belmar's Borough Council and The Department of Public Works. Thanks also to everyone who painted or stopped by to offer moral support to the project.

For directions to the Boatworks and further information about other upcoming events, please visit the BAC website at www.BelmarArts.org.

The programs of the Belmar Arts Council are funded by dues, donations and grants. BAC's events are made possible in part by the Monmouth County Arts Council through funding from the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders, through the County Historical Commission, and the New Jersey Stats Council on the Arts/Department of State a Partner Agency of the National Endowment of the Arts.

About the Belmar Arts Council

The Belmar Arts Council is a non-profit organization dedicated to making Belmar a better place to live through the arts.

The Belmar Arts Council provides opportunities for our children, residents and visitors to experience and participate in artistic activities by nurturing and maintaining an atmosphere in which art and artists can thrive in our community.

We provide a twelve-month voice for the arts in our community and schools by promoting events of interest for residents and visitors.

Recent events sponsored by BAC include the Art Walk, Youth Art Exhibition, Battle of the Bands, Community Mural Project, FantaSea Creature Invasion, Beaux Eaux Ball, Liberty Oaks Choral Concert, Juried Craft Show and Valentine Cabaret.

Return to top of release.

Editors note:

The BAC logo and this release in Word and HTML format are available at
http://www.namc-hitech.com/bac

For additional information:
Belmar Arts Council

Merry Brennan, Chair, Mural Dedication Picnic E: Info@belmararts.org
or
Jack Leonard, V: 732-496-0993 E:j.leonard@namc-hitech.com Communications Committee