The Hannah Pro Art Show fundraiser was held Wednesday night at Belmar Plaza to benefit the Women’s Surf Division of the .
“We are raising money to support women surfers in memory of my daughter (Hannah Yarnold),” said the event’s organizer, Brenda Yarnold of Belmar.
According to Brenda Yarnold, Hannah Yarnold became involved with a bad crowd and drugs. She died two days before her 19th birthday.
“We are doing this as awareness for women to find their passion through surfing and the arts,” said Yarnold.
Yarnold wants women to realize that they have all the creative power inside of them and to follow their dreams.
Two of the several artists who had their work on display were Ronnie Jackson, North Long Branch, and Wayne May, Bradley Beach.
From across the parking lot of Belmar Plaza, Jackson’s carved surf board was a stand out sight. With bright blue, yellow, and red-orange colors of the sea, Jackson took an old surf board and brought it back to life.
“I recycle surfboards. I take them out of the garbage and turn them into art,” Jackson said. “I’ve been surfing my whole life and this board came to me. I said ‘what a perfect canvas.’”
Jackson enjoys carving surfboards to tell their own stories and helping to keep the earth green by keeping them out of landfills. This piece was transformed from his love for the ocean and fish.
Multimedia artist Wayne May displayed his photography. A piece he calls “Beach in Summer” is a photograph of people on the beach that he took from the Ocean Grove fishing pier this past summer. Looking at it, it looks a photograph taken on the beach in Asbury Park. May explained that he actually shot it from about a mile away and it ended up looking like it was taken in Asbury.
“The people in the front of the photo are at the beach in Ocean Grove and the ones in the back are in Asbury,” May said. “I hit the right angle. I was trying to get a shot for a post card.”
Unique to the show, attendees were able to vote on their top three artists where winning artist would win a prize. Musicians Gene Boccia, Tim Boyce and Bart Yarnold entertained with acoustical surf music. Food was provided by . Plus, Brenda Yarnold sold surf wax specifically made for the Hannah Pro.
Jack Ryan of West Creek was one of the many attendees out admiring the art.
“It’s a nice idea for a good cause to see some artwork,” he said.
Krista DeFilipo of Bradley Beach rode her bike to the event with boyfriend Ratch Tiajaren.
“We are enjoying one of the last nights of the summer,” she said.
“It’s great for kids and there’s great music,” Tiajaren said.
The show concluded with an outdoor showing of the film Soul Surfer, which chronicles the real-life story of a young female surfer who recovers after having her arm bitten off by a shark.
The art show was one of many events planned through the weekend to coincide with the surf competition.
