The Harbor Gallery is pleased to announce their featured local artists for the month of June.  Artist/jeweler, Janet Payne, and potter, Mary Bryne will display their works with an opening reception to meet the artists on June 4th from 4-6 pm. All artwork is for sale, with a portion of sales going to support the Nature Center of Cape May. “This coastal art exhibit is a great way to celebrate World Oceans Day which is June 8^th,” Explains Gretchen Whitman, Sanctuary Director of Nature Center of Cape May. According to worldoceanday.org “On World Ocean Day, people around our blue planet celebrate and honor our one shared ocean, that connects us all.” The show will remain on exhibit for the month of June. The Nature Center will follow all CDC Covid safety guidelines. Face coverings are required.

Janet Payne, known for her beautiful sea glass jewelry, has discovered a new medium for this show. Her artwork is made from beach trash. Each morning as Janet walks the beach, searching for sea glass for her jewelry, she picks up the plastic trash and marine debris she finds along the way. Her playful fish are created from these bits and pieces. Once all the pieces are cleaned and in place, the fish are painted with a touch of whimsy. She likens the process to creating a three-dimensional puzzle. Her wreaths are made from ghost nets and ropes found on her beach walks. www.janetpaynejewelry.com

Mary Byrne is a clay artist who is influenced by the ever-changing sea and shoreline. “My three-mile daily walks on the beach inform my work. I’m inspired by the natural forms of shells and seaweed, by the colors of the sea and the worn driftwood found on the beach.” Explains Mary. In her Townbank studio, she creates colorful ceramic shells, starfish, and other nature-inspired sculptural forms, often with melted glass accents. These handmade pieces are incorporated with found driftwood to create unique intricate coastal wall art and sculptures. Mary’s skill at the potter’s wheel is evident in her bowls and platters. Created in the colors of the sea, they are adorned with her handmade starfish and other sea creatures. Mary’s work is brought together by her sense of movement, an obvious nod to the ebb and flow of the tides. This is evident in her abstract sculptural pieces as well as her larger vessels. Mary’s work can also be found at The Madd Potter’s Studio in Cape May.

The Harbor Gallery will feature local artists each month with an opening reception on the first Friday of the month. July’s exhibit will feature the work of Hali MacLaren and the fish created by various artists for the Nature Center’s “Catch of Cape May” online auction and fundraiser.