By: Shane Bagot
Started back in 2017 with promise, this year marks the 10th annual Somers Point Art in the Park event, hosted at JFK Kennedy Park on September 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event provides an opportunity for artists of all levels to showcase and sell their work, with awards given out.
The event is part of the Somers Point Arts Commission, whose mission is to provide, promote, and cultivate art through the support and coordination of community services and resources. The commission started in 2013 and was looking for ways to bring art into the community.
One of the heads of the commission and the lead on Art in the Park, Donna Mohr, has a background in art and event organizing. For this event, Mohr has a committee of people that meets to help get all the tasks done.
The event has grown throughout the years. When it started, there were no food trucks, a single acoustic guitarist provided the live music, and a small number of artists participated. This year, there are 40 artists who will be on display. The five children’s activities and scheduled DJ signal the event’s prioritization of children’s enjoyment. Attendees will be able to choose from five food trucks.
Awards and prize money are included, with an increase this year. First- and second-place winners in photography and painting will be awarded $400 and $300, respectively, with honorable mentions receiving a ribbon but no monetary prize. Then there is the People’s Choice Award, which is voted on by everyone who comes to the park for their favorite piece in the gallery. The winner of this award will receive $400.
Valeria Sinclair, who won second place last year in the painting category, is originally from Nicaragua and has painted all her life. According to Sinclair, she was motivated by her parents to stay creative. Her passion for painting was lost for some time until she moved to the States and was reminded of it by her husband. Since then, she has been consistently painting for three years.
Art in the Park 2025 was her first time participating in an event like this. She was able to connect with many artists. The environment was very friendly and ideal for her kids and families alike.
The event empowers artists like Sinclair and brings them together.
“It means a lot for the artists, so the people can get to know you. At the same time, you can see through other artists what they are doing, what style they are doing. Everybody is totally different and different types of technique and different styles and different kinds of paintings,” said Sinclair.
For Sinclair, the event provided an opportunity to connect. Being a mom allowed her to bring her kids for a delightful outing, which stuck with her.
“My favorite thing, as me being a mom, I can tell you it was the familiar environment, like the families. They were there with their kids. My kids were enjoying the event. The kids were just happy, and they were running all over the place, on the playground, in the park. Even my son got a painting from another artist, and he was very happy that he got something from someone else,” said Sinclair.
Not only is it a comfortable occasion for families and friends to enjoy art, but a lot of people also come away from the event with more knowledge about the components of art, according to Mohr. The ages of participants typically range from teenagers to senior citizens. It provides an opportunity for experienced artists and photographers to communicate with each other. The younger crowd can learn some things about the industry and craft.
Mohr and the team want the artists to feel comfortable and excited about coming back year after year. For them, it is about creating an atmosphere that matches that of a street or boardwalk show. One of the ways this is achieved is by not assigning spaces to any of the artists and photographers. They are free to set up anywhere in the park.
For the future, despite not wanting to outright become a craft show, they are interested in considering more forms of artistic presentation. This year, they are introducing digital art, even though it will not be eligible for awards. There is a chance to venture into mosaics, weaving, or maybe pottery.
With 10 years down, the future still looks golden for continued growth. The committee wants to keep going with Art in the Park.
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