​Ocean City’s Shell Artwork Inspires Ventnor City Community

VENTNOR CITY, NJ — Ocean City’s evolving shell collage on the North Street Beach has taken on several shapes over the past month, from a peace sign to a heart and then a bursting rainbow.

Sue McElwee, an Ocean City resident, created these life-size collages with her family, and invited others to write messages or sign their names on the shells.

Read more: Peace Sign Of Shells Keeps On Growing In Ocean City

The peace sign evolved into a heart for Valentine's Day and recently took on the shape of a rainbow with a bright red heart in its center.

The McElwees’ collective art projects have inspired neighbors in Ventnor City to create their own community masterpiece of shells.

“We wanted to do something fun like that here in Ventnor,” Peggy McGann told Patch. “Neighbors have been gathering shells since we read the (Patch’s) article.”

Community members gathered to assemble a heart on the south side of the Ventnor City Fishing Pier before Valentine's Day and left behind markers in the sand for visitors to decorate more shells.

Do you know of any other towns who make community collages of shells on the beach? Feel free to share photos in the comment section below.

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