Arts & Entertainment

The Making of a Canterbury Art Show

The show, hosted by St. George's-by-the-River featured the work of many area artists

Call it a successful first for the arts in the area.

The first annual Canterbury Art Show, at St. George’s-by-the-River church in Rumson, was deemed a success last weekend.

The show, the inaugural event for the church’s Tapestry of the Arts series, featured 70 artists and more than 600 pieces of their work, including the photography of Fair Haven native Steve Scanlon.

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It “far exceeded our expectations in every way,” said Brenda Pilon, publicity coordinator for the event. “Hundreds of visitors enjoyed the show and receptions,” including people from outside Monmouth County.

Proceeds from the show, for which reception fees of $40 and $50 and entrance fees of $10 were charged, were donated to St. George’s operating budget as well as outreach assistance programs, such as art therapy at the non-profit 180 Turning Lives Around. The artwork of the Children of St. George’s also sold for $10 a piece and those proceeds also went to 180.

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“Many artists commented on how organized our processes were and how easy it was to be in the show,” Pilon added. “New artists are already asking to be put on out contact list for next year.”

The show was the brainchild of St. George’s Coni Lefferts and was conceived as a fundraising alternative to the church’s usual Annual Crabcake Festival, which was considered one of two major St. George’s fundraisers that also benefit the community, the other being the church’s summer Canterbury Fair.

Several volunteers collaborated on the new venture. They are: Howard Heinsius, Denise Weiner, Beth Sherrard, Victoria Babcock, Dianne Zeigler, Denise Weiner, Maggie Dorado-Raynor kept track of all of the details on many long Master Lists, Leslie Tuthill, Maureen Stilwell, Frank Csulak and Carmen Donofrio.

It has truly been an incredibly wonderful experience to work with such competent and dedicated volunteers who have worked tirelessly to anticipate artists' and patrons' needs,” Pilon said.


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