The Art League of Ocean City invites the public to a free opening reception and special holiday artisan fair on First Friday, Dec. 6 from 5 – 7 pm at the Ocean City Center for the Arts on 94th St. Five new art exhibitions will open, and complimentary hors d’oeuvres will be served.

The holiday artisan fair, which continues on Saturday, Dec. 7 from 11 a.m.- 4 p.m., offers unique, handcrafted gifts made by local artists. More than a dozen artisans will offer their work including glass, jewelry, textiles, baskets, ceramics, mixed media, and more.

Saturday’s artisan fair includes book signings with seven local authors from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Bunk Mann will be signing copies of his new book about Ocean City’s history, “Ghosts in the Sand,” from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Original small works of art, no larger than 12×12”, specially priced for gift giving, will be available in Studio E.

The annual all-media Art League members’ juried show will open in the Thaler Gallery with cash prizes. The juror is Chris Harrington, chair of the Fine Arts Department at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Upstairs in the Galleria, the “Best of 2019” group show will feature artwork that has won awards in the Art Center’s 2019 shows.

The artwork of Bilbo of Ocean City will hang in the Spotlight Gallery in December. Bilbo, who attended Baltimore Junior College and the Maryland Institute of Art, is an ink painter, which is Zen art at is highest expression, a thoughtful use of empty space and brush strokes.

Multi-media artist Debbi Dean-Colley of Berlin is the artisan for the month of December. Mostly self-taught, Colley experiments with different media to create unique and creative objects of art.

Artists Pictured Above:
Fiber artist Nancy Ponton will be offering her handmade bags at the Holiday Artisan Fair at the Ocean City Center for the Arts on Dec. 6 and 7.
Ceramic artist Mary Back will be offering her clay creations at the Holiday Artisan Fair at the Ocean City Center for the Arts on Dec. 6 and 7.
Glass artist Pete Gibson will be offering his art glass at the Holiday Artisan Fair at the Ocean City Center for the Arts on Dec. 6 and 7.