VENTNOR – Ocean breezes were gently blowing around the city’s Cultural Arts Center Saturday as the center held its annual Ocean Breeze Art Show and Sale.
Dozens of artists, makers and crafters set up canopies around the outside of the building, which recently completed the replacement of a faulty HVAC system. The 49th annual event also housed photographers and makers of fine arts and crafts inside the building, where instead of ocean breezes, the air conditioning cooled off shoppers.
Anthony Ferraina of Egg Harbor Township had a beautiful display of framed photographs of birds and wildlife taken over his 27-year passion for nature photography.
“I worked in financing and accounting management for many years, but after I retired 10 years ago, I turned my hobby into a new profession,” he said as he greeted shoppers who appreciated the fine details of local fauna.
Among the photographs were egrets, eagles and two swans whose necks entwined into the shape of a heart that someone said would make a great wedding gift. Another photo a few feet away depicted two birds chirping away at each other.
“I sold a larger one of that photo to a psychologist who counsels couples going through marriage counseling,” he said.
Ferraina, a 1979 graduate of Stockton University, submitted his photographs to numerous contests and came away with first-place wins. He frames his artwork in his home offshore, and sells them at 30 art shows throughout the year. He has taken ribbons at photo contests held by the Smithsonian, King Birder and National Geographic’s Your Shot. He also displays his work locally at the Ocean City Arts Guild and Cape May MAC.
Many of his photographs were taken at the Edwin B. Forsythe Wildlife Refuge in Galloway Township, a coastal habitat where migratory birds and wildlife are protected from the ravages of overdevelopment.
“I just love birds and getting out in nature,” he said. “I like to get shots of them in an emotional state.”
“Like this one?” a shopper asked, holding a photograph of seagulls near breaking waves trying to standup on a very windy day.
“I find great peace and joy in watching a bald eagle soar or just the pine trees swaying in the wind,” he said. “I say enjoy what you do and do what you enjoy.”
Ferraina said he attended Ocean Breeze two years ago and was asked by Cultural Arts Center Director Susan Van Duyne Hunter to return this year.
“It’s been pretty busy and the people are very receptive to my photos of wildlife,” he said.
A few tents away, another artist was displaying her realistic oil paintings of similar beach scenes.
Chrissy Lind of Margate whose preferred media are oils and photography, said it was her first year displaying her artwork at Ocean Breeze.
“I have been building up quite an inventory and decided to sell some of them,” she said.
Ventnor Mayor Tim Kriebel, who is friends with Lind, stopped by with his wife Jennifer and daughter Anderson to purchase some postcards.
Around the front of the building, retired police officer Bernie Jenkins was selling off his remaining inventory of photographs depicting scenes of local landmarks, such as the Ventnor Pier and flower-filled surf boats that dot the Downbeach landscape. A favorite of customers are the iconic welcome signs that greet travelers to Ventnor, Margate and Longport.
His husband Wally Korzienowski said they recently went up into the attic of their ranch home and discovered boxes of Jenkins’ photographs and decided to sell them off.
“I retired from the Police Department, now I’m retiring from photography,” said Jenkins, who indicated he will continue with his third career as a disc jockey.
Photographer Bernie Jenkins holds up a photo of the Dorset Avenue bridge in the open position.Although it was not officially open to the public until Monday, members of the Atlantic County Library System were working to reshelve books left in the drop box during the three-week period the library was closed for HVAC repairs.
And the Ventnor City Historical Society was open to share the history of the town with visitors. Former Mayor Tim Kreisher was there to provide information about some of the photos on display, which included one of the beautiful beachfront brick home once owned by casino mogul Steve Winn that was demolished to make way for a new McMansion. While he owned it, Winn hosted big name stars who were entertaining at his Golden Nugget casino along with former presidents and first ladies.
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