“WONDER BAR (ASBURY PARK)”: This oil painting by Marge Miccio is featured in “Ode to New Jersey Art Show,” on view August 29 through October 28 at West Windsor Arts. An opening reception is on September 8 from 7-8:30 p.m.

The “Ode to New Jersey Art Show” at West Windsor Arts celebrates the unique connections that artists have to the dynamic and ever changing state of New Jersey. The exhibition will run from August 29 to October 28, with a free opening reception on Friday, September 8 from 7-8:30 p.m. at West Windsor Arts.

As artists returned from distant summer vacations, West Windsor Arts invited them to participate in “Ode to New Jersey” to remind them of the exceptional qualities that make this state home. Artists were encouraged to explore the history, heritage, symbols, and memories of New Jersey in their creations. From Jersey tomatoes to neon diners, serene sunrises to bustling night scenes, and crowded boardwalks to isolated barns, artists delivered on conveying the uniqueness and diversity of the Garden State.

Artists featured in this show include: Gary Becker, Scott Brustein, Ann Marie Fitzsimmons, Irene Freeman, Barry Hantman, Robert Hazzon, Joelle Hofbauer, David LaMorte, Eleni Litt, Dave Magyar, Beth Malonoski, Marge Miccio, William Plank, Kate Pollack, Tracy Pollock, Bruce Rigby, Donna Ruane Rogers, Yvonne Rondinone, John S. Rounds, René Kammeyer Seeland, Jennifer Tungol, Karen J Waller, and Laura Warne

Miccio described her inspiration for her nighttime oil painting, Wonder Bar (Asbury Park), “The Wonder Bar has been a favorite destination for decades, through all of Asbury Park’s ups and downs. At one time it would be empty and echoing with an eccentric customer or two, it is gratifying to see it jumping these days!” The painting utilizes layers of color on black prepared board to convey the vivid neons and subtle shadows that give nights mystery and allure.

“BARNEGAT LIGHTHOUSE”: This watercolor painting by René Kammeyer Seeland is part of the “Ode to New Jersey Art Show” at West Windsor Arts in Princeton Junction August 29 through October 28.

In her watercolor Barnegat Lighthouse, Kammeyer Seeland highlights memories from a special New Jersey vacation spot that has been a family favorite for decades. She said, “This is Barnegat Lighthouse at Barnegat Light, New Jersey. The wonderful memories my family created while vacationing there in the summer will always shine like a beacon throughout the rest of my life. I still can see my Dad casting out a line to fish next to the lighthouse back in the 1970s.”

Ruane Rogers explores a different aspect of New Jersey in Fishing Shack, a pastel depiction of a lone hut on a serene river. Rogers’ intention for the piece was “to convey the feeling of peace and calm in the early summer evening in an isolated and natural location.” This celebration of the various landscapes this state has to offer focuses on the pristine Maurice River, where you can see bald eagles and nesting ospreys, as well as remnants of the past like Burcham Farm.

The jurors who curated this exhibition are Mark Sceurman and Mark Moran, the creators of Weird N.J. As described on Weird NJ.com, the publication is “a travel guide and magazine to places you won’t find on state-funded maps or located on any tourist attraction pamphlets.” Since 1989, Sceurman and Moran have published nine issues and countless news articles that detail lesser known Garden State oddities.

West Windsor Arts is located at 952 Alexander Road, Princeton Junction. For more information, visit westwindsorarts.org, call (609) 716.1931 or write info@westwindsorarts.org.