Spring Lake Art Walk a 'Win-Win'

Fine artists of all varieties displayed their work in Spring Lake’s Fourth of July Art Walk on Saturday in the town’s picturesque business district.

For free, local and regional artists exhibited their pieces along Third Avenue for residents and tourists to enjoy from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

While perusing Spring Lake’s shops and eateries, passers-by browsed paintings, photography, pottery and other handmade art, and had the opportunity to meet the artists and purchase their work.

Among the approximately 30 artists displayed was Jack Loder, a self-taught painter and resident of the Jersey Shore for 45 years.

Appropriately, Loder’s art is heavily infused with sea and maritime influence.

“Living at the shore has been his greatest inspiration for his work,” said Loder’s wife.

The two travel all over the Northeast featuring his pieces in art shows, and have participated in Spring Lake’s Art Walks since their conception several years ago.

Featured artist Demetrius Patterson marketed his work to a broad audience.

“I take care to make my pieces affordable for everybody,” he said. “Not everyone wants to spend money for an original, so I also create prints, T-shirts and magnets with my most popular pieces on them.”

Patterson offered printed postcards featuring his best works for a mere $4, where original paintings are worth hundreds. Patterson shared what he feels is the key to finding success as an artist.

“Don’t ever let somebody tell you you’re wasting your time on art. Sure it’s tough to make a living off of [art], just focus on what you love, learn how to market yourself, and keep focus,” he said.

Also exhibiting their art were Spring Lake resident Linda Pandolfe and Pennsylvania resident Jim Malady.

Pandolfe represented the local art community with her pottery. She displayed vases, plates and decorative pieces which she hand crafted, carved and painted. Her inspiration comes from her life at the shore and her interaction with the area’s other talented artists.

Malady focuses his work on his Irish heritage. He will fly to the country for the thirtieth time next month to seek inspiration for future pieces. One of his paintings was available on Saturday for purchase for $2,280.

The artistic event was coordinated by Spring Lake Chamber of Commerce Vice President Terry Groark, who also owns ArtEffects, a studio on Third Avenue.

“The Art Walk is a win-win situation for all involved,” she said. “It’s a great way to attract people into town to enjoy amazing art and beautiful Spring Lake, and the artists have the opportunity to show their work.”

Groark pointed out that fine arts were greatly affected by the nation’s recent recession, as artists usually must pay a fee in order to participate in art shows, which was difficult to manage during a time when so little fine art was selling.

“There is no fee required to show your pieces in our Art Walks, which helps prevent us from having more starving artists!” said Groark.

Spring Lake also sponsors Art Walks over Labor Day and Columbus Day Weekends. Groark felt Saturday’s event was a success in terms of artistic participation as well as spectatorship.

“This group [of artists] is so talented; there are some real masterpieces out there today,” she said. “It truly is a cultural event.”