African Wildlife Focus Of Ocean City Arts Center's January Exhibit

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Travel to Africa from the comfort of the Ocean City Arts Center through their January exhibit, “Capturing Kenya: Photography by Alec Burmylo.”

The show opens Jan. 3 and runs through Jan. 29. A “Meet the Artist” reception will be held on Friday, Jan. 10 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The Gallery is located in the Ocean City Arts Center, 1735 Simpson Ave.

Haddon Heights resident Alec Burmylo works as an Application Architect for the University of Pennsylvania Health System. You can often find his wildlife photography on display at Penn Medicine locations.

Burmylo grew up in the Pinelands, where he says he developed a profound connection with nature that continues to shape his artistic vision today. As he has done on his trip to Kenya, he continues to travel around the globe, with upcoming stops in Botswana, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, where he aims to capture intimate moments of wildlife, offering a rare glimpse into the lives of animals and their environments.

Driven by a passion for conservation, Burmylo uses photography as a tool to promote awareness and appreciation for the delicate balance of nature. Through each image, he hopes to foster a greater sense of responsibility and a desire to protect the wildlife that shares our planet.

In Burmylo's own words:

I have been inspired by wildlife and nature since a young age. Spending most of my childhood outdoors, I developed a deep appreciation and respect for the natural world around us. My recent trip to the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, where I had the privilege of being so close to wild animals in their natural habitats, profoundly deepened my appreciation for the intricate balance of life in the wild. These experiences have encouraged me to travel across the world to pursue my passion for wildlife photography, with upcoming adventures that include gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and exploring the Okavango Delta in Botswana, as I strive to capture and share the beauty of our planet’s most remarkable ecosystems. These transformative experiences not only reinforce my respect for these creatures but also helped me find greater focus in my photography, allowing me to present nature with authenticity and purpose, sparking curiosity, empathy, and a desire to protect our planet.

The Ocean City Arts Center is located on the second floor in the Ocean City Community Center at 1735 Simpson Ave. Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. The Arts Center is closed on Sunday. For further information, call (609) 399-7628. Check out the Ocean City Arts Center’s website at oceancityartscenter.org and/or on Facebook and Instagram.