September is what many members call their “favorite show” and it is just the ticket to relive the summer before autumn leaves fall. We have two juried landscape shows running concurrently: “NATURE & THE LANDSCAPE: An Environmental Perspective / A Regional Wetlands Competition” and CUMBERLAND COUNTY’S “RiverFest” Plein Air Painting Contest.

For the “RiverFest” Plein Air Painting Contest, artists showed up as early as 7:30 am (very hard to do on a Saturday!) and dropped work off as late as 6:30 PM. Approximately 25 artists entered the competition. The paintings are as varied as the artists’ locations including one from inside of the “spaceship” at Hancock’s Harbor. There are also paintings of the RiverFest as it happens, boats and naturally, landscapes. Cash awards will be presented on opening night. 

While I have not yet seen the entries for “NATURE & THE LANDSCAPE: An Environmental Perspective / A Regional Wetlands Competition, judging by the quality of the above mentioned landscape competition which I have seen, it will most likely be one of our best landscape shows yet. It is limited to artists living in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean and Salem counties and must follow the show theme. Other than that, it is wide open as to what comes in as far as mediums used. I’ve heard that we have some interesting 3-D work this year and that paintings have been selling before they are hung for the show! Cash awards will also be presented for this show. As our viewing public, you have your say on what you like best by voting for the “PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD” so be sure to come early to have your vote count! Awards for both shows total $2,200.00 AND the artists may keep or sell their work! We love to support our arts! We will celebrate with an opening reception on “First Friday” because we also love for our patrons of the arts to share the beauty that is South Jersey. Please be sure to be there, be counted and meet the artists, too!