New logo by the new sponsors: JSAC.
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor Blogfinger.net
Ocean Grove, NJ USA
Small town America.
5/2/25:
After the first two satisfying “Art on the Porch” events—2023 and 2024– the organizers have decided to join forces with the Jersey Shore Arts Center starting with 2025. According to an internet post by the JSAC, this reorganization will make this successful event even better. The quote below is from the JSAC on the Internet:
“Mark your calendars for June 14, 2025! This exciting collaboration will bring together
the grassroots spirit of Art on the Porch with the resources and support of the Jersey
Shore Arts Center.
“The JSAC will provide a central starting point for the event, offering parking, restrooms, and maps for our out-of-town visitors, while still preserving the homey feel that makes this event so special.
“Keep an eye out for more details, registration forms, and updates coming your way soon!”
So the “Art on the Porch ” extravaganza originally created by Grovers to show that we the people are capable of organizing wonderful secular in-town events without any outside input by the CMA or the Chamber of Commercials is now needing the JSAC to lean on. But why?
I loved the original idea of it; OG artists sharing their creative work with other Grovers, and I participated in the first two iterations, and it was a fine summer event.
This is Ocean Grove in mid-June last year 2024; not exactly a time when parking, crowds and bathrooms are issues. Paul Goldfinger photo.
So is “Art on the Porch” changing their original model in order to get bathrooms, parking at the JSAC, a “starting point” for the event.and maps? Is the goal now to attract hordes of tourists as so many of the Grove’s summer events already are? Is this about money? Does this down-home, “our-town” OG event require a “starting point” on Rt. 71 no less?
People enjoy exploring the Grove on their own, not by going to a “starting point.”
The JSAC information says, “ It was clear that this collaboration was meant to be. JSAC has been
looking for ways to spotlight their organization and transition their Annual 5K Walk/Run
into a more art-centric event, making this partnership a seamless match.”
So will our OG porch art gallery show become a tool to promote the JSAC? Why do we care about their 5K run? Who needs it? Let them take their run through Allaire Park.
And what about those Ocean Grovers who devised this idea? Are they involved now? Is this still a neighborhood event ? And are the same artists from 2024 still showing their work?
The JSAC also says, “Art On The Porch is a free, town-wide, walkable gallery of visual art by “local” artists utilizing Ocean Grove’s charmed front porches as the gallery walls, and “Art on the Porch is a grassroots effort by resident artists and art enthusiasts motivated to showcase and promote a community of fine artists while highlighting the beauty of Ocean Grove’s historic neighborhoods.”
Note that whoever is running this event is claiming a large number of “resident” artists, but they have not offered a complete list at this time. What are they waiting for? And who are the “art enthusiasts” who are involved?
HOWEVER: Blogfinger.net; We have a few questions:
a. Is this now going to be an attempt to drag more tourists to visit “Ocean Grove’s historic neighborhoods? ” Will the spotlight remain on the art? I suspect that this will become another attempt to exploit the town of OG, a place where people actually live and where our summer Saturdays often get trampled by invaders.
Will the JSAC promotions try to portray OG as less of a friendly residential small town and more of a summer venue for tourists.
There is no mention of whether this festival is designed to allow artists to sell their works. If that is where they are going, then the flow of money may become central, and this arts on the porch could become more like the Giant Craft Market. This issue must be clarified.
c. The sponsors need to tell us how many of the artists are from Ocean Grove and what criteria are used to choose artists since there is a waiting list.
I like the idea of a showcase for Ocean Grove artists, but I suspect a change in concept due to the agenda of the JSAC.
If I had my way, anyone who has something artistic to show, including kids, should just do it, and advise the sponsors of their names and addresses. Make this an ” OG porch festival for the arts” unrelated to the JSAC. And why have a waiting list–that smacks of elitism.
Don’t allow the JSAC to steal this show. Have a Grover arts committee form and make this event a fun happening for we-the-people. Make the theme “art for everyman.” OG should be marketed as an artsy historic town. If this “art on the porch” sets an encouraging example for the future of OG, then other ideas may spring from the OG secular residential community.
Art on the Porch music by Conway Twitty:
Addendum added on 5/24/25:
As of now, May 24, 2025, new “Art on the Porch” lawn signs are appearing around town. You can go to artontheporch.org and see the list of artists.
This should be a fun and satisfying event for all Grovers. They don’t tell us where their artists live. If they are not all from OG, then they are misleading We-the-People. We need some explanations. This event is precedent setting. We were not included because I failed to fill our a form and pay $40.00,, but no one contacted me so I thought that I had been excluded.
Well today the JSAC representative “Jean” said that it was an oversight, so we will once again join the porch event.
Maybe next year they could open the event to anyone who wants to show their art on their porch, unless the event evolves to become an announced “juried” art show. It would be good if any artist could be accepted. Of not we might begin a “Peoples Art on the Porch”—open to anyone. This way they could avoid the perception of elitism.
And here is a BF post from last year, looking at some of these concerns: