Ocean City Teaching Artist's Works On Display In October

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Enjoy the works of one of the Ocean City Arts Center's own next month with their October exhibit.

Esteemed teaching artist Gail Beckley's solo show “Inspirations” opens Oct. 2 and runs through Oct. 29. A “Meet the Artist” reception will be held on Friday, Oct. 10 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The Gallery is located in the Ocean City Arts Center, 1735 Simpson Ave., 2nd Floor.

Beckley holds a Fine Arts degree from Adelphi University, but her career path took an unexpected turn. She spent 20 years working in information technology as a senior program analyst in the casino industry, followed by roles as an IT programmer and instructor. Despite this shift, her passion for the visual arts remained a constant throughout.

As Beckley herself puts it: "I credit teaching drawing and painting classes at OCAC, along with creating entries for local galleries such as Nashville North Studios in Linwood, the Ocean City Fine Arts League’s “Art on Asbury,” and, of course, the Ocean City Arts Center, with rekindling my passion for painting after many years spent in other careers. I’m truly grateful for that.”

According to the Arts Center:

This exhibit showcases Beckley’s remarkable versatility as an artist, with works spanning multiple mediums, including still-life paintings, colored pencil portraits, and photography.
In her still-life paintings, ordinary objects are transformed into striking works of art. The delicate drape of a lace tablecloth over a table, paired with apples and pears that appear almost lifelike, draw the viewer in and hold their attention.

As both a teacher and a portrait artist, Beckley has a unique ability to capture the essence of her subjects. Her gentle touch and meticulous attention to detail result in portraits that exhibit a breathtaking level of facial realism.

As a professional artist, Beckley typically works from reference photos she takes herself—often amassing thousands of images. Her photography is equally impressive; the vibrant colors she captures highlight her keen eye for detail and composition. Through her photography, Beckley establishes herself as a skilled and accomplished visual storyteller.

Clearly, Gail Beckley’s artistic journey, with its seamless blending of creative inspiration and technical skill, reflects the balance between the analytical and the intuitive, the left and right brain. That’s inspirational!

The show runs from Oct. 2 to 29. 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.