For immediate release:

The Belmar Arts Council (BAC)

Belmar, NJ, August 12th, 2008 -The Belmar Arts Council (BAC) kicked off its show of round paintings on square canvases on Saturday, Aug. 9 at the Boatworks. The exhibit, titled "Art in the Round", features thirty paintings, each designed to fit a 2-foot diameter tabletop for the BAC's new cabaret space.

At Saturday's well-attended opening, visitors filled out ballots to choose the twelve paintings which will be installed on the café tabletops. Pensive viewers sipped wine while pondering their choices to the strains of classical guitarist Keith Calmes. Wendy Green, Chair of the event, commented "I am really pleased with the turn out of people and the quality of the show." She noted that the benefit event raised over $800 to help develop the cabaret space and planned 2008/2009 performance series.

The BAC wishes to thank all artists who participated in the project, each of whom generously agreed to donate his or her painting if chosen by the public voting. A commemorative poster featuring the submitted paintings will shortly be available at the gallery.

Congratulations go out to the artists whose work was chosen for the tabletops: Heather Bryson, AnnMarie Carton, Jennifer DeLorenzo, Michelle Harmazinski, Pat Hutchinson, K. Dorsey Lucas, Fran McCloskey, Dave McGrath, Aysha Mirie, Joy Nokas, Mary Seminski, and Bonnie Smith. All of the selected paintings can be see on the BAC blog at http://belmararts.blogspot.com/.

"Art in the Round" is the third of three thematic art shows held during the summer of 2008 to raise awareness and funds for local community organizations. The June and July shows, titled "I Love Belmar" and "Food for Thought", benefited the Belmar First Aid Squad and The Belmar Food Pantry, respectively.

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.

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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
Ron Anderson, Chair - Summer 08 Theme Shows at Info@BelmarArts.org
or
Jack Leonard, V: 732-496-0993 E:j.leonard@namc-hitech.com Communications Committee